Online course at Oxford University

[carmay]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so if it belongs in another more appropriate section, will a moderator please move it?

I'm looking into an online course at Oxford titled, "Using the Victorian Census". I was wondering if anyone had taken it, or was planning on taking it? The details are here:

http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/details.php?id=O11P319LHV&Category=100

I'd be interested in opinions on this before spending the money

Thanks,
Carole

[silvery]

Looking at it, this is a course for studying social and economic history of the time based on the census information.

There was a lot going on in the years 1841 - 1901 the Victorian times.   The industrial revolution was taking place and there was a move from the country to the cities, with the decline and movement of cottage industries to factory work, and a reduction in agricultural work due to machinery.  So there was demographic movement towards available work aided by the rise of the railways and canals.  And then there was immigration into the UK and emigration out on a large scale.
I think it's going to be looking at these sort of aspects of information, the course overview talks about 'stayers and movers' and 'migration and mobility'. 

Sounds very interesting actually.  If you're interested in how people lived try a very readable book, Victorian London by Liza Picard which deals with everything, from sanitation, houses, food, clothes, transport, work, income, etc for all classes of society.   Although it's based on London it's easily applicable to any large city, as everywhere caught up. 

just had a look and book available on Amazon  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorian-London-Liza-Picard/dp/0753820900
It's very good. 

[silvery]

The Open University has a free section of courses called Open Learn.  (These websites from the OU are massive though)

See this from openlearn (these are free)
 
http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/history-the-arts/history/what-are-you-looking-identification-investigation

http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/history-the-arts/history/heritage/ten-commandments-research

[silvery]

Looking at your other posts I'm wondering if you've got ancestry, and traced your family through it first.   It might be better not spending on this course, and getting ancestry and doing your family tree.  I have found that I google all sorts of things to get background information, and there's a lot of it about.   Maps, mines, ships, clothes, pictures of houses etc ; on here I've found pictures of bricklayers (and got permission to use for my write-ups).  You find that you naturally start to be interested in how people lived and look for information.  And it leads on into the history of why travel happened or jobs changed.  Think of the workers on the canals (navvies) or the rise of the railways.  If you've got people in these jobs you start to look into the history of it all.

[carmay]

Thanks, everyone.

Exactly what is the Open University? Are their courses recognized as being scholarly? I am thinking of developing a series of continuing education courses for people in my local community who are searching for their UK ancestry. As for me, my family up to know has all been in the Salford area. I am presently reading "Salford The Classic Slum". There doesn't seem to be a whole lot written on the history of Salford.

I will take a  look at that book by Liza Picard that you mentioned, Silvery. Thank you for the recommendation.

Carole

[carmay]

Are there any other places in the US or UK that people know of where I can take online courses in the History of England?  I've checked all my local universities and there is nothing. I saw two courses on the Oxford website, one on Henry VIII and one on Elizabeth I which are exactly what I am looking for. They are a bit pricey for those of us living on this side of the pond, so if there are other colleges or universities out there who might offer courses, I'd love to take a look at their offerings.

I need courses that are accredited as I am seriously thinking about doing a Master's degree in History and would be inclined to focus on the Tudor era as I find it fascinating. I'm retired now, and really need to find something to do with all this extra time I have

Carole

[silvery]

The OU is very well regarded.  But it can be a bit pricey.  It's a mammoth website, and the open learn that I put a link to is their free section.  There's a lot of work in the OU courses.   

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0bnw/

this site below has been going for years, very good too
http://www.tudorhistory.org/

another one.
http://education.exeter.ac.uk/dll/details.php?code=DLH10A
 
If you google I've no doubt you'll find out lots.  You'll find lots of history online.

[silvery]

http://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/resources/tudor-history-online-courses/

http://www.history.ac.uk/ihr/Resources/Geographical/britainIreland.html

this site recommends the tudor history by Lara Eakins site, which I've already given you, tudor history.org.    she really has been doing it years, and it's very comprehensive.

[Harlem]

Hi Carmay - the Open University is , if I remember correctly, the biggest university in Europe! It offers only distance, part-time,  learning in a wide variety of subjects. Undergrad and postgrad. You get learning materials through the post and a personal tutor - although if you live overseas arrangements will be different and you will have to ask about that. Increasingly they use the www and teach online. The fees are high , although I believe many Brits are thinking of learning thru the OU now we are to be charged for attending traditional unis. I think the website is open.ac.uk, and you can probably get an email contact address there where you can ask questions.  It may be worth looking at the website to see what they can offer. Openlearn is their free taster programme, and there is also an introductory programme of courses that are shorter and cheaper than the full-blown undergrad courses. You can build up points and get awarded a degree, after a lot of hard work. It might also be interesting to see what books are recomended for the courses you are interested in.

Harlemswife