<div class&equals;"fr-view"><p>October saw the return of the &num;OUStudyChallenge – a month of exciting study challenges designed to connect Open University students with each other&comma; and to prepare them for their forthcoming studies&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Throughout the month&comma; students on Instagram were prompted to share photos and videos with the hashtag <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;instagram&period;com&sol;explore&sol;tags&sol;oustudychallenge&sol;">&num;OUStudyChallenge<&sol;a>&comma; based on the daily challenges &lpar;as shown below&rpar;&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<div id&equals;"zfWrap">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;<h3 class&equals;"zfTitle"><&sol;h3>&NewLine; <figure class&equals;"zfMedia zfimage">&NewLine; <img width&equals;"553" height&equals;"537" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-2&period;png&quest;fit&equals;553&percnt;2C537&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1" class&equals;"" alt&equals;"The timetable for the OU Study Challenge from 2–8 October on a sky-blue background&period;" style&equals;"" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-2&period;png&quest;w&equals;553&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 553w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-2&period;png&quest;resize&equals;300&percnt;2C291&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-2&period;png&quest;resize&equals;360&percnt;2C350&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 360w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-2&period;png&quest;resize&equals;545&percnt;2C529&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 545w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 553px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 553px" &sol;> <&sol;figure>&NewLine;<h3 class&equals;"zfTitle"><&sol;h3>&NewLine; <figure class&equals;"zfMedia zfimage">&NewLine; <img width&equals;"544" height&equals;"547" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-3&period;png&quest;fit&equals;544&percnt;2C547&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1" class&equals;"" alt&equals;"The timetable for the OU Study Challenge from 9–15 October on a lemon background&period;" style&equals;"" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-3&period;png&quest;w&equals;544&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 544w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-3&period;png&quest;resize&equals;298&percnt;2C300&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 298w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-3&period;png&quest;resize&equals;150&percnt;2C150&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 150w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-3&period;png&quest;resize&equals;360&percnt;2C362&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 360w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 544px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 544px" &sol;> <&sol;figure>&NewLine;<h3 class&equals;"zfTitle"><&sol;h3>&NewLine; <figure class&equals;"zfMedia zfimage">&NewLine; <img width&equals;"546" height&equals;"534" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-4&period;png&quest;fit&equals;546&percnt;2C534&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1" class&equals;"" alt&equals;"The timetable for the OU Study Challenge from 16–22 October on a turquoise background&period;" style&equals;"" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-4&period;png&quest;w&equals;546&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 546w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-4&period;png&quest;resize&equals;300&percnt;2C293&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-4&period;png&quest;resize&equals;360&percnt;2C352&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 360w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 546px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 546px" &sol;> <&sol;figure>&NewLine;<h3 class&equals;"zfTitle"><&sol;h3>&NewLine; <figure class&equals;"zfMedia zfimage">&NewLine; <img width&equals;"547" height&equals;"538" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-5&period;png&quest;fit&equals;547&percnt;2C538&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1" class&equals;"" alt&equals;"The timetable for the OU Study Challenge from 23–29 October on a salmon background&period;" style&equals;"" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-5&period;png&quest;w&equals;547&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 547w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-5&period;png&quest;resize&equals;300&percnt;2C295&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 300w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-5&period;png&quest;resize&equals;360&percnt;2C354&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 360w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-5&period;png&quest;resize&equals;545&percnt;2C536&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 545w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 547px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 547px" &sol;> <&sol;figure>&NewLine;<h3 class&equals;"zfTitle"><&sol;h3>&NewLine; <figure class&equals;"zfMedia zfimage">&NewLine; <img width&equals;"550" height&equals;"556" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-6&period;png&quest;fit&equals;550&percnt;2C556&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1" class&equals;"" alt&equals;"The timetable for the OU Study Challenge from 30–31 October on a sky blue background&period;" style&equals;"" srcset&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-6&period;png&quest;w&equals;550&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 550w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-6&period;png&quest;resize&equals;297&percnt;2C300&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 297w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-6&period;png&quest;resize&equals;360&percnt;2C364&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 360w&comma; https&colon;&sol;&sol;i0&period;wp&period;com&sol;thehootstudents&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2023&sol;10&sol;Study-Challenge-6&period;png&quest;resize&equals;545&percnt;2C551&amp&semi;ssl&equals;1 545w" sizes&equals;"&lpar;max-width&colon; 550px&rpar; 100vw&comma; 550px" &sol;> <&sol;figure>&NewLine;<div class&equals;"zf-story&lowbar;item">&NewLine; <h2 class&equals;"zf&lowbar;title"><&sol;h2>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"zf&lowbar;description">&NewLine; <p>This year&comma; there were over 3&comma;000 posts as OU students engaged with the daily challenges&comma; with students describing the challenge as &ldquo&semi;great fun&rdquo&semi;&comma; &ldquo&semi;really good&rdquo&semi; and an &ldquo&semi;awesome way to meet new people&rdquo&semi;&period;<&sol;p><p>You can look at the photos and videos submitted by OU students by visiting the &num;OUStudyChallenge tag on Instagram &ndash&semi; <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;instagram&period;com&sol;explore&sol;tags&sol;oustudychallenge&sol;&quest;img&lowbar;index&equals;1"><&sol;a><a href&equals;"&sol;&sol;instagram&period;com&sol;explore&sol;tags&sol;oustudychallenge&sol;&quest;img&lowbar;index&equals;1">instagram&period;com&sol;explore&sol;tags&sol;oustudychallenge&sol;&quest;img&lowbar;index&equals;1<&sol;a>&period;<&sol;p><p>Students who took part were also eligible for a prize draw to win three prize boxes containing lots of stationery&comma; OU branded pens&sol;notebooks etc and an OU hoodie<span style&equals;"color&colon; rgb&lpar;0&comma; 0&comma; 0&rpar;&semi;font-family&colon; Cabin&comma; sans-serif&semi;font-size&colon; 17px&semi;font-style&colon; normal&semi;font-weight&colon; 400&semi;letter-spacing&colon; normal&semi;text-align&colon; start&semi;text-indent&colon; 0px&semi;text-transform&colon; none&semi;background-color&colon; rgb&lpar;255&comma; 255&comma; 255&rpar;&semi;display&colon; inline &excl;important&semi;float&colon; none">&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p><p>Student engagement has increased year-on-year since the challenge began in 2021&period;<br>Emily Hall&comma; Social Media Coordinator at the Open University&comma; is delighted with the response&colon; &ldquo&semi;I am happy to see so many students take part because it is an amazing way for new and existing students to find community and learn more about the OU&period;&rdquo&semi;<&sol;p><p>The &num;OUStudyChallenge &lpar;initially called the October Study Challenge&rpar; was conceived in 2021 by three students &ndash&semi; Sam Evans&comma;&nbsp&semi;Annette Hunsley and Alana Smith&period; Alana explained the motivation behind the challenge&period;<&sol;p><p>&ldquo&semi;We wanted to find an easy way for other OU students to make friends with each other&comma; as often that can be the part people find the hardest&period; We started chatting on Instagram&comma; made a WhatsApp group&comma; and then moved on to Zoom calls&period;<&sol;p><p>&ldquo&semi;Alongside Sam and Annette&comma; I&rsquo&semi;ve made some other great friends both in my degree and others who aren&rsquo&semi;t&period; These friends have opened opportunities for possible career changes and other opportunities&comma; and ideas which I might never have considered&period;<&sol;p><p>&ldquo&semi;Even though the OU is a distance-learning university&comma; it doesn&rsquo&semi;t mean it has to be solitary&period; Distance doesn&rsquo&semi;t need to be a barrier&period;&rdquo&semi;<&sol;p><p><br>NB&colon; The challenge on 5 October asked &ldquo&semi;What OU groups have you joined&quest; &lpar;or which groups do you plan on joining&rpar;&quest;&rdquo&semi; To find out more information about these groups&comma; you can visit the clubs and societies page on the Association website &ndash&semi; <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;oustudents&period;com&sol;clubs-and-societies&sol;"><&sol;a><a href&equals;"&sol;&sol;oustudents&period;com&sol;clubs-and-societies&sol;">oustudents&period;com&sol;clubs-and-societies&sol;<&sol;a>&period;<&sol;p> <&sol;div>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>


Like it? Share with your friends!

What's Your Reaction?

like
1
like
disagree
11
disagree
useful
1
useful
fun
1
fun
love
1
love
lol
0
lol
omg
0
omg

Andrew is a member of the Students Association staff team.

0 Comments

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Exit mobile version