Philip Watkins, 56, lives in Glenrowan in country Victoria. He has just completed his Bachelor of Technology (Computing Studies) through Open University Australia and is now moving on to a Diploma of Education course to fulfil his dream of becoming a secondary teacher.
What is your career background?
I have more than 25 years ‘experience in IT and worked in software analysis, design and development. Becoming unemployed a couple of years ago was the impetus I needed to change careers. I have always thought teaching would be challenging and rewarding and something I would enjoy. Having three children, I know the importance of education in all our lives. Unfortunately my qualifications were not sufficient for direct entry into a Diploma of Education, so I enrolled with OUA to complete a degree that would allow me to enrol.
Did you compare OUA offerings to other technology courses – on or off-campus)?
My wife suggested OUA when we were discussing upgrading my qualifications. I looked at possibilities available at other institutions, but OUA was the best choice for me. I needed to be able to tailor my degree so that I could complete the prerequisites for the teaching specialisations I had chosen (Business Studies and Information and Communications Technology). This was not available through other institutions.
Why was OUA the right choice for you?
Other than being able to select the units I needed, studying through OUA allowed me to balance my study with my other commitments. I didn’t have to attend lectures or tutorials at specific times, but could follow the online lecture recording and tutorials when it suited me. Not having to travel – or relocate – to a campus was also important as I still had children at school who needed support.
What surprised you about the course delivery?
Delivery of the course units through OUA has been excellent. I studied with six different universities in completing all the units required for my chosen qualification and all provided terrific support for me personally and the student group. Online discussion boards are central to the units, which meant students discussed issues and exchanged points of view. Course leaders were always active on the ‘boards’ and stimulated lots of lively discussion. Each unit’s course material gave everything necessary for an overview of the work and was supplemented by online lectures and tutorials that provided the detail to consolidate knowledge.
What did a typical study day involve?
My study days were really like a normal ‘business’ day. I started at 9am and finished around 5:30pm. When the load became a bit more intense, I did a bit of ‘overtime’ during evenings and weekends. My family is a great help; they are my proofreaders and sounding boards and help me to keep my cool during stressful exam times. My oldest daughter even provided study support in physics!
What other benefits did you receive from the course?
When studying off-campus you are really responsible for your own time management. With no set lecture or tutorial times you really need to manage your time well. While it requires discipline, once you have mastered it, it allows great freedom.
I felt that each new unit was the start of an adventure. Getting to know classmates from across the country and around the world in the online study community was always fun. Some of their stories are really inspiring. A number of classmates last year had been involved in floods or fires or cyclones, but they still manage to get their work done!
What is next for you?
This January, I was offered a place in the Master of Teaching (Secondary) program at Melbourne University Graduate School of Education.
After 12 months I will have completed the Postgraduate Diploma of Teaching and will then complete the final part of the masters part-time the following year.
Without OUA, it wouldn’t have been possible for me to reach this stage.
I’m looking forward to putting the knowledge I have gained through my OUA studies to good use as a secondary teacher. The units I have selected are particularly relevant to the high school ICT and Business Studies curriculums and will give me a more than adequate foundation to teach these subjects at a secondary level.
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