TALL blog

We are pleased to announce that this month the Department is launching the following online courses:

23rd April
Introduction to Political Philosophy
Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of Mind
Study Skills

30th April
Learning to Look at Western Architecture
Learning to Look at the Visual Arts
Origins of Human Behaviour

8th May
Critical Reading: An introduction to literary studies
Northern Renaissance Art: Methods and Meanings (NEW!)
Reality, being and existence: An introduction to metaphysics (NEW!)

14th May
Jane Austen (NEW!)
New Economic Powers (NEW!)

For more information on these courses or to enrol on a course visit Online courses at Oxford University’s Department of Continuing Education, email the online courses office or telephone +44 (0)1865 280974.

TALL have been working with everyone in the department to develop a new and improved website for the Department for Continuing Education, our parent organisation at the University of Oxford.

The new site went live on 19th March 2007, and features:

• improved course catalogue integration,
• online enrolments,
• a new visual design,
• improved organisation,
• lots of behind the scenes improvements.

Thanks to everyone in the department who made this possible.

Visit the new website at: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/.

NEW! Introduction to Political Philosophy: Introducing the student to classic and contemporary texts in the context of approaching some central questions in political philosophy. The course examines the justification of the state, problems of democracy, liberty, justice, and feminist theory. Participants are guided through the thought of various classical and contemporary thinkers, in both primary and secondary readings.

NEW! Philosophy of Religion: This course helps participants to think clearly about the following questions:- What, if anything, is it that Jews, Christians, and Muslims are agreeing about when they join in claiming that there is a God; and what, if any, prospects are there for rationally defending or attacking this claim? This course appeals to everyone interested in thinking clearly about their own religious beliefs (if any) and those of others. The course is intended to be accessible to people who have not studied Philosophy before, even informally.

Learning to look at the Visual Arts: During this course students learn to look at paintings, prints and drawings from a more analytical and objective point of view. By the end of the course they are able to use visual vocabulary to appreciate art. Active online discussions centre around aspects such as composition, space, form, tone, colour, subject matter and visual techniques.

Learning to look at Western Architecture: This course enables students to ‘read’ the architecture of the Western world in a critically informed way. Students learn to recognise and differentiate between the major architectural styles of the western tradition – and thus gain a greater understanding of the way that buildings are built, and why they look the way they do.

Northern Renaissance Art c1480-1580: Complementing ‘Learning to look at the Visual Arts, this course covers European art and artists from between 1480 and 1580, introducing students to the world of the Northern Renaissance.

Arts of India: Students learn about the main developments in the history of South Asian art in this period, including Buddhist and Hindu architecture and sculpture, paintings and architecture from the Rajput and Mughal courts, and the impact of European colonialism. They also examine the religious, ritual, social and political contexts in which these buildings and objects were made and used.

Introduction to Philosophy: Even as our knowledge continually expands, philosophical questions asked since the time of the Ancient Greek philosophers continue to perplex us. This course offers the opportunity to explore four topics in philosophy – knowledge, reality, free will and morality.

Philosophy Gym: Based on the popular book of the same name, this course introduces students to philosophy by means of a number of intriguing puzzles on such subjects as Does God exist? and Is time travel possible?

Philosophy of Mind: The philosophy of mind is one of the most exciting areas within philosophy. It is concerned with questions about the nature of mind and the relation between our minds and the physical world.

The Fundamental Science of Nanotechnology is the second module of the Postgraduate Certificate in Nanotechnology developed and delivered entirely online by TALL. The module is an in-depth exploration of the science of nanotechnology for professionals with a background in the physical sciences. The course is pioneering the use of Adobe Breeze to hold online ‘tutorials’ netween tutors and students on a weekly basis. Module 3, Fundamental Characterisation for Nanotechnology begins on 12 March 2007.