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STUDENT
EXPERIENCE
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Health and Safety. This is an implication of both teaching and learning on the internet because it can happen to either of the user groups. According to the Open University Student Handbook for undergraduate-level courses, there are about 80 courses which require the use of a computer. In the math's, computing and technology areas, a computer is required for about a quarter of the study time. Therefore, and taking my own study time into account for the T171 course, I am surprised that there appears to be no section about safety in computing as a guide to students. Possibly the student handbook would be an opportunity to warn students of the potential hazards of working for too long at a computer along with the general facts. There are numerous sites which talk about repetitive strain injury and types that can occur (see interesting links) and I found them most interesting because I suffer myself with pins and needles in my 'mouse' hand and across my shoulders. There is also the question of eye strain which can happen to the healthiest of people and can be due to dryness in the air or poor lighting. There does not appear to be any law concerning students use of computers and yet with the onset of more on-line courses I was surprised not to find any sites connected with this issue. Admittedly it is not an easy area to police; unlike health and safety in the workplace which has legislation. It is really the students common sense which would allow him/her to take the relevant precautions necessary to avoid any of the injuries - but possibly a mention in either in the student handbook or in the course guide would be a reminder that this issue should be taken seriously.
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