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In the 1980s, the Open University wanted to improve students'

learning from television. Viewing sessions with tons of exercises based on the video were arranged nationally and I was put in charge of one in Swindon.

I put on the video and found that instead of a sociologist banging on about TV, I had picked up a copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream in drag. I remember going into a corner, saying a quick prayer and throwing vast piles of now-useless material out of sight. I was the only non-student in the building, so there was no shoulder to cry on.

What we did for the rest of the session, I can't recall, but several students, most of whom were non-humanities, said afterwards that they enjoyed it.

John Kirkaldy is an associate lecturer with the Open University.