OU 10 point courses - how much study per week?

[HolidaysQueen]

I'm on mat leave at the moment and starting to really miss exercising my brain. I have another 5 months before I return to work and want to do something to get my brain working again so was thinking of one or two 10 point courses at the OU which I could do in the evenings, at weekends and during DS's naps.

I'm intelligent and quick to pick up new ideas, work in an intellectually challenging job and have a degree from a very good university, plus I'm interested in two courses both of which I know a little about alreadygiven my job. Given that, I'm not sure if 2 x 10 point courses would be too much, or if I only sign up for one 10 pt course will I just rush through quickly and find I could have done two after all.

Anyone got any experience of 10 point courses and how much work they take?

[murphyslaw]

Just completed Understanding Nutrition - This was my 6th OU course - took this purely for interest.

From gaining a degree point of view this is a lot of work for 20 points! But as you already have a degree I presume you are just keeping your mind active!

The Nutrition course had flexible end dates - a submission of an assignment in July and I think again in Sep/Oct so there wasnt any pressure at all. I easily managed to submit at the first date.

Depends on how hard you want to work but I would be tempted to do 1 at a time and give it your all! - Havent they all got flexible start dates (not sure?) I was putting in about 4-5 hours per week and finished the course within 10 weeks but I had some knowledge of the field already.

If you enquire they will tell you how many hours work each course is obviously based on an estimate but at least its a benchmark. The last thing you want to be is stressed out - enjoy your time off

[HolidaysQueen]

Thanks murphyslaw- that's helpful. I was planning to only do one course but was a bit thrown by a comment from a previous student on one of the courses who said he completed it in 10 days!

Yep, just keeping my mind active, and then seeing how I get on with hopes of starting proper OU degree course once back in the swing of things with work etc. I should have done my first course (30 points) this year but found out I was pregnant and decided final assessments and a newborn wouldn't mix very well, especially as I'm only really doing it for fun, so cancelled!

I think I'll sign up for one course and see how I get on and then maybe sign up for another in February if I get through it easily. I return to work in March so didn't want to start anything in Feb but maybe if this one works out easily then I might feel like I can handle another short course in Feb. Then hopefully I'll feel up to starting a 30 point course in September next year.