to report my Open University tutor?

[Galena]

Sorry, this may be long!

I've been studying with the Open University for 8 years. The course I am doing this year is the final course in my maths degree. I am on course for a First as things stand.

The tutor I have been allocated for this course is far worse than any I've had before. Due to circumstances beyond my control (hospital stays for my baby) I have got behind, and so for the first 2 assignments I was granted a 2 week extension, although he has told me he needs the third assignment on time due to needing to mark it before his holiday. Tutors are expected to return assignments within 4 weeks of receipt. The first assignment he did exactly this, allowing very little time to read his comments and work on misunderstandings before the next assignment was due.

The second assignment was due in 8 weeks ago. I sent it 6 weeks ago and haven't had it back yet. I have asked him about it and he says he has received it! This year, rather than sending lots of assignment submission forms, they only sent one and told us that the tutors would send a new form when returning the previous assignment.

Third assignment due tomorrow - realised last night (after having to work manically for most of the last week) that because he hasn't returned my last assignment I do not have a submission form for this assignment so can't send it off.

Also, when I've asked him questions he has been incredibly unhelpful. For example, I sent him an email asking 3 questions, he replied with a partial answer for one of the questions, and ignored the other 2.

I need to phone the OU to explain the delay in returning this assignment, would I be unreasonable to explain my other concerns too?

It's difficult to know without more detail. What was agreed when you got your extension? He may think it was always part of the agreement that the extension would have an impact on your remaining essays so they wouldn't be marked in the usual time-frame (though this sounds a bit crap of OU to me, if it's the case!).

Also, how often do you communicate with him? What did you do when he didn't answer your question? Imo you need to be emailing him a lot. If you don't get a full answer, it's your job to pester him for it, not his job to remember and give it you. Sorry, I sound a bit harsh because clearly you are working really hard without anything like the support you'd expect.

I think it would be completely fine to explain about the other difficulties, but perhaps in writing would be better?

(Btw, congratulations for being on-track for a First, that is great!)

Thanks for this. Nothing was mentioned when I got my extension. Since I need the form to submit my next assignment, it really should have been returned before the next one was due! Having said that, it's a new thing this year, so I guess he probably forgot that too.

When he didn't answer my question I asked my mum who was a secondary maths teacher, and she cleared up one confusion in 2 sentences. The other questions, I simply worked through it the way I thought was right (and I don't know if I was, as I haven't had it back yet...) I agree I should chase him up, but I don't like to be thought of as the troublesome student! I think I wondered whether he was just unable to answer the other questions due to rules about too much help on the assignment.

Thankyou for making me realise I am a little OTT here. I'll have to phone and find out what I should do now, but maybe not be too negative about him and think about what to write.

I work for the OU and would suggest you call and ask for your regional learner support team. Depending on the situation some provision could be may be made for you.

I think it's worth complaining.

Do you phone him or just email? some people are a bit rubbish with emailing and you may get a more direct answer on the phone.

I'm about halfway through my OU maths degree, I love it! I'm on track for a First too but still on level 2 so early days yet really. I like the Student Parents board on here, good for motivation!

Here's a maths-related joke to lighten the mood:

f(x) walks into a bar and asks for a drink.
the barman says: "sorry sir, we don't cater for functions"

[geek emoticon]

No, I don't think you're being OTT at all! It's just that you need to be practical, not just to feel annoyed that he isn't so great. I don't think chasing him up counts as being 'the troublesome student'. If he doesn't like it, that's his problem, but you are entitled to contact him and certainly entitled if you're unsure about something.

If he's unable to answer a question, he can tell you so. It won't mean he's annoyed or that you were wrong to ask.

I'm not OU btw, I hope someone who is comes along soon.

(Cross post. They did come! )

Thanks, Shiny. That's who I was going to call. Had to wait until DD had finished smearing Weetabix everywhere having breakfast. I'll see what they say.

MMM, I love maths jokes! Didn't realise there was a Student Parents board. Might head that way soon. I'm so glad there are more mad people out there who do OU maths degrees!

LRD, I think I've been spoiled by previous tutors who have all been somewhat more... helpful. I guess I'm always aware that, just as I study in my 'spare time', OU tutors do it in their 'spare time' and most have another job too, so I don't like to take disproportionate amounts of their time.

Hmm. They do get paid for it, though! Why should your experience be less good because they misjudged how much work to take on?

I may be being overly harsh to the OU tutor here, but I've had great supervisors and terrible ones and it is always, always, a question of how committed they were and how supportive they were.

(I liked the maths joke too btw. My brother is a mathematician, he will groan at that. )

DP is currently studying with the OU and uses the online drop thingy to submit work, but when submitting it beyond the deadline you get several large red messages warning that the tutor is not obliged to mark any late work and it may be marked as 0. So I guess even with an extension negotiated, they're not obliged to follow normal protocol for late submissions.

That said, the tutor sounds pretty rubbish in other respects, and the form thing is pretty massive, so I'd definitely mention it to someone from the university.

You should definitely go above his head and write a mail to the regional supervisor today. Just flag up what you have said already, that you haven't heard back in six weeks and also don't have the relevant form. You absolutely shouldn't be penalised for not submitting if you don't have the form, you could send a copy of your work to the regional co-ordinator as well (cc'ing him in as well) stating that the lack of form is the only reason for not submitting.

My husband works for the OU and his co-ordinator makes them hand back stuff within a new two week deadline! The best way to deal with a crap tutor is to cut him out of the equation, and go to the co-ordinator and ask for help (and to do so immediately so you can't be penalised).

It's not an eTMA, so can't submit it online (And anyway, I handwrite it so that'd be no good!). I contacted my regional centre and they've simply said they'll contact my tutor and ask him to contact me ASAP. We'll see.