To just feel like sacking off my OU course?

[Sparklysilversequins]

I am feeling very disheartened. At Level 1 I was getting between 68 and 78, never higher. At level 2 the same. Tutor says I am doing well and just to read the essay marking to improve. I think I have done better each TMA then it's another 70. I am learning loads but don't seem to be improving. I am disheartened. I missed a TMA last week for family reasons and they wouldn't extend any further. I just feel like sacking it off to be honest. I can pick it back up but my grade won't be that good because of the missed essay. I have two kids with ASD also and am a lone parent. Last thing I feel like doing is studying once they're finally asleep.

Enthusiasm is nil right now .

Oh gosh yes, don't lose you're fee arrangements, you would not be happy with yourself then!

And if you need more pepping up and cheerleading just come back on here! It's really hard doing an OU degree as so much feels like in isolation. You're doing amazingly and you'll be so proud when you complete it. I was, I changed my name on Facebook to add my BSc at the end I was so proud, I probably came across as a complete idiot, but I don't care, my degree took me years and through some hardships!!

I have nothing particularly to add apart from a cheerleading message:

Keep going, you're doing really well. You're juggling an adult family life with part-time distance learning, which is to be congratulated on its own. I hope you can make use of some of the resources out there to get your mojo back.

70% average is brilliant under any circumstances!

Thanks everyone. I am focused today, getting out books and making a proper plan. I am doing "Childhood and Youth Studies" with modules of "child development" and "Childhood" on the go at the moment. I have already completed "Social Sciences", "Psychology" and "Understanding the autism spectrum" last year. Actually got a distinction in the "psychology" module. Time to stop whining and crack on.

That's the spirit, you can do it, you ARE doing it!

I can still see your perfectionist thinking a bit there. You CAN whine and have off days/weeks. You will go through this again, and that's perfectly ok. I made myself miserable for ages with the belief that "doing the course" meant being a woman of steel 100% of the time, and if I couldn't be then I was weak. So long as you get back in the saddle each time it doesn't matter how many falls you have. They are part of the process.

Crikey i thought i was doing ok getting 55% each time on my first two TMAs You are doing really bloody well getting those high scores

70% is really good. I'm going for my psychology degree and averaging 70-80% in the two courses I've done.

I've just started DSE212 and its a killer getting back into it after a break between courses. It's hard juggling housework, school runs, shopping and kids without the added reading and assignments.

I've got child development next which will overlap with my first level 3 course and I'm dreading it as the course info makes it look tough going but they're compulsory for me.

Keep going you're half way and if you're on transitional fees its worth sticking with it.

Please keep going, I got 81 my last one and I wanted to hit myself as it was one off a grade 1

Keep truckin' chick. I finish in June. I won't have got my longed for (and sweated for) First but I'll have a 2:1 unless I royally fuck up imminently I feel like I made it through the economics level 2, which should have got me a medal in itself, it was that awful. I'm feeling a bit about finishing, though I'm looking forward to reading books that aren't philosophy/politics/economics.

OU is tough - we all deserve for taking it on!

I work in a university, we would expect grades to drop by 5% between year 1 and 2 - unless of course the student has improved in their study. Otherwise year 2 work would be at the same as level 1 iyswim.

So the grade boundaries are different in OU? 70 is a first at my uni.

85 for a first. I won't be managing that!

I started on the Y032 Access Course in October and in my first two TMAs scored 78 and 73 after not doing any study for 22 years.

Am I ok with these scores bearing in mind ( Lack of Study in previous 20 years) .
I Am hoping to go on to Understanding Social Sciences A 60 Point Course next year .
( incidentally Y032 is a 30 Points Non transferable course)

Does a 60 point course mean twice the work is required.

More or less motown and it will also be harder if you're going up a level. But the idea of the access courses are to bring your study skills up to date, so you should be OK if you were getting good 70s in YO32.

That said, one of my 30 pointers had masses of reading so it isn't always a straight doubling up.

Thank you Wilson. I was disappointed and Angry with the 73 because I should have done better. On my Analysis sheet 3 of the grades were between 73 and 80 but a 64 on Key skills brought the average down.

I posted the assignment and found out I had presented it in the wrong way on my Group's Forum 1 day before it was due . I did a rushed job posted without proof reading and lost 8% on key skills so it would have been a 75 and I did not really understand what was expected with what was a short 500 Word Essay .

I have found TMA 3 which is a 1000 Word Essay with a "Question" more enjoyable because I have been able to express myself more ( Less Formulaic) and also I have understood what is required from the question.
TMA 3 Is not due until the 3rd of April , I am hopeful it will be at least as good as the 78 I got previously.

Thank You Again Wilson. I was not the highest Achieving student at School/College so you can get a bit down when you think "You Need to be doing better"

How did you find Understanding the Autism Spectrum Sparkly? I'm just coming to the end of it (as my 4th module) and am not greatly impressed.

You can absolutely do this. Your marks are fantastic, do they down on yourself about them!

I know it is so hard. I've done mine full-time alongside working for the last three years. Last year I had a major wobble and contacted the student support service. They were absolutely fantastic, overrode the extension limit for me, bent over backwards for me really. Do email them; they can help if you're feeling overwhelmed.

Now I am 4 TMAs and 2 EMAs away from graduating, and I have a place on an MA! I never thought I would get here, but I have and you will too! You can do it! I have faith in you

*don't get down on yourself I meant. Stupid phone!

Your marks are excellent. My OU tutor said that 2:2 is the average. 70+ is well above average and classed as 'merit'. Ed209 (Child development) is notoriously difficult and many see it as hard as a level 3. 70% on that module is really excellent. I am almost in my final OU year and have really enjoyed it. So far have pass 1 and pass 2s but would be happy with 3 also as long as I pass!

Ooh mowtown I started Y032 in October too :)

motown even

Another OU student here. I hate my module at the moment (Discovering the Social Sciences) which makes it 10x harder as I would rather stick pins in my eyes then read the material I find it so dull. Next module is going to be much better for me;Counselling exploring fear and sadness.
I constantly wonder whether i should give it up so can empathise completely - but im on the old fees so it would be incredibly stupid to give up now from a financial POV

Public enemy , How are you finding it. Objection I meant to say Discovering the Social Sciences is what I want to do next year.
is that about Economics, Politics and International Studies ?

motown Using the forums for feedback was one of my key skills in my last module - they really are very good (apart from the student café). Don't be afraid to use them - if you were at a 'real' uni you'd be comparing notes with other students all the time, wouldn't you? It's just the virtual version of that