Are my expectations for this online MA wrong?

[CalliopeCat]

I'm in week 7 of a taught Creative Writing MA which is online only and feeling a bit like there's not much actual teaching going on- no lectures have been posted, just weekly intro and round up videos for the reading materials posted. I'm a mature student and perfectly happy to do my own research but kinda expected to still have some actual lectures.

Feedback/interaction from the lecturers mostly seems to be a weekly email. They don't seem to participate much in the discussion forums (and for this module, part of the grade is made up of our participation in the forums and workshop spaces)

We get weekly reading materials and creative writing exercises which again, the lecturers rarely comment on. I'd love to hear their thoughts on some of the stuff posted- that's partly why I'm studying a formal MA rather than just reading stuff online.

Not sure if it's just my expectations that are off after graduating from my BA (at a different uni) where the lecturers were online and interacted a lot more (and we had formal lectures posted).

Thanks

I've done a few undergrad OU courses and here is what I've come to expect:

Teaching - No lectures. Instead there are passages to read and questions with model answers.

Feedback/interaction - Detailed feedback from written assignments (about 6 per course). Some tutors interact on forum. You are able to call or email them at any time. There are also optional tutorials from time to time where you can get more interactions.

Personally I prefer this was of learning. I like being left alone and then getting detailed feedback.

In your case, I don't think you are being given enough feedback. I would expect each exercise to have a few paragraphs of notes, even if this means less assignments. I would definitely contact them regarding this.

@HotPatootiebootie

I did a cw masters at a north west uni but mine was in person. Although it was "taught" very little of the course was actually being taught anything. It's assumed that you will have some skills already, that you will know the formula for a successful story etc. Story arcs and character development are more of a BA level.

My course was full time over 1 year. Two evenings a week with a lot of writing and reading at home. Each term we had one night of workshops and another night about a specific module. We were expected to have shared a price of work to the group and to have read and given fed back on all other peoples work. That was the most helpful for me, but I totally could have gotten it for free with a local writers group!

One module was about the business side of things, how to get an agent, how to pitch ideas etc and how to network. One focused on screen writing, one on fiction and one on life writing. We could submit work in any area but we were encouraged to step outside of our comfort zone and try new ideas. We had lots of visiting writers talking about their craft and we heavily focused on poetics.

I have looked at several unis local (ish) for a phd in the field and am thinking Lancaster. I hasn't even looked at Chester. Where about are you op?

North East England. I was going to move to study but with how this year turned out, chose to stay closer to home.

This course is also full time from September to September.

We're in a group of 12 ish for workshop and I'd say most people post work weekly as well as giving feedback. No issues with that- I'd just really like some more engagement beyond a couple of videos and emails each week from the lecturers!

@dontwantamirena

I've done a few undergrad OU courses and here is what I've come to expect:

Teaching - No lectures. Instead there are passages to read and questions with model answers.

Feedback/interaction - Detailed feedback from written assignments (about 6 per course). Some tutors interact on forum. You are able to call or email them at any time. There are also optional tutorials from time to time where you can get more interactions.

Personally I prefer this was of learning. I like being left alone and then getting detailed feedback.

In your case, I don't think you are being given enough feedback. I would expect each exercise to have a few paragraphs of notes, even if this means less assignments. I would definitely contact them regarding this.

Thanks- it's not an OU course but a MA offered by a regional uni. I'll happily do the research and reading but it would be great to also hear the lecturer's thoughts on the stuff they're sharing which isn't happening.

First assignment is due in on Monday but I'm honestly struggling to finish it because I just don't feel engaged in the course at all which isn't me - I got a really good first on my BA- I know how to put the work in and I'm willing to but it'd be nice to get something more back!

I started on online Masters. Some of the lecturers where so disorganised, you never know when things would be posted. I left.

Everything is posted in a timely manner but there's hardly any interaction with the lecturers!

You should definitely be getting the lecturer's thoughts on the most of what is being shared (and everything else clearly marked as independent study). I realise you're not with the OU and not studying at undergrad, but this is what I would expect from any taught distance course. You might as well just read the books yourself for free otherwise.

Thanks - I'm going to focus on getting this assignment in then first then give some feedback.