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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Right, support group for the slow of brain returning to study/OU scaryness.

110 replies

lostinwales · 09/01/2011 21:04

I know there are a few of us who are returning to education in the near future. I thought it would be nice for us to have a space to be terrified together, get a few ideas and lots of support. If there are some of you out there who have been here in the past and made it through your advice would be very welcome.

So, I start OU course MU123 (maths) in February with a hope of eventually completing an IT based degree in the next 5 or so years, anyone else?

OP posts:
Jux · 14/01/2011 09:40

There's an MU123 support group on FB too: here

Original poster
lostinwales · 14/01/2011 11:22

Oh boy I have stodge for brains this morning. I joyously ran the children into school and turned down a coffee with a lovely friend so I could come and do some more maths help and my brain has turned into toffee. I want to get on with the proper course not just maths help, is this why my brain has gone on strike? Coffee needed I think and then I'll try again. Thanks for the FB link Jux, my FB is S>L>O>W> this morning, but I'll try and have a look. How have you done this week?

OP posts:
Jux · 14/01/2011 16:25

OK thanks. I've got a bit tired of Maths Help so have opened Book A and am getting started. So far, it's more of the Maths Help stuff and a few exercises so you know how to use your calculator.

I was quite sharp this morning but had to stop so the Nice Man from Dyno-Rod could do unspeakable things with our loos, and then had lunch booked with several people with my T'ai Chi for MS group, where I have got slightly Wink inebriated and can only think longingly of the bath; in other words, thing were going well, but aren't any more [hic]

Original poster
lostinwales · 15/01/2011 16:39

Discovering that Saturday afternoon study has it pros and cons. Dh is home and can help me with ratios as I'm finding them embarrassingly hard. The DS's are home and a very loud, as is the telly, radio, beyblade game they are playing.

I have ordered myself an NUS car, never thought I'd be carrying one of those again Grin

OP posts:
Jux · 15/01/2011 18:42

Oh I meant to do that, but forgot.

Could I check something with you (and any other mathematicians around - inc. your dh, LiW)? It's very simple.

What is 16-3x4?

(I am mightily annoyed about this, but will explain later! Have to cook supper now.)

Jux · 15/01/2011 22:05

It is 4 isn't it? DH ahs got me all turned around and has come up with some weird thing whereby BIDMAS doesn't apply for some unknown reason.

Original poster
lostinwales · 16/01/2011 11:03

16-3x4
16-12=4

What is BIDMAS?! Am I to assume you had an afternoon like mine going 'come here and read this, that's just stupid isn't it, they are WRONG', and then have him patiently explain exactly how and why they are completely right!

OP posts:
Jux · 16/01/2011 12:10

No, quite the opposite! I said the answer was 4 because you do the multiplication first, but dh gave me some long spiel about how under 'these' circumstances you ignore BIDMAS* and so you should do the subtraction first which would make the answer 13x4.

He can be very convincing when he tries and I got a bit upset, but once he'd shut up and gone to watch Clear & Present Danger, my brain started working again.

  • BIDMAS stands for Brackets, Indices (powers), Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction. It's the order in which you do calculations like the one above. You've done it right, by the way!
Jux · 16/01/2011 12:12

Oh, and for future reference, ignore my dh. He was useless at maths at school, hates it, and couldn't square a root if he tried! Wink

[ mutters: I have to remember my own advice]

SummerRain · 16/01/2011 13:19

I don't envy you two at all.... I hated maths with a passion as school and found them the hardest aspect of my science course last year.

My mind rebels at the most mathematical concepts... they don't make sense to me!

Am just starting my TMA for U116.... have the first two questions done but now have a report to write on habituating gorillas in Bwindi National Park. Bleurgh.... incredibly now in the humour after ds2 keeping me awake all night!

Jux · 16/01/2011 20:33

That sounds fascinating SummerRain; I'd love an essay on habituating gorillas (seriously I would). I was considering an MSc in animal behaviour when I found Exeter didn't do Neuroscience. Nor do the OU, come to that. I am gradually leaving those hopes and dreams behind me and very faintly leaning towards stats; I find maths quite therapeutic - as long as I know what I'm doing Wink

Original poster
lostinwales · 17/01/2011 09:43

Morning, school work takes priority over housework doesn't it? I would much rather be doing maths than cleaning up after a weekend of hooligan DS'!

SummerRain, habituating gorillas sound fascinating, but I'd rather be doing something quantifiable like maths than writing an essay any day! I think the problem I had with study on Friday was that it was about estimating and my science brain does not like to be less than accurate!

OP posts:
TinyDiamond · 17/01/2011 10:23

Hi all again, previous;y lost this thread so glad I found it again.

I am really finding my study hard at the mo. I'm 9+3 weeks pg with my first and have been so unbelievably ill from day one my work has definitely suffered for sleep instead.

I am due to also start another course in two weeks along with my current one, both level 1 60 credits so hopefully I'll be ok. Probably not the best idea I now see but was registered before I knew I was expecting. Where there's a will there's a way though eh ladies!

Original poster
lostinwales · 17/01/2011 10:41

Congratulations TinyDiamond! What wonderful news. Don't worry, the tiredness will fade away soon, I can't think of a better time to get two courses out of the way, you can have a lovely break then when your gorgeous baby is born. I managed to work full time with DS1 in A and E until 36 weeks, definitely will and a way but it's doable! What courses are you doing?

OP posts:
Jux · 17/01/2011 10:54

Congrats TinyDiamond. Get in touch with your tutor if things get worse and you find you might not be able to cope. They're fantastically helpful and really want you to do as well as you can.

Jux · 17/01/2011 10:56

LiW, housework is definitely a lower priority than study; it's a lower priority than many things

TinyDiamond · 17/01/2011 11:53

I'm very lucky as my tutor is AMAZING for current course, she really goes above and beyond for us. I have already emailled her explaining the situation as we are due to have a tutorial Weds and hope to attend, sickness permitting...

I am doing DD101 (social sciences) now, almost half way through that and then due to start AA100, the arts past and present in Feb. Just want to get my tutor's details through so I can get in touch with them as likely I'm going to need a little bit of flexibility on that course. It ends in Oct, I am due in August...scary!

SummerRain · 17/01/2011 11:59

Tinydiamond... with most courses the final TMA or EMA will be available well before the finish date of the course so if you manage to keep well ahead there's a chance you could finish the course before baby arrives... or at least only have a small amount of work to do. Of course every module is different and I don't know how the social science ones usually operate.

Congratulations though, and best of luck!

TinyDiamond · 17/01/2011 13:30

I did think of that as an option and will see if it is possible, however my first course only finishes in June and I don't go on maternity leave until mid July so we'll see.
Also I do enjoy going to the tutorials to keep up and check I'm doing stuff correctly. Anyone else get alot out of going to them?

SummerRain · 17/01/2011 14:39

haven't been to one yet.

ds2 was too little for me to travel cross country last year for S104 (tutorials were in dublin and we live in the west of ireland) and my U116 tutor can't be bothered doing face to face tutorials so we do online ones instead which i've missed both of so far due to other commitments.

SummerRain · 17/01/2011 15:11

snort... and i've just been allocated my tutor group for S250 and my first tutorial is in friggin Belfast Hmm

Guess I won't be going to them this year either Sad Unless I take a bus at 2.20 at night which gets me there at 7.30 Hmm Don't think I'd be fit for much after that!

Jux · 17/01/2011 15:45

I suppose you could organise a night out the night before, stay in a hotel and go to your tutorial the next day....

Oh OK, not practical really, I know (but could be good fun).

I have no idea if we have tutorials for MU123; I think they're online ones which I am sure I will miss. The tutorials for S10whateveritwas when dd was tiny were great; the only times I got a break from dd in fact. Couldn't do the summer school though, which I will always be sorry about.

I have hit a really boring bit of my course now. I can't be bothered with this real world stuff!Grin

SummerRain · 17/01/2011 16:14

Would be great fun if I could afford it but no chance of having the money for accomodation and food unfortunately Sad

I hate the boring bits... it's so hard to keep up the momentum isn't it?

sali81 · 17/01/2011 20:19

Okay I just stumbled upon this thread by accident and I'm quite glad I did, I was recently thinking about doing a computing course with the ou. (I too want a MacBook pro, we were fated to meet here lostinwales!) I am very very nervous about studying something like a degree type course as I have only done gcses(v badly too lack of motivation etc) I was just wondering is where do I start?

mumbar · 17/01/2011 20:28

Oh I like this idea Grin

I'm currently in my 3rd year OU, doing MZ627 - Developing geometrical thinking. Start E123 in February.

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