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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:
MrsShrekTheThird · 17/01/2011 20:32

oooh, can I come in please?
I'm just starting my child psychology module in B07 so that when I grow up I can be an educational psychologist Grin

mumbar · 17/01/2011 23:33

I wanted to be an ed psych!! Dropped the pyschology ou course tho - too many long words!! Thinking of topping up degree after teaching for a bit.

Jux · 18/01/2011 09:56

Hi all! It gets more exciting, the more there are of us Grin

sali81, the OU are so geared up for people who haven't studied for years or (like me) wasted their time at school completely, that you are led gently along the route and you find you are learning to do things almost without noticing.

You don't have to commit to a whole degree straight away either. You could choose a course that interests you, without having a 'study goal', and see how it goes. You'll surprise yourself, I promise.

Some parts will be easier than others; there'll be times when you're sailing through a unit or section with no problems at all, and then there'll be one where you have to really think and concentrate. People on my course are already reporting 'hitting a wall' with something (they're further ahead than me), but they'll get through it. The tutors are great at helping and so are other students.

Believe me, when you hit a difficult bit, and puzzle it out you feel sooooo goooooood! On top of hte world. There is nothing quite like it, that sense of achievement for which you've worked really hard.

Go to the OU site and look at the prospectus. This is the undergrad prospectus.

Jux · 18/01/2011 10:00

mumbar, what's geometrical thinking? I saw that course last night, when I was wondering where I was going with this basic maths course I'm doing (when I got to the bit I am finding really boring).

MrsShrek, I did psychology at a normal Uni. Child psych is fascinating; I ended up working with kids with autism and was going to go into research but life got in the way ...

Anyway, off to do the boring bit. Bleah.

MrsShrekTheThird · 18/01/2011 10:15

ohhh lordy mumbar don't say that Shock

Right Jux, I know whose brains to pick now when I'm stuck Wink. I'm a specialist asd teacher, so hence the line of thought. Fascinating.

Jux · 18/01/2011 10:16

I didn't say I could remember any of it!Grin

MrsShrekTheThird · 18/01/2011 10:22
Grin
sali81 · 18/01/2011 10:58

Thanks for all the info jux, much appreciated what level of english will they be expecting? My english writing skills are a bit...so a bit anxious about that.

Jux · 18/01/2011 13:09

Again, don't worry too much. You are able to make yourself understood here aren't you? You can phone them and speak to an adviser if you're worried, they're very helpful too!

sali81 · 18/01/2011 14:30

Okay thanks for that I'll stop worrying and get on with it, wish me luck!

Jux · 18/01/2011 21:08

Good luck, sali!

LiW I've just seen that I've got a tutorial on 12th Feb at 10.30. I thought they were going to be online with Elluminate, but this is a real one. Saturday mornings are meant to be my lie-ins! Have you got one yet?

TinyDiamond · 19/01/2011 14:29

Jux,

I would definitely say go to it. Personally they are my absolute fave part and really make you feel like you can do it. Without attending them I become complacent and fall behind.

Just think if you're up and out at 12.30 you can treat yourself for a nice lunch for working so hard.

Enjoy

TD x

Jux · 19/01/2011 15:39

TD you're so right, and a lie-in is not a good enough excuse to miss it. Anyway, I like wandering into Exeter and have little enough excuse to do so.

It is nicer to meet up with people face to face as well.

Jux · 24/01/2011 20:29

How are you doing MU123ers?

I've just finished Unit 2 and done the practise quiz at which I excelled. Actually, I was rubbish but got there in the end. Messed up completely on 4 questions - a couple of which I had felt vaguely confident on, too! - and am really truly thankful that this has absolutely nothing to do with assessments of any sort and won't have anything to do with my final mark (Epic Fail on today's performance!). However, I'm feeling remarkably cheerful about it and know which bits to go over again.

SummerRain · 24/01/2011 20:42

Well I got my TMA handed in last week (not due til Feb 11th) so i have a bit of breathing room on U116... they've released the rest of the TMAs though and there's lots of essay questions [eek]

They also released my S250 TMA1 and I could cry... it's a beast and I haven't got a clue where to start. Thank god it's not due til the end of march so I can stick my head in the sand a while longer. It's a level 2 course so it'll count towards my degree classification as well [sobs]

Jux · 24/01/2011 22:10

Well done for getting it in! Perhaps by the time you get started on the S250 TMA you'll have a much better idea of what to do with it?

Essays are horrid before you start them, aren't they? Avoid avoid avoid! They're good once you get going though. You'll do fine, I'm sure.

We've got an iCMA and a TMA, but they're not released yet. The course doesn't actually start until 4th Feb. so part of me is smug at having got as far as I have before we've even started and part of me is really worried that by the time they release the assignments I'll have forgotten how to do basic things and I'll be scrabbling through my notes not being able to find what I want and having quiet hysterics Grin

SummerRain · 25/01/2011 12:42

I'm the same with S250, it doesn't officially start until the 29th so I'm ahead already which is great as at least I don't have the stress of trying to keep up, just the stress of having no idea where to start with that damn TMA!

My S104 course had loads of iCMAs and they were great in terms of assessing understanding as I went along. I'm sure you'll be fine, at least you can take your time with them as you're ahead already

Normantebbit · 25/01/2011 12:48

Hello

I am studying social psychologythis year, DD307, and first TMA is looming. Completed DSE212 last year complete with summer school which was a real roller coaster. Have two more courses to complete before I have a psychology degree!

Normantebbit · 25/01/2011 12:51

Although I am currently watching the tombliboos and the ninky nonk do their thing Grin

SummerRain · 25/01/2011 13:03

I'm studiously ignoring my course books spread on the desk in front of me and browsing the nets Grin

Jux · 25/01/2011 22:27

I suspect that the tomblihoos and the ninky nonk will give you much food for thought regarding the human psyche in particular the human condition in general Grin

I have ignored my course books ALL DAY!!!!!!! (but I did go to Parents' Evening)

MrsShrekTheThird · 28/01/2011 11:20

Just been replying to emails about tutorials, taken my first look at studenthome, and have checked out the schedule for the next five weeks Shock

Readyisknitting · 28/01/2011 11:36

Signing up! starting MS221 in the next few days done a couple, but have since had so many changes in life, it's going to be weird returning to it

Jux · 28/01/2011 19:26

Hey MrsShrek, easy does it! . Have a vodka martini and some canapes.

Readyisknitting, exciting exciting exciting! (What's MS221?Blush).

Have been fighting with my calculator (not the one recommended for the course) to make it do the calculation I want it to do; my brain is fried now.

MrsShrekTheThird · 28/01/2011 21:20

oh lordy, it's terrifying!! (intravenous red wine?)Wink