A bit disillusioned with the Open University

[Fifyfomum]

There is no scope for further reading, I have just handed in an essay which I got a lower score than I expected for and some (not all) of the reasons seemed to be that I was not keen to reference the Open University books and instead preferred to extend my reading. This is not something that they like at all, they have said there will be no secondary referencing allowed whatsoever (even if it is in the correct format)

I was 'told' in tutorial to reference a certain part of the text in my essay but I took this as a guide not a rule and I have been marked down for formulating an essay based upon my understanding of the text rather than what the tutor's understanding was.

I am really quite peeved about it, I will be making sure my work is a cardboard copy of everyone elses in future in order to get the best grade but it is very different from the 'brick' university where I did my first two years study.

I think that the OU should be setting people up for further study and should not be so far removed from what is going on at brick uni's.

[primocat]

Hi Guys,

I have done OU Level 1 and Level 2 modules across a really wide range of subjects from computing, arts and sciences. I usually get distinctions.
Some subjects really irritated me because some of the course material was flat out wrong, whilst sometimes the examinable component was misleading or again technically wrong.

It can be very disheartening to butt-up against the faculty, but I stuck to my guns and made sure I properly referenced anything external which proved that the faculty was wrong.

What I found out during these episodes is that in theory at least for most OU modules, the majority of the material needed to answer the assessment questions will be found in the course material. You must always reference course material to show that you understand it (I like to put in chapter numbers or specific page numbers all through the answers that illustrate the point). You are allowed to have your own opinions, but you must first show that you understand the course material, then you can add afterwards why you think it is wrong/should be modified. You have to properly reference everything external so they can check it.

Arts subjects are way harder to do well in, since there is a lot of scope for opinion, especially that of your marker. In my psychology level 2 module, I thought my essays answered the questions perfectly, but my tutor who is a PhD in the subject usually found some nit-picky thing that I had overlooked. Obviously he has the PhD not me, so I am sure he is right, but again, with a science module it is so much easier to work out what is needed and how to answer it for maximum marks.

I would agree with an earlier contributor that if you really think your tutor is being unfair, then by all means ask to be reallocated. However I think that the assessments are moderated, so it may not make a huge difference, although you may find you have a better rapport with another tutor.

Hope that helps :)

[MariscallRoad]

You need to resolve the situation with the Tutor sooner. Can you resubmit? Part of your progress depends on tutor at the uni - that is so. You also need to see the Learning Agreement for the specific course you signed with OU when you enrolled to see if it says that no 'secondary referencing’ is allowed. It might say the student is allowed to use other books in addition to what is given. If there is nothing it might be worth informally approaching the tutor to talk to him/her. Some students are comfortable on the phone but some are not. Have not used any reference of the OU? Has Tutor written books and articles that he included in the reading list? If you have not done so you should provide reasons for this to tutor.

[itsjustthursday]

DH is doing his degree with the OU. In brief, Level 1 was all OU text. Level 2 is still based on it, but he's now being encourage to look outside as well. I think the set up of the degree is done to allow people to get used to the method of studying, eTMAs, the format for essays and such first. Then, you start to do more exploration beyond the core texts. And then you really start delving in to what many would consider to be the conventional experience at uni - independent research, outside reading etc.

If you're accustomed to studying at other institutions then it will be a big difference in approach. Even for DH, he found the courses he has done until now not particularly stimulating intellectually. However having no previous experience of essay writing, independent research (no A levels, few GCSEs), that approach was essential to him learning how to be a student, how to write, to reference, how to read, and not just the subject matter. In this way he has gone from being a fairly poor writer (sorry DH!) to being very good at it, with proper referencing, and having learned how to fully construct an essay and the way to tackle essay questions. I think this is part of what makes the OU so good for many people. I have studied the subject he is doing, at degree level, and he is learning all of the same things but just in a different way.

However at Level 2 I am surprised that your tutor doesn't want you to consider outside sources at all, as at this stage DH is being encouraged. Could you possibly change tutor? DH needed to change once and there were other groups in the region that he could join, so it was an option.

I also second looking carefully at the assessment guides and study criteria, DH got marked down once in what I thought was a good essay, but they wanted something different and it doesn't always fit the way things would have been done at a different institution.

[MariscallRoad]

Have you looked at the student study guide, and marking guidelines? In some universities marking and assessment policies state there should be independent thought and study in addition to sessions but this rule may be different in other places.

[plecofjustice]

I've just finished with the OU and I always referenced the OU text in every bibliography, even when I didn't use it. It's a technique I learned from traditional HE - always reference the directed materials, even if you don't use them.

By the way, I had some difficulties with the conduct of some assessment and found the Exams and Assessment team really helpful - I'd recommend contacting them too if you're not happy with your assessment.

[gingergran]

Sounds as if you have drawn the short straw with your tutor!

[Fifyfomum]

Well I have certainly learnt my lesson with the last essay. Reference the open university only and don't deviate when further reading. Put in quotes he tells us to. Shame I might prefer formulating my own essays.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I find with the OU, the word counts (in Level 1 science anyway) are designed to make sure you use what's in the module and nothing else. I don't mind that approach really (at this level) because I like the discipline of making sure the wording is effective and I find the word count a fairly accurate barometer of whether I've hit the right answers.

The module I've just completed had 6 multiple choice / drag and drop ICMAs and I found they were rubbish as a means of assessment, if I didn't know the answer I just looked up the key words in the index of the book (or Ctrl-F'd it in the .pdf version) and found it, I got very good scores but it did nothing to reinforce the knowledge, unlike writing the answers out yourself.

[MadamBatShit]

.. carbon copies, not cardboard..
Stepping out of pedant's corner,

I would love to go to a brick uni but that's just not possible now. I am happy with the OU but would feel limited if all I did was do the module stuff. There is loads of material around to read, watch, listen to if you have a browse around. So I do. Sometimes I use it in my aasignments but as has been said, they are very strict on what is marked and what is superfluous. You will not get marks for stuff that falls outside the assignment.
Brick uni I did go to did a lot of multiple choice exams.. that's also not very inspiring.
The system of passing exams is regulated in a way that does not always suit your style or interest..

[Ubik1]

I did psychology level 2 and 3. I found level 2 they sue officially asked you to evaluate secondary sources and at level 3 I conducted my own research projects complete with independent research. Very rigorous.

Am now doing Level 3 eng lit and they are encouraging us to read a bit more widely, bring in sources which are relevant and add to the argument.

Sometimes they want to see that you have read the text book, you understand the topic and can critically evaluate it.

But I agree the OU has a particular way of working which is different from bricks and mortar university (I have a first degree from RG Uni)

[gingergran]

My experience of OU at level 1 and 2 is that you are marked on how well you understand the OU materials rather than what you know about the subject. You can criticise the points made or the approach taken in the materials as long as you use evidence to back up your argument. I was told by my tutors that at least 80% of evidence should come from course materials.

Having said that I always read around the subject even if only to get things clear in my head and am sure this contributed to getting good marks (pass 1s).

Level 3 is a whole new ball game - not only are you encouraged to read other materials but you are actually expected to.

I think it depends on what you want to gain from your studies

[TheNightIsDark]

I submitted a level 3 essay last month, used nothing from the ou textbook and got a 71.

Is it worth taking it up with the student advisory whatsit? Different tutors and courses expect wildly different things I've found.

[Fifyfomum]

208, but so close!

[TinyDiamond]

Is it DD206? It is a terrible module anyway just get it done and run away from it. The situation greatly improves at level 3 I promise but you'd probably also benefit from changing tutor.

[Fifyfomum]

He does not want me to do any further reading. I am just going to battle through it and move on in Level 3 I am nearly half way through my TMA's now so I think I'm just going to deal with it. I'm annoyed because it has pushed my average down but not by much, Am averaging 66% now so it won't take much to push that back up to a reasonable mark.

[Blithereens]

I'm really surprised to hear this, as I always reference secondary reading (and don't reference the module blocks nearly enough if I'm honest) and I've always been praised for it.

I think your tutor is the problem. They all like different things. Contact Student Support; I had to ask to be re-assigned to a different tutor at one point because I felt I was being marked down for no reason. When I got moved, my mark came back an unbelievable THIRTY ONE points higher

On the other hand, do be aware that at Level 1 and 2 they want you to demonstrate that you have read and understood the course blocks. It might comfort you to know that for the EMA of one of my current Level 3 modules I'm not allowed to reference the course blocks at all, and have to source all my own secondary material!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I did the Openings Course Understanding Society last year and we were given a great deal of help with referencing by the tutors, also a written module guide which was very useful. I have also completed 4 short scientific modules at Level 1 and need to take a 30 or 60 credit module from October. In the scientific modules it has not been necessary to reference unless you have used material from outside the course materials or quoted directly from the course materials. I have frequently had to refer to outside materials to clarify issues but have never used them to obtain additional information, so haven't referenced them. I have not come up against any tutor saying you must not use them at all though. Hopefully it is a one-off for this module and not widespread.

Have you thought about ringing the study advisor team for a chat about this? I'm not sure if they go into that level of detail, but they might be able to tell you what the actual policy on this is (or indeed if there is one).

[CalamitouslyWrong]

It sounds like it's your tutor that's the problem here. Some of the ALs at the OU can be a bit of a nightmare and actively work against the course team's aims to get students reading more widely and thinking for themselves.

[motown3000]

I am midway though an Access Course Yo32 . I am reading what is written with interest, as I would like to do the " Introduction to social Science Module" from October. I have been averaging about 75% on my TMAs / ICMAs , which I am quite pleased with , as I have not done any study for 22 years, and that was only Level 2 City And Guilds/ BTEC.

I have never written in a "Academic" way before, my Gcse from 1989 were E Grades with 1 D , so you can see its a big "Jump" for me.

Some of the Students on my Access Course , are struggling with understanding how to Reference , as this has only just been introduced to them.

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

"I was 'told' in tutorial to reference a certain part of the text in my essay"

That was the tutor's way of saying, on the mark scheme for this TMA question, most of the credit is for referencing (and discussion?) of that part of the text.

If you didn't do that, then you didn't get the marks for that section, no matter how brilliant the rest of the essay was.

[Fifyfomum]

It is social science.

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

I'm assuming this is an arts subject?

I've only done science, but IME, the tutor's going to have a pretty strict mark scheme, and the word limits are fairly tight - basically, if you're going to get a good score, every sentence you write needs to be ticking off a point on the mark scheme.

Since the mark scheme will only give credit for stuff that's in the textbook, bringing in anything from external materials won't gain you extra marks, and it'll use up precious words you could've spent on mark-worthy stuff.

(I love that I've written a really long-winded post on the importance of succcinctness )

You clearly know how to read around the subject and reference correctly so I don't think you'll have a problem going on to a Masters.

Also, the jump between Level 2 and Level 3 can be quite substantial.

[Fifyfomum]

Well that is comforting, that I might actually get the opportunity to read more than the (frankly badly written) OU material I am given in my next course is music to my ears.

I am just going to hope to scrap through this level 2 module as best I can. Cardboard copies here we come.

[pinktransit]

From my experience with OU - Level 1 - you have to use only their resources AND agree with their conclusions.
Level 2 - you have to use mostly their materials, but with some outside reference materials. You can come to your own conclusions, as long as you can evidence this.
Level 3 - much, much more open on materials. They do like you to use their materials, but expect you to do further research too. Sometimes they will suggest other material to use, and expect you to have at least read and referenced it to some extent, but you can certainly use your own resourced material.

It is totally dependent on the individual tutor though - one of my level 1 courses I pretty much had to rephrase the course material. Another, expected far more.
Level 3 was by far more difficult than level 2 in my experience.
I found that it was worth sticking with - I discovered just how much I love learning, even though I don't necessarily love proving what I've learned :)
(Graduated 2012 with a 2:1 Bsc Hons Open degree, mostly Social Science modules.)

[MsMischief]

I found the same. Also the OU books were quite vague in places and i needed to read around the subject to understand it and then just reference the OU books
I didn't find it academically rigorous at all. I did a level 2 science module and quite often it didn't go any further than A levels.