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.

[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..

[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.

[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.

[gingergran]

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

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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 :)