OU Folk - TMA Trauma , I need your wisdom !

[winewellies]

So .. basically I’m in first Year (of 6!) of an OU course , part time study, all going okay til now ..
TMA is due in on Tuesday due to the lurgy then catching up with work stuff I’ve fallen way behind in study on the topic , currently catching up and so have limited time to actually complete the TMA , been offered an extension but this would then eat in to next block of study etc etc
Substitution works on this module so an non submitted TMA wouldn’t be the end of the world .. can’t decide to either spend time fluffing some of the TMA by reading around the questions rather than studying whole topic .. or not submit but complete all the activities, SAQs etc etc and get on track with next block
Anyone been in similar situation I’m erring more towards the second option at the moment

As a former tutor I would say complete the TMA but allocate a fixed time (and no more) to spend on it. Student's who didn't do the TMAs tended to drop out completely is my main reason for saying this. Exception being if it is the last TMA of the course and you have got good marks in the others.

Oh gosh. I don't miss these days in the slightest.

I would always aim to submit something, it's better than nothing. Just keep going and submit what you can by your new deadline. You'll feel so much better for doing so.

I did my degree over 6 years also. It's so hard when you fall behind so you have my full sympathy. I thought it was a good idea doing mine whilst I had 1 full time job, 1 part time job, 2 children and separating from my husband. HOWEVER I got through it and passed.

Good luck

It's the first year, your grade doesn't count anyway. You only need to pass. Personally I'd take the extension and do a good enough job of it, but if you miss this one out it will be fine.
There's a grade calculator on your student home page that tells you what the effect of missing it out might be on your overall module result.
Lots of students miss out an assignment, particularly at level 1.

Thanks for the replies
It’s the 4th out of 7th , so the assessment calculator says a pass with this one being a non submission and the remaining being above 60%

Realistically time wise I would be able to complete the shorter questions worth 30% of total marks but not the other main question as it’s a week long data collection too
I’m only battling this with part time work but it’s also half term so less ‘quiet time’ arrrrgh
Think I might not submit , then go for gold on the remaining ones

Sounds like a good plan.

Hi. I've done a105 and aa100. I ballsed up a few and still managed to pass. I would get extension though! Good luck.

I would submit something, even if you don't think it's very good.

I think @OneInEight is right. This is only your first year, if you're dropping TMAs now when it's relatively easy you're not building the resilience to see things through when they get hard.

Stay up all night if you have to. Get it done. You'll feel good for doing it even if it's not your best work rather than kicking yourself mentally.

I'm also an OU veteran btw, completed my degree a few years ago so I'm not talking out of my bum

Submit something, even if it’s not anywhere close to your best work.

Another OU veteran. You need to submit something, and in the future develop other strategies. I sty that with having struggled to complete the latest assignment for my work course!

I'd take a week extension max, and come up with a plan to ensure I was on target for thr next deadline.

Okay .. I’ll carry on til tonight with reading through the remaining block then I’ve got (realistically) about ten hours in total tomorrow to do work on the TMA itself and I’ll submit what I do - regardless ! Then need to get ahead for next block as should’ve started reading on that by now

Substitution uses your score for the substituted tma anyway. So if you can submit anything you'll get a higher overall score than if you submit nothing - it might not make much difference to your grade, though.

And don't forget a night's break (with wine) between submission and the next module! I miss OU, it was far easier than juggling family (teens) work and btec/nvq

In my experience the TMA notes for the level 1 modules point you to exactly which block materials you need to read and include in the assignment. You don’t need to read the entire block, just those bits. It won’t be as good as if you’d studied and understood the entire block but it will give you more writing time and focus your efforts on the most relevant information in the time you have available.

Agree with the others, it's only level 1 you only need 40%. Skim read, pick out the bits you need for the question and skip the rest for now. 10 hours is more than enough, you can do it.

I think the pass mark is 50% now. Vaguely remember reading that, but I'm not sure if it's the case for all modules yet. OP is well clear of it anyway.
10 hours is ages.

That's the spirit OP. You've got this. And when you submit tomorrow, congratulate yourself for pushing through

@InflagranteDelicto I was considering wine to fuel the TMA tbh
Tutor has replied saying submit something but don’t stress about it , then get on track for the next one

Bear in mind that at the end of the module there are usually a couple of weeks dedicated to revision and catching up. If you get a week behind, it's possible to make it up.

OU veteran here too. The level 1 guidance notes for the TMA will practically tell you what pages to look at for for it so just look at them. I did that a couple of times and still got good marks.

Thanks everyone ! Love MN - not been on here for ages ... obviously will get off it now and go and read about fish

@winewellies I prefer that way, but find I end up waffling rubbish. I'm submitted, now got 5 weeks to get the next one done

@InflagranteDelicto congratulations that is a good feeling !
I'm done for the night , TMA 'structure' mapped out (well it makes me feel organised) and alarm set for 4.30 .. think I need an OU Support/Nagging Thread and I need you all to join it !

I'll be there. This isn't ou, but the btec is a similar structure, and I need all the butt kicking I can get, although I work better with my phone out of reach - can't imagine why

Have you submitted?