Should I complain about this tutor?

[Callisto]

Hi all, I have recently completed my first 10-point OU course hopefully en route to a degree. The course was Science/Maths S154 and involved 2 TMAs. I showed both TMAs to my tutor before uploading them and was under the impression that while she couldn't tell me what to write, she could tell me if there was anything completely wrong so that I could work through it again. I got a maths question completely wrong in the second TMA but she didn't tell me, although she went as far as to re-write another part of the same TMA for me. Now my score was 81 so I guess I've passed the course, but I am really, really pissed off that I got that question wrong and had no idea that it was wrong until I got the TMA back.

So, should I complain about her or just suck it up and get on with the next course?

I'm astonished that you were able to show you tutor your TMA for feedback. I don't teach this particular course - but I'm very surprised that you have been encouraged to do this. As for ''to re-write another part of the same TMA for me'' This surely can't be permissible!!

I think your tutor probably realised she was going a step too far in 'supporting' you here and backed off.

I'd be fascinated to hear what feedback you would get from this kind of complaint.....

What the heck!? You really shouldn't be showing your tutor work that will be marked, and they shouldn't be letting you, let alone re-writing parts! That is what you should be complaining about if anything although that is not what you are annoyed about.

When I was writing my dissertation someone was writing in a diary style and wanted to be reassured this was suitably balanced with academic content. The tutor looked and commented on the style but that was all he could do and I felt like she was pushing her luck even with that.

I, like everyone else that had posted am so shocked that you were able to show her your work prior to submission. I have never had or heard of a tutor doing this. As for re-writing part of your work???? How could you think this was appropriate??!! There is no basis for a complaint when what you would be saying was she didn't tell me the answer.

Thanks for the replies. I hope you don't all think I was cheating. This is my first OU course and I just assumed that the tutors are there to show the students where they are going wrong, as well as answer any questions and clear up misunderstandings of information. I certainly didn't ask her for the answers to anything, just whether I was heading in the right general direction with the TMA's. I didn't think that it was appropriate to re-write my work and I ignored her suggestions anyway.

It can be quite difficult to know how to respond to questions about a TMA without giving too much information.