Urgent help re:OU

[KatyMac]

I just got an awful mark for my OU TMA

At the same time I got a fabulous mark for another TMA (different course)

29% vs 84%

Now I am dealing with some (fairly) major health problems atm & had put the 29% down to that or that I wasn't 'ready' for a level 3 course yet

But that doesn't seem to be true.

So do I contact the 84% guy & ask was he marking leniently; do I give up on the 29% course

Do I sit in the corner & gently rock (my preferred option)

Contact your tutor from the 29% mark course. Yes will be akward but find out what they reckon happened - did you misunderstand the assignment?

Do you have a possibility of substitution for this course? If not I imagine you will have to repeat (as I recall even if you have really horrible circumstances they will only bump your mark a bit).

Don't give up completely. Maybe that just wasn't a good course for you.

Yes, I'd contact the tutor who marked your 29% TMA.

I don't know what it's like for all courses but I know my tutor said the mark scheme is very 'fixed' and that when comparing different tutors marks for the course they're usually identical (or maybe just one mark difference).

Have you had the TMA back with comments? Again don't know if this is standard OU stuff or just this course (it's my first).

I agree I don't think it was the course for me

But I got 54% on the last TMA

I need to blast the ECA and get a ridiculous amount to pass - which to be fair is unlikely

I don't seem to be able to repeat the course

& I am waiting to get in touch with the tutor

I missed the tutor today

I have to ring tomorrow

I feel all

I used to be an OU tutor. You can ask for the paper to be re-marked. There always used to be a facility for this to be done by a second marker. Nobody will mind as long as you don't make any accusations of unfair treatment or corruption (believe me it happens). Don't query the high mark you received, that's asking for trouble imo.

Really? I think I'd rather re-submit but that doesn't seem to be allowed - my dad & I are going to go over it tomorrow & see if we can understand what was wanted that was different

I am on a lot of medication atm, so it is possible I just 'missed' it completely

But as I only got 54% on the first TMA the chance of me getting high enough on the exam to pass is slim

I just wish she had given me the extension I asked for; apparently they are supposed to if you have health problems

I can't remember about extensions. I think it dempends which discipline your tutor is in. I think I was in the public policy (?) or maybe health and socail care (?) department at the time and we were allowed quite a bit of discretion provided the student seemed to have a valid reason and asked in good time. For example one of my students had a child with lifethreatening health problems, another was registered blind; another worked on a oil rig - this created some difficulties for them in terms of always getting the work in on time.
The whole ethos around OU tutoring is that the students have missed out on higher education for whatever reason and are now having to study in their free time while raising a family or holding down a job and so OU tutors are encoraged to make allowances to some degree if students can't mget their TMAs in on time. However it was frowned upon if the student regularly asked for an extension as it was regarded as unfair to the other students. Same went for exceeding the word count. Students were given fair warning about that but if they persisted we marked down to the maximum words allowed and no further.

Facilities Category Facility Requested
Course materials Comb-bound materials
Course materials Electronic text of printed material
Tutorial facilities XXXX
Tutorial facilities Parking very near
Facility requests discussed with Adviser Flexibility with assignment submission
Facility requests discussed with Adviser Special sessions instead of tutorials

Is on my "Student Disabilities and Additional Requirements Profile"

Oh well I have to deal with it

I guess I am feeling a bit grumpy atm as I just got another long term diagnosis

'Nobody will mind as long as you don't make any accusations of unfair treatment or corruption (believe me it happens). '

I've just re read my post on 18th - it could be taken the wrong way. What I meant was that there were sometimes ACCUSATIONS of unfair treatment or corruption. There was never any actual unfair treatment or corruption, as far as I'm aware.

It might be worth calling learner support and telling them that you're concerned that the low grade you received might make it impossible for you to pass the course and explaining that it feels unfair, as you were very ill and on medication at the time but were refused an extension. If they raise your concerns with the course team, you may get a better response than from the original tutor. But do make sure you don't sound resentful or as if you're attacking your tutor in any way.

Best of luck :)

I am waiting to here from the exam board

The 2 things I am most annoyed by are
a) I asked for a 6 hr extension my tutor said no; fair enough. But she failed to mention that if I submitted before 12noon, I cold resubmit again before 12midnight

b) In my feedback she told me I could still pass; I couldn't so for 2 weeks I went on merrily working without being aware I could not pass

I think the OU are unfair when it comes to ECAs.........I have been doing my level 2 course this year (part of FD) and have been very ill with my current pregnancy. Close to finishing a few times and then the cut offs were announced and ECA is due in just 14 days after im due to give birth. Immediately i rang OU and asked if i could get extension (wont be able to drive to get confirmer forms signed and evidence checked by manager and also being on maternity leave makes doing work based stuff impossible) BUT despite the fact that i will be having major surgery 14 days before cut off and will have a new born baby i cant get an extension! If i get less than 40% on ECA i fail whole course. I have only just scraped through the OCAS with 43%!

Oh tricky

A girl on my course handed in her ECA on her due date