OU Club- So what are you signed up for?

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Seems to be a few OU students here, so what are you all sudying? Are you new to it or been doing it for years?

I am on the verge of signing up for Introducing Environment (Y161) a short 10 pt course, I will have to double check the finances though.

I have also started doing one of the free units on Openlearn to get me into the swing of it and I was surprised how much I am enjoying getting the grey matter thinking again.

I'm doing ED209 Child Development this year from Switzerland. I really enjoy keeping my brain going and this course looked really interesting to me.
I did K100 Understanding Health and Social Care while I was pregnant 2004/5 (positive pregnancy test one week before course started and she was born when I should have been sitting the exam LOL). It was so much easier being able to do everything from home as I could be flexible about time management and didnt have to drag myself out to college etc.
I already have a conventional university degree (graduated 2004)but I wanted to keep my brain active so in theory it will be easier to go back to work.

I'm about to start A217 Introducing Religion. First tutorial on Saturday - woo hoo!!

Sorry its not Openlearn, it is Learning space I got all excited last night.

Still not figured out what form thses tutorials take and I am scared off from the courses that include residential parts, one they are more expensive and not sure about actually being able to get there.

Dingalongcow, do you find you have a better attitude towards studying now? I ended up hating college, resenting the tutors, the placements and all the arguments over work with fellow students, we were set a lot of work and tasks to do in groups or pairs and everyone always had a different attitude on how we should be doing something.

The appeal of studying on my own at my pace does appeal.

I am doing AA314 Studies in Music 1750-2000, and nervous but excited! Have to find a babysitter for the tutorials though.

Oh god yes, much more positive. I used to start off every university term being really positive and motivated and it would last about 2/3 weeks before I got so demotivated working at other people's pace (usually the slowest and least interested person in the tutorial). This way I feel so much more responsible for my own learning, its all down to me.

Not having to drag myself out into the cold is also an advantage at this time of year, or find childcare!
The absolute best thing though is the OU discussion room setup, so you can discuss the course in your own time and in your own way and avoid all the people who are unhelpful eg those people who stand outside tutorials and go 'oh god oh god I havent done the work...can I borrow yours' or the ones who panic outside exam halls and make you panic too.

So how do the tutorials work are they online, or what? I am confoosed.

I am starting w100 Introduction to Law shortly and I am hoping to go on a do Bachelor of Laws,I am quite nervous about it all but at the same time looking forward to it

You can choose whether or not to do a face to face or online tutorial (but it will be dependant on your course). Once you've opted for online you can't swap etc.

I'm currently doing A300 20th Century Literature:Text and Debate (face to face tutorials)

and

LZX192 French: Bon Depart (online tutorials)

Loving it! I'm also involved in the online discussion groups and a yahoo group for A300.

I only went to one of my tutorials, one in the middle of the course (after the morning sickness had gone and before the SPD hit!) and it was just tutor led discussion of that fortnights course themes. For me, it wasnt very useful as everyone was at different stages/levels of understanding/place in the course book and I came away feeling that I had wasted an hour. I definitely prefer to study alone and I knew that already from my previous degree but I thought I would give the OU ones a try first.
I probably wont go to the ones for this course as I have no childcare and the tutorials are in Geneva (90 mins minimum by train)..or Milan!

I found the online discussion forums on the OU student home website so much more useful for me as there was usually a relatively quick reply to queries/problems. I also collected quite a few people on my MSN messenger so we had MSN discussions as well.

I think the tutorials for mine will be by phone.

I have never liked teh chat rooms on the OU, it seems to be an awfl lot of oneupmanship. At the moment on the course I am about to do, the course start date is 1st Feb, the first assignment has to be in by the 14th but some poeple finished this weeks ago!!!

I hate feeling under pressure and thats what these do to me

I am about to start 3 ten pointers over the next 3 months.Shakespeare first the Genetics followed by Nutrition (Can't remember the course codes )
I have just been trying to understand the website but have gave up not good as the courses are electronic!

I found a message about eTMAs and could I send a practice one but the message has now disappeared and I can't reply.Does it need to be an essay or can it be anything as tutor said she just needs to check she can recieve from me and I can from her.

Dingalongcow-90mins is nearer than I had last time- 4 hours each way and had to be there at 10am! OR 3 hours each way but on a Tues night 6.30-9.30 Wonder why I missed them all?

I have just started DSE212 (Exploring Psychology) as the jumping off point to my conversion diploma to gain GBR. I am very excited and panicking at the same time. I have a 'red brick' degree when i graduated the first time 12 or so yrs ago, but this time its very self-motivating, i really really WANT to study! (i think... )

lilibit, the OU conferences i have found the same. Our course began on Saturday (27) but prior to this people where posting about their outlines and drafts for the Ist TMA, which is due on March 14! I know that some people choose to be prepared, but it 'felt' like it was going to be a bit of 'keeping up with the Joneses' in a way. I am wondering if i can manage without the general course conferences and just focus on the study guides, workbooks, materials and tutorials without Having to read the conferences. I think i will see how i go for a bit.

Still vvvv excited though

I fancied that one squidette but had missed the closing date, you'll have to let me know whats it's like.

Hello fellow OUers!

I'm doing DD201 (Sociology and Society) which started in October and just starting D318 (Culture, Media and Identities).

This is my second year with the OU, hoping to graduate in 2009

DD100 having less time to study than i wish.
not sure yet what next

I've toyed with the idea of OU for some time, just for interest as i have a first degree already. Can anyone give me an idea of the costs involved?

It really depends on the course foxtrot.

If you go on the OU site though, the price of each course is listed next to it.

I did DD100 didn't put a lot of effort in though More or less only did the TMAs and not the other stuff

Nikkie, with a practice Etma you can send anything, just a short note saying hello.

But beware, I actaully got mine corrected last year as I used 'tho' - he corrected a bloody note!!

Thats one of my faults

Argh I have been trying to sign up this weekend and when the page eventualy came up it said I had to phone as they had various details on record for me argh!!.

I want to do it now before I change my mind!