Do we have an OU support thread and if not, shall we?

[Fillyjonk]

Cos studying with the OU, esp around kids, is soooooo hard

I am preparing to do S205 (The Molecular World). I cannot get my head around thermodynamics. I need about 2 hours just to sit with NO DISTRACTIONS but between 3 HE'd kids and a partner who works daft hours I am not getting a chance.

Also I cannot for the life of me remember WHY I am doing this

Wow - well done mars!

well done Mars

well done mars.

I think I read somewhere that the OU are trying to make the courses more even by having more start dates in the autumn so lots of the new courses should have november starts but they will still continue witht he feb starts with the older courses I think the aim is to even out the courses so that nov/ feb course starts become about 50-50 eventually

Can I join? I'm also starting ED209, did DSE212 2 years ago but found newborn DS2 as well as SN DS1 enough to cope with a took a break. However since I am intending to be an Ed Psych I need to get a move on as it's 3 more part time courses then a 3 year doctorate... (Help!)
I haven't really started yet, but have looked at it all and the start date is just getting closer and closer, I have no idea how I'm going to fit it in!

It would be great to have flexible start dates for more courses. My level 1 courses have all had two start points, but I suppose there are more students so it is financially viable to do this.

Can I introduce myself, I'm about to start Approaching Literature, I've got 150 points so this one will tip me over the half way mark.

I'll need people to talk to at 11.30 at ngiht when I'm trying to finish assignments

Hi all - I'm just finishing A177 Shakespeare and preparing for AA100 next month, and doing Lilibet's course after that (along with Yanda - Hi!!!). Lilibet - tell us all about your workload - it looks scary, have you read all the books already? What courses did you do before? I'll be asking loads more questions about your course, so be prepared!!

Hi NCOT, I've done A103, which I don't think exists anymore, three short courses, one was an introductory course, one on Leonardo Da Vinci and one on Essay Writing, I did Introducing Religions last which was very intersting.

I've almost read everything, just have Great Expectations to finish.

babbi??? are you still around? Not long til course starts and just wondered if you'd had a look at sutff? I'll def need your help and guidance as I am an OU newbie. Get in touch!

Hello all

MadreInglese you're the same start date as me!

Pumpkinsoup I studied my first year of uni down at UWE in Bristol, where 2 weeks in I found out I was expecting dd! I fell off the toilet seat when I saw the result lol! I finished my first year there so that I could gain the 1 years credit, even though I was a biffa by the end I would say in comparrison, that OU is far more structured and offers a hell of a lot more support. I would urge anyone to give it a go. It is also a lot cheaper and they supply most of the materials you need. I wish I'd known about it all before, think that one year alone in Bristol cot me in the region of £8,000! At the minute I'm just doing an open degree with honours, although I would like it if I could (somehow) get the BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth studies. I think I'd have had to have done some of their first years courses though. Should look into it more........

Mars well done on your results!

HairyMaclary welcome! You're also doing ED209!

I think that more September start dates are needed tbh. It'd make things so much easier, especially if you're going onto study at another uni after the OU. I want to do my pgce after my degree and will have to wait until the following September to do it as my courses all start in Jan/Feb and run till the ned of the year.

Lilibet I'll most likely be joining you with the late nights!

Have had to put dd into nursery for 2 half days a week to get some alone study time. My eyes are watering at the cost of it all! She starts tomorrow, it's kind of sad!

Have done no work recently as I've had a friend visiting me. Need a kick up the bum to get motivated at the minute!

Hi Catchastar - it's lovely to hear you compare the OU so favourably with brick universities. Some people still have the attitude that OU degrees are somehow less valuable than one from a built university. I find this rather hard to believe as my OU studies have been bloody hard going!

My course starts on the 7th of Feb and I'm already procrastinating

I do agree with you catchastar I did a couple of years at royal holloway uni and as I was already married at the time I lived further away than most students and commuteded daily and then became pregnant with ds1 and did not see it through. It was the study support on offer at the open university courses that really surprised me I expected to feel very much alone but was very plesantly surprised and now that I have 2 ds's in my case it is the only way to fit in a degree while still being a full time mum.

Struggling with mine today

me too KM - Im doing DD100 and hating it. I did it under advisement by an OU advisor, but Im looking to do stuff thats more about sustainability and the environment.

Though I did get the result of my last assignment through last night, and did waaay better than I expected so its a little extra motivation. I only really get 1 morning a week to do it atm, but trying to get motivated to do 2 mornings without feeling Im giving up what little social life I have! When doing the environmental openings course, I found it hard to put the study material down and finished the course waaay ahead of deadline. Will be more careful with next course I choose!

I have postponed my next course because i am struggling with this one so much

& I am devastated as I just turned over to see the next assignment & I realised I have another 1500 words to write today (& I haven't finished what I was planning to do today)

I'm due to start K309 Communication in Health & Social Care on 7th Feb, with a view to gaining a BSc Hons in Heath & Social Care, though I haven't got my credit tranfer yet!
Opened the course materials and felt sick, want change my mind but I've paid for it now!

I am getting more & more despondent - I can't do this stuff

KM - you CAN do it. With not being well and Xmas hols, maybe you are just out of the swing of it... besides I dont think these things are supposed to be easy! What level are you doing? Have you found any online support groups specifically for your course?

It's a level 1 30 pt one

The on-line support is limited

I have had a nap & I am ready to start again

Stupid course

oh KatyMac I am sure you can do it. Why don't you speak to you course tutor and explain the difficulties you are having I have generally found them to be good at understanding the issues and suggesting solutions too. It can be quite easy to get in to a negative frame of mind and then every thing seems to be that much harder. Please keep coming on here at least we can offer you some moral support and do speak to you tutor they are there to help you.

Doing better today - I will get it done

I'm doing both e123 and e124 and since christmas I've been having trouble getting back into it. got two assignments due in february

Hi can I join? I'm doing dse 212 exploring psychology...

finding things okay just stall a bit when I am due to have an assignment marked. I don't seem to be able to get on with things till I know how I've done!

Can anyone help me here?