OU Students - any advice on A103 (Intro to Humanities) or DD100 (Intro to Soc Sciences)?

[spacedonkey]

I'm registering for some OU courses towards a Modern Languages degree. I want to do 90 points worth of courses in the first year, and I've signed up for the French one, but am wondering whether to choose the Intro to Humanities or Intro to Soc Sciences. I'm sure they're both interesting!

Has anyone done either of these courses? Did you enjoy them? Any advice or recommendations for me?

Kelly, you listed A103 twice?

I was just going to say that 90 points is a lot but it depends how good you are at organising yourself... my mum once did 120 points and her lecturers made it clear they didn't like her doing it, and she spent probably 12 hrs a day on weekdays on those, bless her. My memories of being a teenager is of my mum in the study with her books all the time and post-it notes all over the house. She did two lit. courses though so there was a lot of work, but I have heard that a 30 point course is more than half the workload of a 60 point one, is that true?

Anyway, I doubt I could do 90 points in one year but it is possible if you're motivated enough.

According to the OU, 90 points of courses should take about 24 hours a week of studying. I can manage that but as you rightly say steffee, it's all about being organised/disciplined. Mind you, I get the impression that the courses are structured in a way that makes it easier to organise oneself than it would be with totally unstructured subject matter.

yes, Ihave heard that about 30 point courses too

'Kelly, you listed A103 twice?' - sorry, not sure what you mean??

I don't know if my tutors even know I am doing 120 points, they have never commented on it. I've only ever asked for an extension once, as that was because I didn't get around to posting a TMA after the twins were born. My plan is to get my degree completed in three years, so I have applied to do 120 next year too. I started last year and did one level one course and one level two, did the same again this year and so will have to do two level three next year, which will be a bit harder.

According to the OU I should be doing 30hours per week, but I don't think I do. Most weeks I do around 12-16. When I have a TMA due I can put in up to 30. I work at the weekends since I've had the twins, as I can no longer get it done during the weekdays. It depends how quick you work, and how much reading around you do.

It is quite easy to organise yourself as it is all neatly divided up into blocks and chapters. I do 4 blocks of law, one weekend, then a tma the followign weekend, then 4 blocks of sociology, then the sociology tma the fourth weekend. Then back to law! I would recommend dividing up this way if you are doing more than one course, so the information is still fresh in your mind when approaching the TMA.

Anyway, I should be working right now...

I've gotta say I find your 120 pointing encouraging Kelly. I started with the OU in 2001 and have dropped out of two courses since then (but passed the first) even though I was doing quite well (90% in 2 of last courses TMAs, I was so proud!). Anyway, so I'm having doubts about going to Uni (of the traditional sense) this year and thinking of going back to the OU, doing 90 points, then 105 points then 120 (that makes 375 with my original 60 I have, I hope) but the 15 point is required for a degree in Psychology.

In past experience of three courses I've done, I only put in about 12 hours a week too (other than TMAs which I did put in a lot more work than they estimate) so I reckon it would be ok (as long as I remain committed which is a big problem for me sadly).

It's just a question of what to combine to get the points for these years, e.g. 2 level 2, then 2 level 2 and 1 level 3, then two level 3; or break it up so I'm doing an easier course with a harder one.

Kelly, if you don't mind me asking why are you doing two level 1s as part of your degree? And how is the law? I've always been interested in Law but the law courses with the OU are very expensive and I don't want to risk it with my track record. Also, (sorry for all the questions), are you doing W100 - I guess not? Don't you have to study W200 before W201 (I think it is), and do them all one at a time in a succession or am I confused? lol

Kelly, this is from your post:-

"A103, my average so far is around 85% compared to 75% in Humanities. The only problem with the course for me personally is that it is BORING! I found the way it is written is rather uninspiring and dull.

A103 - fascianting course, so many different topics, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great for anyone who enjoys learning for the sake of it, as it dips into such a wide range of topics. I actually enjoyed all of them, even the ones I weren't looking forward to. The main drawbacks were, that it is slightly harder, it is pretty intense, covering so many vastly different topics. Plus I felt a bit frustrated that it didn't go into more depth on some issues. "

I just wondered which one was A103 and which was the imposter! did you think it was fascinating or boring?

I think the first time she mentions A103 is when she is outlining her experience of DD100 and compares it to A103 by saying her TMA scores were higher, but that DD100 is boring. She then talks about A103 saying it is fascinating.

sd - just spotted that you're going to do the English Language Past, Present and Future course. I did this a few years ago, Very good course, enjoyed it but got distracted halfway through when met partner! Am intending, at some stage to do the Level 3 one but only when I know I can really put the time required into it. I also did teh first French course, the level 1 30 pointer. Enjoyed this as well but you must go to the tutorials, you'll come unstuck if you don't. Would love to continue with teh French courses but the cost and the compulsory summer schools in France (great at any other time of life) are teh stumbling block atm.

lilibet, steffee is right!

steffee - there are required four courses that make up the law degree, w200-4, two are level 2, and two are level 3. What I did for the other 120 points was optional, but Humanities and Social sciences were both recomended options.

I'm doing them both as I divided it up to do a level one and two last year and a level one and two this year. This means, since the level one courses don't count towards the final degree classification (and are easier) I can concentrate into putting my best work into the law courses. Plus I had to complete W200 before W201. W200 teaches you a lot of foundation knowledge about english law, constitutions, the EU, etc. W201 builds on what is learnt in W200 and also goes into criminal law in more depth.

My aim is to gain my degree in the three years rather than six. Now I have the foundation knowledge I can take both W203 and W204 next year with no probs. Then hopefully onto law college!

Law is a good course, though I must admit, I'm mainly doing it for the career prospects rather than a genuine interest in the subject. As an OU student I am guaranteed a place on a solictor training course afterwards. It is pretty intense, I think my study time is about two thirds devoted to law and a third to sociology to maintain an average of 85% in each. I think you need to be academicaly able, to be able to understand the course, and as TMAs are long and demanding. It requires an analytical approach and skills of arguement and being able to form your own supported opinions. It is interesting, and I think it is really useful knowledge to know in everyday life. I wouldn't recomend it as a first course if you haven't studied for a while, but otherwise, I think it is very well presented and enjoyable.

Generally, you need a minimum of 120 points at level 3 for a degree with the OU, other than that it is up to you. It makes sense for me to do two level 1s rather than take on extra work.

I also dropped out he first time I started, about three years ago, doing something totally different, due to my personal circumstances at the time. TBH I never thought I would get this far, but the second year is nearly done, and I am so pleased!

I think doing it full time has it's advantages, more incentive to work hard, more time going into it so generally more commitment to the course. I think six years seems such a long time, if I had done that I prob would have given up. Though, doing full time does require a lot of work! I'm going on holiday next week, so I've had to spend this whole weekend working on it.

I think that is my longest post ever!

Bad dt had me up all night!

Thanks Kelly, that cleared it up. I hope you get all our work done this weekend and enjoy your holiday.

I'm considering Law - I've done law for a level which was very hard but I got a B, that was in 1999 though, and I did DD100 in 2001. I have studied 2002 and 2003 but didn't complete the courses, the first one because it was just so boring (K202) and the second (U205), my husband wouldn't let me do the exam!!

To do law I think you have to complete all 6 courses within 6 years, so I would have to start again. I would be thinking along the lines of A103 and W200 next year, then W201 and something else, then the last two law courses. Having never studied at level 3 I don't know how much harder they are than level 2 but my mum says the biggest jump is from level 1 to level 2, but it may be I would have to do them seperately anyway because of the cost!! So four years takes me to 2010.

I agree with you about the career options, I would definitely want a named degree, e.g. law, psychology etc, and one that would guarantee me a place on some further study/training place etc. I'm put off by psychology a little because there are two or three compulsory 30 point courses.

Anyway, sorry to hijack the thread spacedonkey, I'm sure you've made the right choice and the french one sounds brill too.

I feel really nervous about the French course now! I am going to get the Warm Up pack to help me revise my very rusty knowledge. Does anyone know how many face to face tutorials are involved in the level one lang courses? Are they a class or one-to-one?

btw, it is brilliant hearing about everyone else's experiences so hi-jack away!

SD - posted a bit further down. Tutorials for Level 1 French were every month. 2 1/2 hours of just speaking French! Quite daunting but worthwhile. I used to come away from them very enthused. Lots of people are quite crap (crap accent, stumbling) and some are very good. Always compare yourself to the worst, that's what I say. Thing is, you are aware of your own errors but if, like me, you're not hot hot hot at French, you won't notice other people's errors. Therefore, the won'y notice yours. You've got to be really good, I think, to be able to do that.

Now i've decided i'm going to do the Spanish beginners' course, then do the French next year. I'm not sure my French is up to doing the Ouverture (non-beginners') course. Really looking forward to getting started - hurrah!

Crikey.. this thread has evolved since my post below. DD121/DD122 are 30 points each.. and are supposed to amount to 8 hours study a week, which I don't do.. I don't have the time.. but at the end of each block I will cram a fair amount in.. and work solidly on the TMA until it's done, ignoring everything else within reason!

I feel a bit thick now having read this thread. I am nearly the end of my first year, but my average percentage is nothing like many of those mentioned! My best ever score has been 72% (which was for my last TMA.. first ever 1,500 word essay and on Globalisation). The others were only a few percent below.. but can't imagne getting anything in the 80s or 90s! But still.. you only need 40% to pass a TMA or a COURSE at this stage.. and it's either a pass or fail... your grade doesn't matter except to you! (She tells herself worriedly!)

SJ x

In response to the original post - I was in v similar situation when I started OU several years ago. Eventually I decided to do the social science course cause I had a background in the arts and was doing OU 'just for fun' so thought I should do something different from what I knew.

The course has changed since (I did D103) but I can honestly say it was the best course I ever did - it completely changed my thinking on so many things and gave me an evaluatory framework which has proved invaluable in my life as well as my studies. I had a brilliant tutor - so that might have helped. Sorry, I sound a bit evangelical but I agonised over the decision and have never regretted it since. As a follow up I did history courses which is more humanities but that course really prepared me in areas which I didn't have a clue about - for example economics (which I have since developed a bit of a passion for - wierdly..)

Good luck with whatever you decide. The OU is a fantastic institution.

SleepJess, don't worry. My highest TMA score for DD100 was 81% and that was the 6th I think! The rest were in the 60s and 70s but I missed two, so got one substituted and one 0 score, and averaged 65% overall. I didn't care either as you're right, you can only get a pass or fail. My second course I started with 90% and gradually went down and down in scores for the next four TMAs lol. I don't remember working any harder so the tutor must be marking more leniently; either that, or I actually learned something about note-taking, essay writing etc from the first course!!

Thanks Steffee.. I had been worrying somewhat.. and thinking 'who the hell do I think I am? Maybe I was never university material after all!' I am waking up in the mornings at the moment with a feeling of panic because I am so behind. This has been my first experience of trying to continue studying through the summer holidays with 3 kids around..!

Anybody else been struggling in this way? How do you manage it?

SJ x

I have three children too SJ. I don't know how I will manage this year tbh, as I last studied in 2003 when I just had ds1 who was 2, and dd, who was a baby, and both had day-time naps where I could squeeze an hour or two in.

Now they're almost 5, almost 3 and 20m so while ds1 will be at school, I doubt the other two will continue having day-time naps meaning I will have to work more in the evening. They have a bedtime of 8pm, which I'm thinking of lowering when ds1 starts school, to 7pm; and I can realistically expect to work for four hours each night taking breaks where necessary! I don't watch much tv though, so it might be harder if you do. And I stay up late, if I went to bed at 10pm or something, I wouldn't be able to do that.

Realistically though, it all depends on the workload of the course, and if you get really stuck for time, you can limit the work to just that which is needed for the TMA, and catch the rest up in revision time.

I can't wait for my courses to start! They're so addictive, huh?

LOL.. tv, what's that?! The only 'me' time I have (not including studying) is on here.. and that's snatched and stolen!

Good to know others are time-challenged too! Guess all us OU students are really though, or else we'd be going to a bricks and mortar uni and living the student life! sigh!

Yes. Be careful when filling in the form!!!! I meant to do D100 and ended up doing K100 , actually really enjoyed though, really stimulated my mind and gave me confidence.

To all of you who advised me on this, I am doing DD100 and love it. I'm so pleased I chose this course, so thank you to you all

Hi girls I ma starting social science pt 1 in may and understanding health and social care in feb, I am aiming for a psychology honours degree within about 3/4 years.
Just wondering has anyone been able to get a student loan while studying with the OU? Im hoping to concentrate on studies so have given up my part time job,

Good luck everyone
Amy xxxx