Any OU tutors out there?

[IslandIsla]

I have an eight month old DD and am considering what to do work-wise. I am in the lucky position that DH earns enough that I do not have to work for the money. I want to spend time with my DD while she's growing up, but I would like to do 'something'.

This week I have been offered a job as an OU tutor. It seems perfect to combine with being a SAHM (a few hours work a week plus some evening tutorials). Are there any other OU tutors out there? I'd hope to get the majority of the work done whilst DD naps (she is a good napper - although obviously her napping won't last forever, but by that stage I think she'd be ready for a nursery/pre-school for some sessions), and of course there would be some evening tutorials to run (apparently eight sessions over the course of nine months).

Anyone else combined OU tutoring and SAHM? How much work do you end up doing in the evening? I would still like to see DH!!

I was an OU tutor.
It was before I had the dc but I combined it with doing my PhD which worked very well. I can imagine that it would work fine with dc.

Make sure you know how when the tutorials will be and whther you have any input into their timing. Mine were all on Saturdays. Also worth finding out what the expected turnaround time on marking is and how flexible this is.

TBH I loved the job. The students are so highly motivated and put the younger undergrads I now teach to shame in terms of the effort they put in. I met some fantastic people. On the other hand the marking can get pretty tedious.

One warning - it can expand to fill the time available. The students are so fab you can end up wanting to give far more than you are being paid for.

There may be opportunities for earning more through summer schools.

Oh and they offer some really useful training courses - much better than most "traditional" unis offer!

Oh and ask to look at the course materials before you sign up. Some courses are easy to teach because the materials are excellent. Others are much harder work. You don't get paid more for the more difficult courses.

Thanks muddleduck, all very useful information. Glad to hear you loved the job and I know what you mean about it expanding to fill the hours. That also happened when I was teaching alongside my PhD at uni! Sounds like it will work well with being a SAHM :-)

Glad to help.
Good luck.

IslandIsla, muddleduck and everyone else - I've an interview on Monday for a tutor job and I'd love hints on the kind of questions they might ask. It's been ages (6 years) since I taught at university (while doing my PhD) and since then I've been working in research until a few months ago when I finally gave up (couldn't balance the necessary field work and travel with two kids under four).

What type of education questions would they be asking? Anything that the OU in particular looks for?

Hey abdnhiker, not sure you will see this in time. Anyway, I found the interview more of a chat really. It lasted one hour and a lot of it was the interviewers explaining how the tutor role works. They asked me how I might explain a couple of specific things in a tutorial, how I might cope in certain situations in a tutorial (for example, some students turn up well prepared, some completely behind with work), what would I do if I found problems with a TMA marking scheme. Just be honest is my advice! Good luck!

thanks - I did notice this just before my interview today! My interview was pretty much the same. I'm actually not sure I'd even take the job if I get offered it now though because they mentioned a couple of mandatory development days and if I'm not paid extra for these then financially it becomes not worth my while (for full days my self-employed DH has to take the day off work). Did you accept the position in the end?

Yes I did accept the position! You may find the development days are on Saturdays - mine are. I am not sure whether this helps you or not, but since my DH does not work weekends, it is good for me. So far I have found OU to be incredibly welcoming and flexible. I have been able to write my whole tutorial timetable to suit my outside commitments for example. They seem set up for tutors to be fitting their tutoring alongside a full time job (which I suppose being a SAHM is!).

Hi - being an OU tutor sounds like a really good option to me. I have just completed an OU course.
Do you need to have had prior teaching experience to be considered as a tutor?

Hi flipster - not always. The course I applied to said previous teaching experience was desirable but not a set requirement. You may well be a good candidate as you understand the concerns of an OU student! Vacancies etc can be found here: www3.open.ac.uk/employment/associate-lecturers/main_4.shtm

Hi Isla, I'm a bit late to be any use but just wanted to say I'm an OU tutor and manage to combine it with SAHM to 3 children (well 2 so far, I'm on maternity leave with no.3).
It is a nice organisation to work for but the marking takes ages, not like 'normal' university marking at all. Tutorials are fun though.
What course are you teaching? I'm AA100 and A200 if I can be any use at all.