Open University study?

[fin racer]

good to know I am not alone then.
I have been scouring the OU site ( confusing as it is), even arranging an area of the house to study in!
Going to be tough, I know that, but if it was easy, we'd all be at it, thats how I look at it

[aclivity]

I finished T306 this year, and am going to study T215 in 2012. Have you chosen a module yet?

[fin racer]

aclivity said:

I finished T306 this year, and am going to study T215 in 2012. Have you chosen a module yet?

yes I am starting TU100 in Feb, then registered for TM128 ( MS Server tech) in Sept.
Bit of crossover but hopefully not too bad.

[fin racer]

aclivity said:

I finished T306 this year, and am going to study T215 in 2012. Have you chosen a module yet?

yes I am starting TU100 in Feb, then registered for TM128 ( MS Server tech) in Sept.
Bit of crossover but hopefully not too bad.

[aclivity]

TU100 looks pretty good; I've been doing level 2 and 3 modules, as I transferred over some credits from my previous study (HNC engineering). Depending on the rules on credit applicability, I may need to do TU100 to complete my degree (so I will have dine level 3 first, then a level 2, and level 1 to complete the qualification - akin to going to university in reverse order, so I would have to finish my study by spending a week drunk and pretending to be a fresher!)

[fin racer]

aclivity said:

TU100 looks pretty good; I've been doing level 2 and 3 modules, as I transferred over some credits from my previous study (HNC engineering). Depending on the rules on credit applicability, I may need to do TU100 to complete my degree (so I will have dine level 3 first, then a level 2, and level 1 to complete the qualification - akin to going to university in reverse order, so I would have to finish my study by spending a week drunk and pretending to be a fresher!)

ha true dat!

Whats your homelife situation, married, family etc? ( nosey bd, I know)

[Mr Pies]

aclivity said:

TU100 looks pretty good; I've been doing level 2 and 3 modules, as I transferred over some credits from my previous study (HNC engineering). Depending on the rules on credit applicability, I may need to do TU100 to complete my degree (so I will have dine level 3 first, then a level 2, and level 1 to complete the qualification - akin to going to university in reverse order, so I would have to finish my study by spending a week drunk and pretending to be a fresher!)

Just got off the phone to the OU. I'm starting my degree with them in June.

I'm in the second year of my HNC in electrical engineering, how many points are you getting for the HNC to carry over?

[aclivity]

Married, with 4 kids (youngest 6, oldest 9). Studying takes place when the kids are in bed, but then I have always been a night person. To be honest T306 was supposed to be about 600 hours of studying or something like that, I didn't do anything like that much. I would also read a lot of the documentation when travelling, the course books lent themselves to that pretty well. In the past I used to read OU course notes on the tube.

I transferred 120 credits in, from my HNC and I had completed 1 year of a part time degree at Liverpool John Moore's University. I don't know if the HNC or the 1 year at LJMU was worth more!

[FeatherZ]

Just applied for Discovering Maths which can go towards by Natural Science Degree (Physics). Only problem being its full up so I'm now left waiting.

While I wait though, I have been doing the first part of Starting Science (S154) on Openteach, I'm enjoying it - Which is a bonus!

[Mr Pies]

FeatherZ said:

Just applied for Discovering Maths which can go towards by Natural Science Degree (Physics). Only problem being its full up so I'm now left waiting.

While I wait though, I have been doing the first part of Starting Science (S154) on Openteach, I'm enjoying it - Which is a bonus!

2 weeks ago I tried to sign up for; Engineering the future Discovering mathematics and another 60 point module that I can't remember the name of right now.

Each one was full and I was put on the waiting list. I finally managed to get enrolled on starting with Maths (i was panicking a bit at this point) it's only a 15 point module.
3 days later I got offered a place on each of the 60 point modules I was on the waiting list for!

What's happening is lots of people are trying to enrol so next year they are classed as a 'continuing student', meaning you get the lower university fees for the duration of your qualification.

My bet is you'll get a place on the one you've been wait listed for.

[bucksmanuk]

As a number of you are doing engineering type courses and I am now sitting on the other side of the mechanical engineer recruitment desk asking the snotty questions rather than answering them, I’ll put my 2p worth in.
I am afraid to say after 8 years of interviewing- the “quality” of university, and its class of degree doesn’t seem to have any direct link on the amount of engineering actually understood. The best graduate I have EVER interviewed for understanding what he was looking at -in this case a 45,000 HP gearbox and the problems related to it, was a very quiet modest lad who had a 3rd from Bath. The other member of the design team showing him round had an OU engineering degree, and I never had any doubts as to his technical competence.
A trend I have noticed that those with firsts from top class universities don't actually like the “making bits” part of engineering. They have their eyes on top flight management roles within 5 years, and don't seem to understand that making good things (hopefully profitably and on time) is what engineering is all about. I really don’t understand this mind-set.
So if the company doesn’t like OU degrees, it’s their loss.

[FeatherZ]

bucksmanuk said:

As a number of you are doing engineering type courses and I am now sitting on the other side of the mechanical engineer recruitment desk asking the snotty questions rather than answering them, I’ll put my 2p worth in.
I am afraid to say after 8 years of interviewing- the “quality” of university, and its class of degree doesn’t seem to have any direct link on the amount of engineering actually understood. The best graduate I have EVER interviewed for understanding what he was looking at -in this case a 45,000 HP gearbox and the problems related to it, was a very quiet modest lad who had a 3rd from Bath. The other member of the design team showing him round had an OU engineering degree, and I never had any doubts as to his technical competence.
A trend I have noticed that those with firsts from top class universities don't actually like the “making bits” part of engineering. They have their eyes on top flight management roles within 5 years, and don't seem to understand that making good things (hopefully profitably and on time) is what engineering is all about. I really don’t understand this mind-set.
So if the company doesn’t like OU degrees, it’s their loss.

I like reading stuff like that, my aim is to get a 2.1 , use it to get into an accountant graduate position with one of the big 4.

If that doesn't happen I will leave work and then go on to possibly do PhD / Masters at a "brick" University, then into research.

[fin racer]

just to update from my OP, I received part of my learning material for the first block of my first module.
All good so far, looks quality, received details of my tutor and days classes/tutorials promptly,
Course commences 4th of Feb, itching to get started tbh :-)

[Andy_GSA]

fin racer said:

just to update from my OP, I received part of my learning material for the first block of my first module.
All good so far, looks quality, received details of my tutor and days classes/tutorials promptly,
Course commences 4th of Feb, itching to get started tbh :-)

I'm a tutor on TU100 for the presentation that started last October (which was the first run of the module). This is a module that requires an awful lot of work and does move very quickly, so you need to keep on top of it. When you start to see the assignments remember the first two are 'half size' to get you started. Some of the content might not look that relevant to you initially but some of the early stuff is designed to give you some study skills that you'll need for later on. Obviously your own tutor should be your first point of contact, but I'll keep an eye on this thread and good luck!

[littlegreenfairy]

Have all the books now- about 2ft of spiral bound books and about 3ft of text books.

Three level three modules all starting within 8 weeks of the first is a bad plan.

[Xaero]

Received my books for second OU module a few days ago (level 3). Seems to be considerably more than my first module (which was a 30 credit level 3 one).

Will be doing the 2 alongside each other for 3 months. If I do it ok I'm going to start another one (my last) just as the first one finishes.

Doing 3 at a time seems quite a bit!

[fin racer]

Andy_GSA said:

I'm a tutor on TU100 for the presentation that started last October (which was the first run of the module). This is a module that requires an awful lot of work and does move very quickly, so you need to keep on top of it. When you start to see the assignments remember the first two are 'half size' to get you started. Some of the content might not look that relevant to you initially but some of the early stuff is designed to give you some study skills that you'll need for later on. Obviously your own tutor should be your first point of contact, but I'll keep an eye on this thread and good luck!

Excellent, thanks Andy.

It's exposing me to a lot of concepts that I don't have much experience of.
Such as keeping a learning journal, awareness/recording of learning objectives etc.
I have set up a learning journal through Evernote, so I intend to take notes manually, and at the end of each part, post to Evernote so that I have a soft copy for review later.
I have no qualms about grasping the more technical aspects, more concerned about study skills/time management.

[fin racer]

littlegreenfairy said:

Have all the books now- about 2ft of spiral bound books and about 3ft of text books.

Three level three modules all starting within 8 weeks of the first is a bad plan.

you're not joking!

[fin racer]

just to update-

currently slap-bang in the middle of week 5 of study. One TMA done and dusted, with a reasonable score. Could have been better though, threw away a few marks here and there.
Time commitment really starting to bite now, with TMA No 2 due next Thursday. Currently working through basic programming fundamentals.Really enjoying it so far.

[Andy_GSA]

fin racer said:

just to update-

currently slap-bang in the middle of week 5 of study. One TMA done and dusted, with a reasonable score. Could have been better though, threw away a few marks here and there.
Time commitment really starting to bite now, with TMA No 2 due next Thursday. Currently working through basic programming fundamentals.Really enjoying it so far.

That's good to hear, I'm just about to start marking my group's TMA5, then need to do some preparatory tutorials for TMA6 and the EMA.