Open University Q&A
After the overwhelming response to my previous blog post
regarding The Open University, I have decided to do a collaboration with
Christine Grant from pandaramablog.wordpress.com. We both have very difference experience
with the Open University. Christine studies Science and is nearing the end of Level 2. However, I study English and I am half way through Level 1. There is also an age difference and a location difference between us.
We will be
focusing on our experience of work load, discipline, how we spend our assigned
“breaks”, social life and our experience with tutorials/day schools. Hopefully
this will be of some help to students who are unsure about beginning with The
Open University, or with students who are already members but need some advice.
Q. What is your
experience of work load?
Christine = All my OU
materials are online, which makes it feel more intensive. I’m studying S215
which I started then deferred, so my workload consists of 13 topics, 6 TMA’S, 2
iCMA’s and a 3 hour exam. I also have a practical block along with a
residential school which you have to pay for separately, on top of other fees.
However, this wasn’t a viable option for me due to my location, so I attended
the online interactive version which, although is designed specifically for
this purpose, made me feel rather isolated as I wanted to get physical hands on
experience. My work load is intense, but some of the topics are split into
parts, for example, Topic 5 is Chemical Kinetics which is split into 4 parts. I
usually have a week to do each part, so every week, you’re working on something
new which means if I get stuck on something, it’s very easy to get behind. This
work load doesn’t lay off for TMA’s, so the week a TMA is due you still have an
entire section to go through.
I loved Level 1 – the amount of work as a lot,
but more manageable. It seemed to be more widespread. I studied S104 which was
8 topics and I managed far better. Level 2 was a sudden increase in difficulty
and work level, which may just be for the sciences
Hannah = I have a very
different experience, compared to Christine, when it comes to work load. As I’m
only 6 months into Level 1, I haven’t experienced the sharp increase in
difficulty or workload yet. In terms of part-time and full-time study however,
I can shed some light. I began in October 2015 on a part-time course, only
picking up 1 module. With this option, I found I had too much free time on my
hands and ended up with the feeling that I felt I SHOULD be doing something
more. Because of this, in February 2016 I chose to pick up my second module,
therefore becoming a full-time student. In the first few weeks, I have noticed
a large increase in my work load, as I am studying 43 topics, with a combined
13 TMA’S and one 3 hour exam. But, I’m finding this amount of work still
manageable providing I stay organised and continue studying, even when I don’t
want to! Before starting a full-time course, I think it’s important to fully
understand the commitment you are taking on, as although manageable, if you
don’t feel you have the adequate time to accommodate your studies, you will
fall behind. I study at a rate of 2 chapters per week, sometimes more if it’s
an “assignment week” and I have submitted my TMA’s, or if the chapters are
fairly simple and short.
Q. How do you manage
to discipline yourself?
Christine =If I’m honest,
I do struggle as I am naturally scatter brained and unstructured – the master
of procrastination! But I just have to tell myself, tonight I’m going to study
10 pages, and sometimes once studying, I find myself doing one more page and
keep going. However, other nights I will sit down after making myself a cup of
tea and cleaning the house, having avoided studying. I also use a
time-management app which you can set for an alarm to go off every 15 minutes.
So will study for 15 minutes, have a 5 minute break, and continue in this
pattern. In terms of my study space, I am very organised. I use lots of colour
coding and I use yellow coloured paper, with my fiancés dyslexic over-lays to
help read print outs – this helps me study for longer period of times.
Hannah= Again, I am in
complete contrasts with Christine. I find my brain is fairly ordered and
structured, making life simpler when it comes to studying. Of course, I have
those days where I don’t want to pick up a textbook and procrastinate, but I
find these are few and far between. I am very organised in terms of head space
and study space, needing to compete the tasks I have set myself on time. I set
my own deadlines for my work, in-keeping with my study planner on the OU
website, to ensure I complete the necessary work on time. I usually work in
larger chunks compared to Christine, as I find I am more able to focus that
way. I may work for an hour continuously, before having a small break. Overall,
I think creating my own deadlines has worked well in keeping me disciplined in
my studies.
Q. How do you spend
your assigned breaks? (Spring Break, Winter Break, etc)
Christine= I have a
meditation room in my house where I go and listen to music quietly when I need
a break from studying. I also do regular Yoga as I find certain poses help when
I am stressed out or finding something particular troubling. Over the assigned
breaks, I usually find myself catching up on my studies, but I’m getting
married next year so I am already planning my summer holidays! At Christmas I
usually give myself a week off to tidy all my stuff away and make sure I am
prepared to start again. Through Easter and October I just keep studying so I
have a safety net in case something doesn’t go to plan.
Hannah= In terms of my
assigned breaks, I tend to find myself in the same boat as Christine. I use my
breaks to catch up on missed chapters, prepare for assignments and have a
general organisation of study space. Although I am less worried and focused on
studying, I do find myself itching to pick up a textbook by mid-week! For the
up-coming Easter break, I will be spending my time prepping and writing TMA’s,
as I have 4 due in April. I find the breaks perfect for this, as they are a
chance for me to get ahead, leading to a less stressed-out Hannah in the long
run.
Q. What do you think
of The Open University’s social life?
Christine= I’ve found
that although there is an OU Scotland and OUSA page, there is little done for
anything North of Glasgow, which is a 6 hour round trip for me via train. So as
a North Scotland student, I find it isolating. Sometimes I find a great group
of students who don’t mind skyping and having “revision” sessions, but in my
last module, I posted on the forum asking if anybody wanted to get together for
a meet-up and gained no replies. I did have the chance of attending a
residential in Brighton for a week, which was amazing because it included night
classes to aid you in maths or things you were interesting in. I also had the
chance of meeting fellow students.
Hannah= I live in the
South of England, in Oxfordshire, putting me in the perfect location to London
and Milton Keynes. This means I have plenty of meet-ups and study sessions near
me, and nowhere is really too far to travel to these. I’ve also found the
Facebook groups invaluable for my social life. I enjoy being able to interact
with the other students on there, posting questions and receiving answers very
quickly. I have met two of my closest friends via the Facebook groups, which I
am very thankful for. I don’t find myself isolated in one bit, but I think the
socialising aspect of The Open University depends on your location, even though
the OU try their best to accommodate everyone.
Q. What is your
experience of day schools/tutorials?
Christine= For tutorials,
only my first module had physical ones where I went to Aberdeen University (a 3
hour round trip) for an hour. Since then, everything has been done online
through illuminate/blackboard, where the tutorials are 1-2 hours, usually at
night, and record so you can go back and listen to them as often as you want. There
has never been any day-schools that I have been aware of. Sometimes people will
organise an informal get together but due to distance, I’ve never been able to
go. Revision weekends are also arranged, but again, they are all based around
Milton Keynes.
Hannah= Again, due to
my location, I have had a different experience with day schools and tutorials.
For my first module, I have a 2 hour tutorial at Oxford Brookes University
(only a 20 minute drive from my house), every month. My second module however,
only has 3-4 tutorials in the whole course, but more online interactions. I
have only been able to attend one tutorial and it was so worthwhile going. It
enabled me to interact with other students and meet my tutor, whilst also
receiving extra help on my module content. My local day school is in Reading,
(45 minutes on the train) which I haven’t been able to attend, but it’s great I
have the choice to as it’s fairly close by.
Big thanks to Christine for collaborating on this with me! Please check out her blog!
Love, Hannah
KEEP YOUR NOTES ORGANISED - There is nothing worse when preparing for a large assignment than battling with hundreds of pieces of paper. It makes life much more difficult. Although it can be time consuming to organise everything as you are going along, but if you keep your notes in check throughout the module, it will save so much time and stress in the long run.
DE-CLUTTER - Going back to organisation, I feel its important to have a tidy work desk to have a tidy mind. Who can work with paper, pens and post-its covering their desk? I certainly can't. Being organised and tidy makes essay writing so much more simple.
FUN - The worst thing when trying to write an essay, is when you focus on it for so long you can see lines in front of your eyes. Every once in awhile, I feel its important to go out and have some fun! Whether this be meeting friends, going out for lunch or even going for a walk around your local park. The benefits of stepping away from your study desk for half an hour, completely outweigh the feeling of "Oh my gosh, I'm not doing work". You will come back with far more concentration than you left with, ready to tackle the essay again. 
