Open University Q&A

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

The most important thing I've learnt...

The most important thing I've learnt...

At the end of 2015, I was encouraged by a friend to sit down and contemplate what I wanted to achieve through 2016. I stated the usual resolutions made (and forgotten within the first week of January) by the majority of people, such as; being skinner, having better hair, earning more money, etc. I assumed these resolutions were "normal" resolutions to make, to better myself in the up-coming year, but my friend really gave me food for thought in her reply - How are those resolutions contributing to betting yourself as a person?The simple answer? They weren't.

This friend made me realise that I was conforming to the public's view of what I SHOULD do to better myself, instead of what suits me. In order to better myself, I needed to do something personal to me, that I could challenge myself with and achieve in my own time. I also find it important that resolutions aren't something you give up within the first few weeks of the new year - I wanted these to be something that I could continue throughout the year, and perhaps further afield than this. I sat down and really thought about what I wanted to achieve and here is a little peek into my thoughts. I hope they may influence some of you to begin bettering yourself and really, just looking after yourself and putting yourself first.

Work - I am a member of the Open University, completing a degree in English Language and Literature. A big goal of mine was to complete the first year of this degree (which finishes in September) to the best of my ability, in the most organised way possible. I adore organisation, and I could spend hours printing, highlighting, sticky-noting and filing. Yet, when in a busy period of study, come assignment time, my organisation goes out the window. A key resolution for me was staying organised, as I find this the best way to achieve the highest grades and not forget where I was heading. I feel I have achieved this somewhat already, as its now March and my filing is up-to-date, I have completed all my study chapters and I have submitted my next two assignments. I feel calm and collected about my study and I hope to continue the hard work I have put into my studies since the beginning of October.

Health - I think 'Health' is something people put aside when it comes to resolutions, when in-fact it is the most important thing to focus on when bettering yourself as a person. I live firm by the fact that whatever you place into your body creates who you are, so my goal was to ensure what I was putting in my body was the best things for me. This included my biggest weakness - not drinking enough water. Being a Coca-Cola addict, water was just a boring drink which I would never pick over something sugary and tasty. However, I didn't realise the importance of drinking a simple glass of water to my body. It reduces fatigue, flushes out toxins, improves skin, improves the immune system and is a natural headache remedy. All this from a small glass of clear liquid? THAT IS FREE. I think its ridiculous of me not to start drinking it before when it has so many benefits for health.

Myself and my oldest friend, several years ago.

Friends - When I left Sixth Form to begin University, my fear was losing touch with the friends I had made there. In the first few months, I made a huge effort to keep in contact with this friends and work hard to retain friendships I had made over the last seven year. At the end of last year, I stopped trying so hard when the people who don't try hard for me. I've come to realise with the Open University, it doesn't matter how many friends you have. I have a select few who I know I can run to when I have a problem, need someone to make me laugh or even just need a conversation with. I was spending so much of my time and energy trying to hold together relationships I had created when I was 12 years old, and had continued due to the normality of being friends with those people. It wasn't until I left my secondary school, that I realised things were different. I have kept in contact with one friend from my secondary school, purely because we both continue to make an effort to keep our friendship alive. I could count my closest friends on one hand, but that's the way I feel it should be. I am content and happy with the friendships I have now, compared to the backstabbing, unrealistic friendships I used to have with many more people. I feel the friends around me encourage me to become a better person, and they are all I need.

Challenge - Those who know me, know I have suffered with crippling anxiety and panic attacks for 6 years throughout my schooling and social life. This has effected my every-day life, stopping me from just walking to the local supermarket, going on public transport or even sitting in a restaurant with friends. I have suffered with this for so long, that I felt it was time to take a stand and do something I should have tried a long time ago. To stop letting my life revolve around how I am feeling. Of course, having suffered for as long as I can remember with this, being put on medication and attending Psychological therapy at the hospital for several years, this hasn't been an easy process. Nor did I expect it to be, hence why this segment is called "challenge". I thought the best way to start with this, was to begin actually looking after myself, rather than hiding myself away, eating rubbish and sleeping all the time.

I began getting up even if I didn't feel like it, getting dressed and becoming presentable, rather than sitting in pyjamas all day feeling sorry for myself and my condition. Of course, several times I physically couldn't bring myself to do this, but I think that's okay within reason. I made sure that I began going out every day, even if it was just to walk my puppy or walk to work. Getting out and about actually helped me feel better and more human - a feeling I had been lacking for a very long time. Once I felt confident enough, I did something very rash and applied for a new job, as many of you might know. I forced myself into the interview with the help of my mother and a lovely cousin of mine, who was instrumental in encouraging me through this process. I was vomiting before the interview but I achieved it and managed to get the job!! This gave me a massive confidence boost - enough for me to sit in a 4 hour training session, something that is my worse nightmare, as I was taken out of the classroom environment in school to be by myself in a separate room. But I managed it and pulled through. Now I cannot wait to start my new job! But the moral is, unless you push yourself and challenge yourself, you will never know the strength you have inside yourself to achieve. Of course, I still suffer with anxiety and panic attacks, but they are reducing purely because I am pushing myself out of my comfort zone and also looking after myself for once.
Happiness - My last rule for 2016, which I like to think I am achieving due to a combination of the above rules I made, is to be happy. People rely on their happiness through other people, whether that be a friend, family member, boyfriend/girlfriend. But I like to call this 'fake happiness'. I think the only way you can truly be happy, is if you make the happiness yourself, and are confident in your ability to achieve. It's being grateful for everything life throws at you, and making the worst situations more tolerable. And slowly, I think I am learning that.

Love, Hannah