Catching up and getting organised

Goodness me,

It's a good job I'm more organised at OU deadlines than I am at posting on this blog! heh

Ok, so where abouts am I?

TMA05 has been completed and marked for DD101, so just 2 more to do then I've completed my first 60 point level 1! I have found some of the course hard to get through, but I am proud of myself for getting this far. The online tutorials really help, as does meeting like-minded students on the facebook groups for support.

TMA02 has been completed and awaiting marking for W100. I am loving law, I find it interesting and logical and I like the way the course is structured. Also my tutor is fantastic! Lots of information in the tutorials, notes emailed out same day, great at communication. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

I've also just registered and reserved places for my level 2 courses for next academic year. I will be starting A200 - Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400-1900 in October and then DD203 - Power, dissent, equality: understanding contemporary politics in February 2014.

I think they should keep me busy. *meep*

My youngest starts school this September, so I 'should' have enough time to get them done comfortably. For time management help I have just splashed out on a Filofax. The Palgrave Study Planner worked really well this academic year, but so much of the information in there is geared towards younger students that I wanted something I could completely customise to my own needs.

I've gone for http://www.filofax.co.uk/store/organiserdetails.asp?sizeId=2&rangeId=50&dsizeId=2 in red :)

I do love a bit of stationery :)

Timetable Update

*blows the dust off in here*

Still here, still studying! Have just completed TMA03 of DD101 and my W100 module books have turned up. Well, the first half of them have. They don't want to terrify us too much so stagger the reading material ;)

I am really enjoying DD101, although the Xmas break showed how horrendous my time management and self discipline is when confronted with cake and christmas telly. It was a struggle to get TMA03 completed in time and it was only sent 2 days before cut-off. Far too close to comfort for me so I'm working on time management a bit more.

The W100 materials look a bit intense compared to DD101, there is a difference in the layout of the books and information that makes them feel more intimidating but I'm sure I'll be fine. I worked my way through the introduction last night, and think I'll be ok.

I can't post a blog without some kind of recommendation and today it goes to

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gabrielittner.timetable

An Android timetable app that helps you organise your time, put in reminders, tasks, and due dates for coursework. It's in it's early days, but google sync will also be used so I'll be able to hook it up with my existing calendars too.

Loving it so far. I'm a sucker for colour coded timetables.

Online Tutorials

I am loving the online tutorials that are provided by the OU. The Elluminate software is a fantastic bit of kit and it has been really helpful being able to converse with fellow students and to have access to the tutors for an hour or so a week too.


The ability to attend a tutorial in my pyjamas, whilst having to make minimal childcare provisions is absolutely priceless to me and means I have access to tutor support that I would otherwise have to go without as there is no way I can attend the face to face tutorials.

Things I have learnt about Elluminate to make things easier;-

1. Always perform an audio check before or just as you enter your online tutorial. A working mic is useful but working speakers are necessary. If you can't hear or speak, let people know via the text window as soon as possible or people will be talking at you and wondering why you're not responding ;)

2. Don't be nervous about chatting over the mic, everyone else feels just as awkward about it as you do. I hate talking over mic, and detest talking to a group/public speaking but I figure it's something I really have to get used to and now is as good a time as any. Plus I imagine that everyone else is also sat in their homes wearing pyjamas, and that makes me feel a bit better ;)

3. You can save the whiteboards as a .pdf for offline viewing which is a great way to keep them for notes towards the TMA. Also, you can save the chat conversation as a .txt file so you can read through at your own leisure and pick up bits that you found interesting the first time through. I keep my pdfs and txt files saved on my dropbox account (more on that in another post) so I can share them easily with other students who were unable to make the session.

Note Taking

During my first Elluminate tutorial, my tutor mentioned the Cornell note taking system. I had a google about and it seems like something that will really help me focus my notes. My handwriting is atrocious due to lack of use and a lazy scrawl so anything that helps me condense them into something readable and usable is good.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes


https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4GQ7jvuSfivaktWQ0hFQWF3cmc