I've just become a distance learning student

black-saturn · 22 February 2006 at 3:40PM

I've just become a distance learning student in Travel and Tourism. At the end of it I should have a BTEC in Travel and Tourism. I chose to do distance learning because I found I couldnt commit myself to doing 5 days a week full time at the local college when I have 2 children to look after on my own. I havn't done any studying for about 11 years when I did A levels and a degree so it might take me some time to wake my brain cells up.

So my question is now how do you divide your time around your family, housework, cleaning, cooking etc and find time to study?

Is there any financial help out there for a lone parent doing a distance learning course?

You will all be thanked for your responses!!!!

vickylee · 22 February 2006 at 3:52PM

Personally I would create a kind of daily schedule so that you set aside time for family/cleaning/cooking/studying so that you can continue with everyday life, and studying without impacting on your family too much. I'm studying GCSE Spanish at the moment (having finished college 9 years ago). I find with all the homework we get, it's easier for me to do a little bit everyday than do it all in one or two big chunks a week.

muddled_midget · 22 February 2006 at 4:05PM

I think it's really difficult to advise on how to make it work for you, as everyone has different working styles, ie they can concentrate best in the morning/evening, and different family commitments. I think you probably need to work out a routine that fits in with your family, ie if they get up late, can you get up earlier and do your coursework then? or if they are all in bed early set aside that time for the coursework. Also a timetable breaking down your day into smaller chunks will mean that you don't get sidetracked into spending too long on one thing and neglecting everything else. I use a timer when I'm studying, that way I can ensure I spend a reasonable amount of time on it (no rushing the job) without getting too deeply involved. Also try and get any deadlines as early as possible for your coursework, it might be easier to arrange some extra childcare (depending on how old your children are) a couple of weeks before these are due, so you can have the time you need to complete it, and have it done well in advance so you're not too stressed.
I hope I've made some sense,
midget

osagefo · 22 February 2006 at 5:40PM

MM is spot on about meeting your deadlines as early as you can.
I found it best studying whilst the kids were out of the house, were asleep, or concentrating on a tv program, in that order. If your children are not at school/daycare etc for part of the day, then you would be limited to the other times which may not be quite enough. I did a distance course whilst holding down a full time job. I found it difficult even though I did not have 100% responsibilty for caring for our 4 kids. Still, most of my study was in the night when the children were asleep, or very early in the morning when they were not awake. Occasionally, I negotiated/pleaded with them. Interestingly, giving short bursts of attention proactively also meant I could grab 10 to 20 or even 30 minutes to do something very quickly. Good luck with your course.

black-saturn · 22 February 2006 at 6:06PM

Thanks for your responses.

Volcano · 23 February 2006 at 10:51AM

Though it isn't always possible, if you can have a work area specifically set aside for yourself (a spare room would be even better) it means you can leave books etc open where you need them. It always find it a pain if you are using quite a few books to get them all open at the right place/laid out how you want them.

I did a part-time course a few months back and applied to the college's support fund for help with course fees (for those on a low income), I didn't get the full amount, but half the fees paid for was a great bonus.

Xenomorhic · 23 February 2006 at 11:15AM

I'm really, really lucky. At my job as long as I jump on the phone the second it rings and handle the call well I am told to amuse myself in between. I have two distance learning courses on the go, one I won, one I bought.
I am doing assignments in between calls.
I recommend keeping up the momentum. I have all my course notes and if I am bored with one section I concentrate on another and begin assignment work for that. It may not work for everyone but I have a busy, anxious sort of brain that gets bored easily, along with a good memory. If I take a brief break from one section I am ususally ok to pick it up again.
My current course is a senior horsemasters course.. My time is presently being split between Anatomy and Physiology which I find hard, and Horse Management, which is comparatively easy as I am doing a night class in something similar. So hopping from one to the other I currently have two half finished assignments which I have worked on solidly over the past week.
I'll pick up the next two when these are finished.
I recommend reading around your subject too especially if it interests you anyway- of course mine does! Magazines, internet sites, books and news articles- all great ways to get a better understanding of your subject even if it does not obviously relate to what you are doing within your course..
Good luck! Just be disciplined and treat it like a diet I guess- a couple of bad days don't make you a failure. Plan a 'holiday' from it too if it's a long course, students have breaks remember!

black-saturn · 23 February 2006 at 3:20PM

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Well, I've done my first 3 hours of studying this morning and I think it went quite well. I think most of the subjects covered (history of the tourism industry) sunk in. I've also wrote down the main points covered in the text and read through what I could find on google about it.

I've got all my study stuff in my bedroom as I don't have a spare one. For 2 to 3 hours every day I'm going to shut myself in the bedroom and ignore the door, phone and dog and concentrate on that. I don't think I will find it difficult as before I would waste 2 hours a day surfing so at least it's putting the time to better use.

pavlovs_dog · 24 February 2006 at 12:21AM

i cant recommend the study skills handbook highly enough - an essential book for all students (your library should have a copy).

stella cottrell is the queen of all things study-related, and her book is a well written guide to how to study, juggle all life throws at you and keep on top of it all. i love her diary lists idea, that has really helped me take the bull by the horns and give up procrastination, so she MUST be good :rotfl:

as for first-hand student advice...

1. dont go making grand plans. allow yourself to find your own pattern, what works for you and the kids. the way to hell is paved with good intentions, and there's no point having a fancy timetable that you cant stick to. flexability is key! stella gives some good hints on how to use stolen moments of free time to their potential, by teaching you tricks that can get you from procrastination mode to sit down and work mode in 15 minutes. this has been a life saver for disorganised old me!

2. if you dont already have one, buy yourself a week to view diary and a posh notebook and USE them. these are your bibles, home to all your appointments, to do lists and so on. use them to plan ahead by breaking long assignments down into smaller, managable targets (again, queen stella will help with this

). the posh notebook is for noting all assignments, and course related info, so it is all in one place. the idea behind it being a posh one is that it is a treat and reward to you for all your hard work.

3. remember it is important to have "you" time. all work and no play and you will soon go stir crazy - and so will the kids.

4. contact the finance department at your local college for help and advice on what financial support is available to you. your local CAB also may be able to help, as may the education department at your local council.

also, why not check out the "great bit on the side hunt" - easy ways to make a bit of extra money, painfree. as a student already juggling part time work with home life, more work/car booting isnt an option for me. but ebaying, online survey and click through sites are...all things i can be doing whilst waiting for mse pages to load!

if you aren't familiar with the survey sites, i personally recommend yougov, ciao, ipsos, ipoints and my tns. payment varies from cash, to points which can be converted into vouchers (which can either be used as a treat, given as presents, or sold for more-or-less face value on ebay). feel free to PM me for more info.

5. dont be scared to ask for help if you need it

6. upon completion of your course, remember to go to your parents, stick you tongue out, wiggle your hands by the side of your ears and say *ner ner na ner ner!* - do this for you, do it for your kids, and do it to prove them wrong. which brings me to my last point - motivation. have a poster/picture somewhere you will see it often to remind you why you are doing this - it will keep you going if things get tough.

all the best and good luck :beer:

pavlovs

black-saturn · 24 February 2006 at 5:50PM

Wow, what brilliant advice. I've joined a couple of those points sites. Thanks :beer: :j :beer: :j :beer:

elisebutt65 · 25 February 2006 at 12:29AM

Hi :T well done for taking the plunge!!!

I'm a lone parent as well but I'm doing a full time degree in Birmingham - travel is a bit knackering as I lve in Leamington and I really have to jusggle the kids to get there in time for 9.00 am lectures lol - I usually get my b/freind to come round and take them to school for me.

I'm doing Tourism Business Management, so if you want any pointers, then feel free to pm me, Just done my option in International Tour Operations (73 yeay!!) Also done loads of Tourism Geography and Planninng, Doing Tourism Resource Management at the minute which is just soooo boring - having to do so many flowcharts my brain hurts!!! I love the whole Tourism industry and think it's fascinating. I still can't make up my mind what to do my thesis in as there are so many good fields of interest

I do most of my work at night when the kids are in bed or after I've cleaned the house, done shopping and laundry. I only have to be in 2 days a week but have taken up Spanish as well so just lost a Tuesday as well - lol.

I find it helps to be a bit anally compulsive when it comes to making up timetables with due dates and get things finished with at least a week to spare, just in case kids get sick or something which would involve me not being able to get into college to hand the assignment in on time.

I've just become a distance learning student

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