OU Students Past, Present and Future

a.sykes

penguin83 wrote: »

Sorry I have only just seen this! Hope you are getting into the course now. The only things I can think of is to read as much as you can and make notes Unfortunately u go along. It is such a help come revision time. Attend as many of the tutorials as you can - I could really see the difference in my marks when I missed a tutorial. Also don't forget the podcasts and revision material on the website. It can help your understanding of a particular topic when you use all the info available. Good luck. xx

Thanks! I do make notes as I go along it helps me remember the key points, my first etma is due next week, and im finding it a bit easier getting back into the swing of things. Unfortunately I suffer from anxiety, so tutorials arent something I can do just yet, I just hope my marks dont suffer too much because of that

carousels

mum2one wrote: »

Its a guide line
30 point course - 8 to 12hrs per week
60 point course - 12 to 16hrs per week.

Some weeks seem easier than others, my main tip is try to get 3 weeks in advance, then if your poorly or holiday, busy as work, etc you have some personal leaway.

All of the courses do give you a week off for Christmas, week off for Easter, etc - you do get free time.

Level 1 - they allow you a week of no study to do the TMA, and Level 1 is a lot of the work is done for you , - in terms of research etc, - you dont need to stray far.

You usually get your box of goodies (books, discs etc) this has a timetable from memory you can pin the exam down to a week, they do give you plenty of notice.

What course are you doing?

My plan was BAHons Business, - so far I got to Foundation degree in business, but I kept getting distracted and picking other courses, did a year of Law, marketing, additional finance - worth it thou xx

Thank you for the info! It's very helpful and it gives me a good idea as to how much I can manage.

I was thinking of starting off slow - however, since Level 1 isn't too stressful, I may end up doing 60 x 2 in the first year. (Is that how is works? 120 credits for each year?) And then take my time over Level 2 and 3. I really want to get this degree done as soon as possible and not take the six years to complete it part time.

I was planning on doing Business Studies with the Economics pathway? I've recently got a job at a bank and I'm interested in working my way up and I thought a relevant degree would help me.

mum2one

carousels wrote: »

Thank you for the info! It's very helpful and it gives me a good idea as to how much I can manage.

I was thinking of starting off slow - however, since Level 1 isn't too stressful, I may end up doing 60 x 2 in the first year. (Is that how is works? 120 credits for each year?) And then take my time over Level 2 and 3. I really want to get this degree done as soon as possible and not take the six years to complete it part time.

I was planning on doing Business Studies with the Economics pathway? I've recently got a job at a bank and I'm interested in working my way up and I thought a relevant degree would help me.

For a degree you need 60 points at level 3, min of 120 at level 2, so its easier to start with a Leve1 1 and get 120 from there.

I would say do the Level 1 in 1 yr, - it may be that you do 2 x 30 point courses, and 1 60 point, (99% sure they won't be exam based), then after than your B201 and B203 (level 20 there 60 point each and a 3 hr exam at the end of each course.

The B120 Intro to Business studies is a good one to start with its a 30 point course and 6 mths, (thou its about 5 mths in total). Business is a good way to go as you can specialise with other subjects. xx

carousels

mum2one wrote: »

For a degree you need 60 points at level 3, min of 120 at level 2, so its easier to start with a Leve1 1 and get 120 from there.

I would say do the Level 1 in 1 yr, - it may be that you do 2 x 30 point courses, and 1 60 point, (99% sure they won't be exam based), then after than your B201 and B203 (level 20 there 60 point each and a 3 hr exam at the end of each course.

The B120 Intro to Business studies is a good one to start with its a 30 point course and 6 mths, (thou its about 5 mths in total). Business is a good way to go as you can specialise with other subjects. xx

Thank you so much for the tips! I think I'll do exactly that. I'll aim to do 120 credits in Level One during the first year.

Yes, I've looked at all the Business Studies pathways and they all have the same modules for the first year. I suppose I can always slightly alter my modules in Levels 2 and 3 if I choose not to take the Economics pathway.

mum2one

carousels wrote: »

Thank you so much for the tips! I think I'll do exactly that. I'll aim to do 120 credits in Level One during the first year.

Yes, I've looked at all the Business Studies pathways and they all have the same modules for the first year. I suppose I can always slightly alter my modules in Levels 2 and 3 if I choose not to take the Economics pathway.

So what courses have you got in mind?
I did all these Level 1
B120 - Intro to Business
DB123 - money course
W100 - intro to Law (that was hard going - felt more like a level 2 course
BU130 - marketing course
x

carousels

mum2one wrote: »

So what courses have you got in mind?
I did all these Level 1
B120 - Intro to Business
DB123 - money course
W100 - intro to Law (that was hard going - felt more like a level 2 course
BU130 - marketing course
x

Well, to start off with B120 (Intro to Business) LB160 (Professional Communication Skills for Business Studies)

And then it says ... To complete this stage you can also include up to 60 credits free choice from any OU Level 1 module.

But where would I choose these from? Is it from the same list that I choose LB160 from? And before I sign up, I'll see if I can speak to somebody at the OU and tell them about my situation and what I want to do and see if they can recommend some modules.

mum2one

[QUOTE=carousels;64812576]Well, to start off with B120 (Intro to Business) LB160 (Professional Communication Skills for Business Studies)

And then it says ... To complete this stage you can also include up to 60 credits free choice from any OU Level 1 module.

But where would I choose these from? Is it from the same list that I choose LB160 from? And before I sign up, I'll see if I can speak to somebody at the OU and tell them about my situation and what I want to do and see if they can recommend some modules.[/QUOTE]


Just had a peep on the Ou site (business and economics)

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]Complusary - B120 Intro to Business

-Core subjects-
[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]An introduction to retail management and marketing (B122)

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]Discovering mathematics (MU123)[/COLOR]
[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]
Professional communication skills for business studies (LB160) -
you've choosen)

Working and learning: developing effective performance at work (BU130) or the version of this module specifically designed for people working in delivering public services – BUXS130

You and your money: personal finance in context (DB123).

"To complete this stage you can also include up to 60 credits free choice from any OU Level 1 module.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

I've pulled a quick list of some other level 1 courses

Arts and humanities – The arts past and present (AA100) (60 credits)

Business and management – An introduction to business studies (B120) (30 credits)

Childhood and youth – The early years: developing practice (E100) or Supporting learning in primary schools (E111) (both 60 credits)

Computing and IT – My digital life (TU100) (60 credits)

Education – The early years: developing practice (E100) or Supporting learning in primary schools (E111) (both 60 credits)

Engineering, technology and design – Engineering the future (T174) (30 credits) or Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101) (60 credits)

Environment, development and international studies – Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116) (60 credits)

Health and social care – An introduction to health and social care (K101) (60 credits) or Introduction to sport, fitness and management (E112) (60 credits)

Languages – Rundblick: beginners' German (L193), Bon d!part: beginners' French (L192), or Portales: beginners' Spanish (L194) (30 credits each)

Law – An introduction to law (W101) (60 credits), planned from October 2014

Mathematics and statistics – Discovering mathematics (MU123), Essential mathematics 1 (MST124)) or Introducing statistics (M140) (30 credits each)

Psychology – Investigating psychology 1 (DE100) (60 credits each), planned for October 2014

Science – Exploring science (S104) (60 credits)

Social Sciences – Introducing the social sciences (DD102) (60 credits), planned from October 2014.

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Level 1 is the only chance you have some free choice - for me I added extra Level 1 to broaden my horizon and I was studying for personal not career studies.-----

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This is just my thoughts - the list that you choose the LB160 is the core subjects related to economics - so I would take my 60 points from that list, although you could pick up 60points in sports related course, unless your going to use the info gained its not really worth it.

An introduction to retail management and marketing (B122) - I've done this - good course but relates more to the marketing aspect, such as bringing new products to the market, how and why certain items sell - i would say more if you wanted mgt in retail environment (5/10 for you)


Working and learning: developing effective performance at work (BU130) or the version of this module specifically designed for people working in delivering public services – BUXS130 (done the BU130 version)

For you - this woud be a good choice - as its aimed at working environment, and improving your role, using what you have achieved so far, what you intend to achieve, how to get there and taking others into account, (10/10)


You and your money: personal finance in context (DB123). (yep done this)
This is a really good choice as its based on money and you as a person, you cover different situations from a single parent, single person, family, - look at tax credits, income. Look at spending money so one example
Joe Bloggs wants to take 3k out or a new motorbike, he has options
Credit card
Overdraft
Loan
You then look at all the interests charged (shows you how to do it), and work out which is the cheapest option

Another one Jane Bloggs and Janice Bloggs both on same job, getting tax credits, been offered overtime, but pays child care - so you have to look at all options to see which is viable.

This level is the personal money They do a level 2 which goes more indepth into the economy and you look at the banks etc, but the level 1 gives a good insight into money and how its spent (10/10) [/COLOR]

Discovering mathematics (MU123)
Not done, but my thoughts are this would be more if your going down the mathematical route, equations,

xx

carousels

I really appreciate the fact that you've taken the time and effort to not only copy and paste the list for me but to add your thoughts to it too.

I agree that it's not worth doing a module if you're not going to use the info. If I were doing the degree for myself and to just learn for the sake of it, then I may have tried picking different things to vary it a bit. However, I believe you're right in the ones you've suggested for me (BU130 and DB123)

B122 sounds interesting as well - however, since I don't want to go into retail banking, I'll give that one a miss.

As for the mathematics module, I'm definitely giving that one a miss. I can handle the bits of Algebra when you get further into Economics but I'd rather not do a whole module based on it!

This really narrows it down for me and paints a much clear picture in my head on what I want to do, so thank you for taking the time to explain things to me! Thanks so much~

juno

carousels wrote: »

I really appreciate the fact that you've taken the time and effort to not only copy and paste the list for me but to add your thoughts to it too.

I agree that it's not worth doing a module if you're not going to use the info. If I were doing the degree for myself and to just learn for the sake of it, then I may have tried picking different things to vary it a bit. However, I believe you're right in the ones you've suggested for me (BU130 and DB123)

B122 sounds interesting as well - however, since I don't want to go into retail banking, I'll give that one a miss.

As for the mathematics module, I'm definitely giving that one a miss. I can handle the bits of Algebra when you get further into Economics but I'd rather not do a whole module based on it!

This really narrows it down for me and paints a much clear picture in my head on what I want to do, so thank you for taking the time to explain things to me! Thanks so much~

BU130 is a very marmite course. Some people love it - but more people seem to hate it. Personally, I couldn't stand it and had to drop it, and I changed my whole degree direction to avoid having it as a compulsory module.

carousels

juno wrote: »

BU130 is a very marmite course. Some people love it - but more people seem to hate it. Personally, I couldn't stand it and had to drop it, and I changed my whole degree direction to avoid having it as a compulsory module.

Ah, thanks for mentioning that. It's interesting to hear. I'll ask for more information before I sign up for it. At this stage, I'm not even sure whether it's a compulsory module or not but hopefully, someone at OU could give me some examples on what I can expect regarding general reading and assignments.

Thanks for the warning! I shall have a good think before I sign up for that!