OU Students Past, Present and Future

romanza

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Has anyone done DD102? I'm doing an English Language and Literature degree but this module is my year 1 free choice- I've just completed AA100- I got my course materials through for DD102 and freaked!! It all looks very hard and a long way from the cosy confines of AA100...!!

I'm just about to begin AA100.

Curious, how did you find it? Tough, interesting ...?

romanza

nande2000 wrote: »

Hi I passed AA100 last year, 66%, a very mediocre grade, but I found my essay skills improved greatly on the course.
This Octobers challenge is beginners Spanish L194.
My intention is to do a 50/50 language/humanities degree so Humanities with Spanish and either History or classical studies.

Anyone doing anything similar ?

Nice to see more people who've done AA100 showing up on this thread. I'm about to start that one next month. How did you find it?

gayleygoo

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Has anyone done DD102? I'm doing an English Language and Literature degree but this module is my year 1 free choice- I've just completed AA100- I got my course materials through for DD102 and freaked!! It all looks very hard and a long way from the cosy confines of AA100...!!

I did DD101 last year (DD102 seems to be just the updated version of the course, which they do every 10 years or so I think), and I found it very interesting. Lots of people on the FB group for it complained about it but to be honest I really enjoyed it and didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Some of the material is a bit boring but it all seems relevant to the real world. Since it was my first module I haven't really anything to compare it with in terms of difficulty, but I passed well without too much trouble. My OH is hoping to do AA100 next year so he'll be happy to know it's been described as "cosy"

Mrs_Ryan

romanza wrote: »

I'm just about to begin AA100.

Curious, how did you find it? Tough, interesting ...?

I think the word that would best sum it up would be frustrating. I found studying aspects of it that I had no interest in difficult and frustrating. However I do like the reflective aspect of it and found I enjoyed some parts more than others. However I pulled out of the recommended follow up module as I had had enough of studying art history, philosophy etc. one thing I did note were the study materials were really good and varied- I've just been sent two books for DD102 and I can't make sense of much of them!!

romanza

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

I think the word that would best sum it up would be frustrating. I found studying aspects of it that I had no interest in difficult and frustrating. However I do like the reflective aspect of it and found I enjoyed some parts more than others. However I pulled out of the recommended follow up module as I had had enough of studying art history, philosophy etc. one thing I did note were the study materials were really good and varied- I've just been sent two books for DD102 and I can't make sense of much of them!!

I was quite impressed with the study materials - and possibly, a tad overwhelmed. There was a lot! I'm looking forward to it and I'm pleased the course includes aspects of art history and especially philosophy because if I didn't have my heart set on a Literature degree, then I would have done Philosophy!

I was a little worried about the workload and TMAs piling up. I haven't studied in a few good years!

tinwhiskers

romanza wrote: »

I was quite impressed with the study materials - and possibly, a tad overwhelmed. There was a lot! I'm looking forward to it and I'm pleased the course includes aspects of art history and especially philosophy because if I didn't have my heart set on a Literature degree, then I would have done Philosophy!

I was a little worried about the workload and TMAs piling up. I haven't studied in a few good years!

I did AA100 in 2013, it was brill, much better than my follow up 30 point level 1 modules since. It's a really good module for getting into study and essay writing, and if you have a good tutor like I did even better! It's pitched to ease you in, don't worry! I did it with a full time job and managed the EMA in the middle of a house move. You do need to be disciplined, but the course planner helps with that.

I'm quite nostalgic for AA100 now. Loved my tutor, loved Islamic medicine and old Ibn Sina, loved Epicurus!

teddysmum

I did my OU degree some 25-28 years ago and really enjoyed it. At the time I had a 4 year old son and gave birth to a second son midway. Work was done in the early hours of the morning, when the children were in bed, but I so missed the stimulation , when I got my degree (1st class in maths, when a maths degree had only BA status; not BSc).


All I can remember , now, is calculating the force on canal lock gates and doing one exam with a bleeding head, having walked into an open window, while being rushed from the planned exam room to another, as the original was double booked.


I still get begging letters, asking for donations, even though my course were all self-funded ( I already had a teaching qualification, so no grant)

romanza

tinwhiskers wrote: »

I did AA100 in 2013, it was brill, much better than my follow up 30 point level 1 modules since. It's a really good module for getting into study and essay writing, and if you have a good tutor like I did even better! It's pitched to ease you in, don't worry! I did it with a full time job and managed the EMA in the middle of a house move. You do need to be disciplined, but the course planner helps with that.

I'm quite nostalgic for AA100 now. Loved my tutor, loved Islamic medicine and old Ibn Sina, loved Epicurus!

That's fantastic and so reassuring to hear. From what I've read of it, it seems like something I'm definitely going to enjoy. I can't wait to actually get started.

What degree are you doing?

Hezzawithkids

romanza wrote: »

Hi,

Been thinking about doing a degree with the OU for a long time and today, I've just registered for my first module!

I'm doing The Arts Past & Present (AA100) and intend to complete an English Literature & Creative Writing degree.

Just want to ask, are there people out there who are working full time and doing 120 credits per year? If so, is it possible?

I've just enrolled for one module this year but I really don't think I can spend 6 years doing this degree. I'd like to get this done in 3, possibly 4 years - tops.

I'd be interested to see how others are managing their workload and how much they've taken on.

Hi Romanza and congrats on enrolling! In June this year I completed a BA Hons in English Language & Literature and it took me 6 years doing 60 credits per year. I work full time and raise a family and I honestly do not believe I could have done any more than that. Yes its a long haul but it was worth it when I pressed the "Submit" button on my last ever assignment a few weeks ago. When I started 6 years ago I didn't think of it in those terms; I just took it year by year, module by module, and it just became something I did at weekends and some evenings, a bit like the ironing! You need to complete a minimum number of modules at certain levels, and the higher these levels are the greater the workload.

Anyway, its my graduation ceremony this Saturday and I can't wait. I feel like a kid at Christmas, counting the number of sleeps, I so want to put on my robes, have my photo taken, and get up on that stage to shake hands with the Dean! I'm sure I won't sleep at all Friday night! The point I'm trying to make is that only you know how much of a workload you can cope with, but however long you take it's all worth it!:D

Good luck whatever you decide to do! :T

romanza

Hezzawithkids wrote: »

Hi Romanza and congrats on enrolling! In June this year I completed a BA Hons in English Language & Literature and it took me 6 years doing 60 credits per year. I work full time and raise a family and I honestly do not believe I could have done any more than that. Yes its a long haul but it was worth it when I pressed the "Submit" button on my last ever assignment a few weeks ago. When I started 6 years ago I didn't think of it in those terms; I just took it year by year, module by module, and it just became something I did at weekends and some evenings, a bit like the ironing! You need to complete a minimum number of modules at certain levels, and the higher these levels are the greater the workload.

Anyway, its my graduation ceremony this Saturday and I can't wait. I feel like a kid at Christmas, counting the number of sleeps, I so want to put on my robes, have my photo taken, and get up on that stage to shake hands with the Dean! I'm sure I won't sleep at all Friday night! The point I'm trying to make is that only you know how much of a workload you can cope with, but however long you take it's all worth it!:D

Good luck whatever you decide to do! :T

Thank you!

And ah, I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it and that you got your degree. I can imagine your excitement. It's been a long time coming but you've finally made it and now it's time for the fun bit. Enjoy it - you deserve to celebrate after all the hard work.

I think looking at it in chunks like you suggested is a good idea otherwise it can seem overwhelming. I'm going to tackle it module by module. I've chosen to do 60 credits this year and I'll see how that goes. I might ease myself into it by splitting the first year up by completing Stage One a module at a time. After that, I decrease my work hours and go part time, so I can concentrate on my studies a little more and tackle two modules at once. I suppose I'll know what I can comfortably handle after I've done this first module!

Thank you for your advice, I really do appreciate it.

Enjoy your graduation and congratulations! :T:T:T