Part time study, OU, Disabled

Rebekah24

Agreed, they are fantastic with financial support, give them a ring direct. It really does depend on the course, cost, if its a business school course it can be extra

Unsure why your paying postage??

Value paper/biro's all the way for stationary!

As far as tutorials, they are optional, I havent attended any myself

Good luck with your course

Capyboppy

I wonder if the word Tutorials mean different things to different people. I have started studying with the OU and am also disabled. The Tutorials are where the Tutor will ring you up at an agreed time on a regular basis to discuss and see how you are doing. They will give you feedback on your assignments, and are also there either by email or phone if you have a problem and need to ask or clarify. I have just had my first one this week. It lasted half an hour and she is ringing again in a fortnight to discuss my progress and the results of the first TMA.I haven't heard of Tutorials on a regular basis that students have to go to in the way you have described. There are special groups for various things at the regional centres, i.e. preparation for exams, information mornings, study skills etc.
The financial grant can be given to students each year from September. As far as I know it is in with the application form when you apply for financial help. My friend who started a couple of months before me, said the £260 was paid into his account around 2 or 3 weeks into the course.
I am also having a DSA assessment, funny enough this week. Like other posters have said, this is more for things to make your life easier to study according to your disability.
I would give Learner Support a call, and ask them to look into your original application if you have not recieved your grant. Do let us know how you get on.

Oldernotwiser

Capyboppy wrote: »

I wonder if the word Tutorials mean different things to different people. I have started studying with the OU and am also disabled. The Tutorials are where the Tutor will ring you up at an agreed time on a regular basis to discuss and see how you are doing. They will give you feedback on your assignments, and are also there either by email or phone if you have a problem and need to ask or clarify. I have just had my first one this week. It lasted half an hour and she is ringing again in a fortnight to discuss my progress and the results of the first TMA.I haven't heard of Tutorials on a regular basis that students have to go to in the way you have described..

Some areas have regular meetings between groups of students and staff, which I would call tutorials. It depends on where you live and what you're studying; they're far more common in the early stages before people become more independent learners.

Rebekah24

For me tutorial means once a month discussion group with tutor..I was doing fine without, I attended one and it wasnt worthwhile.

Tutor contact is minimal for the courses I've done, ie. maybe 10 emails during 6 months. No other contact

Capyboppy

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Some areas have regular meetings between groups of students and staff, which I would call tutorials. It depends on where you live and what you're studying; they're far more common in the early stages before people become more independent learners.

How strange! In the sense that I am on my first course and there is nothing like that. I guess it is down to the course and area then. Thanks for enlightening me.

LilacPixie

sorry I haven't been well.

For this course the tutorial is in a classroom in a college. in the class they cover exactly how to work out a particular equasion. not really something that can be done over the phone KWIM. They last about 3 hours and are in Perth. Public transport is a nightmare so I have has to miss the last one.

Thanks for the like sailor sam. the £260 course grant does not apply to students in scotland Oh well just need to make do with what I have while I wait on DSA assesment

Oldernotwiser

Sorry, I didn't notice you were in Scotland.The DSA won't cover travel costs, I'm afraid.

dumpy

Capyboppy wrote: »

I wonder if the word Tutorials mean different things to different people. I have started studying with the OU and am also disabled. The Tutorials are where the Tutor will ring you up at an agreed time on a regular basis to discuss and see how you are doing. They will give you feedback on your assignments, and are also there either by email or phone if you have a problem and need to ask or clarify. I have just had my first one this week. It lasted half an hour and she is ringing again in a fortnight to discuss my progress and the results of the first TMA.I haven't heard of Tutorials on a regular basis that students have to go to in the way you have described. There are special groups for various things at the regional centres, i.e. preparation for exams, information mornings, study skills etc.
.

What a tutorial is, also depends on the course, what you describe above sounds like an openings course (so course code starts with a Y)

You also get short courses where tutorial help is via forums and a phone line you can ring.

Some Level 1 courses only have online tutorial support and others have face to face tutorials, as well as forums. Numbers of face to face tutorials vary from course to course.

You can also have phone tutorials where everyone rings a number and is connected, like a conference call.

It really does depend on your course.