Access to HE Courses

NEH

MrsManda wrote: »

That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you go on to do further study. I've just finished my second year at university and one of the modules I took this year had a 40% coursework module. 30% of people who took the module had a note put on their file as they had a high similarity index from the plagarism software and 6 people had to attend a disciplinary panel for plagarism resulting in their marks being reduced. Most of this was due to bad referencing and misunderstanding about plagarism rather than people delibrately trying to cheat.

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why is this a bad thing?

It's the fact that she went on and on about it even when we had it sussed, she wasn't very happy with the lot of us and we did have to pursue official complaints afterwards as some of the things she did and said were unprofessional and people left because of her.

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I passed A levels goodness know how many years ago but nobody can take them away from me. Once an Access course is past its "sell by date" it has no validity whatsoever.

Well it has always stood me in good stead plus the fact that i was mature enough to go back to study despite not being able to gegt qualifications at the time i should have done.

I wouldn't have got some of the jobs i did if I hadn't had A level type qualifications, maybe i am just lucky that employers appreciate that I have got further than my G.C.S.E's...I am not saying that either are better in any way.

I would never ever say that an Acess course is wasted just because it can't get me into uni anymore...

Oldernotwiser

NEH wrote: »

I would never ever say that an Acess course is wasted just because it can't get me into uni anymore...

I would never say that any study is wasted.

Poly,put_the_kettle_on

I was only in the loft yesterday digging out my old Access certificates

I left school with a top mark of a GCSE grade "E." Whoops.

A few years back, however, I hatched a plot. I took an Adult Ed English GCSE, and OCN (Modular- no big exam!) maths. I got a pass in the maths, which was ungraded as such, and A* a* in English.

I then went on to do Access the next year. My English tutor had been brilliant, and I'd used that time to hone my essay skills. Therefore, when it came to Access it was so much easier. I was getting the best marks consistently in Sociology/Psychology, and was in the top 3/4 in Biology. We also had a compulsory IT skills module, and GNVQ's in "working with others."

I loved access, but then realised I wasn't at all cut out for the nursing course I had a place on. I couldn't find anything that would sustain my interest for three years, so I didn't go on to uni. I'd considered midwifery, but places were so competitive I didn't even apply as I had a major crisis of confidence.

Amusingly, I met DD's midwife this week. She's the lovely young girl I "carried" through biology as she was really struggling...

It's spurred me on to get the volunteering application that's been semi complete on my hard drive for weeks sorted though! I've also been looking at the OU- but for some bizarre reason they seem to think I'm already with them.

Op, I can see just from your posts that you'll be fine at Access level. Have fun!

divastrop

NEH wrote: »

I think it's always good to keep the old brain matter going..each time i recover sufficently enough i seem to end up doing some course but that may just be my stubborness and determination :rotfl:

I tried to do an access course 7 years ago but kept falling asleep...turned out i was pregnant. Then I did a couple of other non-academic courses and got pregnant each time

I feel that completing the access course has been a turning point in my life as it's the first time since doing my GCSE's that I've finished a course without becoming ill or getting pregnant:)

Anyhow, with regards to referencing, my sociology tutor was brilliant at teaching that and expected very high standards. I had to do my references in a separate word document otherwise my word counts were far too high, but the tutor said I could do that on the Access course but would not get away with it at uni. We were told the Access course lasted 2 years if we wanted to apply to uni!

MrsManda

divastrop wrote: »

I had to do my references in a separate word document otherwise my word counts were far too high, but the tutor said I could do that on the Access course but would not get away with it at uni.

References don't count towards the word count (at least they've never done on any of the pieces I've written).

NEH wrote: »

It's the fact that she went on and on about it even when we had it sussed,

The point I was trying to make with my post was we'd had plagarism and referencing drummed into us from day one of university. By our personal tutors, by the course organisers of each module, from individual lecturers as they set pieces of work, and by the library. We had pages of guidance, we were in second year so had had 1.5yrs of having it drummed in to us AND we had another lecture on it before starting this piece of work. Everyone would have said they were bored to tears and had it sussed yet clearly that wasn't the case. Referencing is important and needs to be taught. Yes, you may have it sussed but your lecturers have a duty to ensure that if you do screw up, they'd done everything they could to ensure you didn't.

NEH

MrsManda wrote: »

References don't count towards the word count (at least they've never done on any of the pieces I've written).



The point I was trying to make with my post was we'd had plagarism and referencing drummed into us from day one of university. By our personal tutors, by the course organisers of each module, from individual lecturers as they set pieces of work, and by the library. We had pages of guidance, we were in second year so had had 1.5yrs of having it drummed in to us AND we had another lecture on it before starting this piece of work. Everyone would have said they were bored to tears and had it sussed yet clearly that wasn't the case. Referencing is important and needs to be taught. Yes, you may have it sussed but your lecturers have a duty to ensure that if you do screw up, they'd done everything they could to ensure you didn't.

Yes I appreciate what you're saying and you never know it all and need to keep refreshing the stuff but our tutor was a nightmare and she had already had measures taken against her for her previous year's work....

Divastrop must have been something abotu studying then....Bet you went through a phase of not wanting to touch anything academic.

benjismum

Hi all

Went for my assessment for the Skills for Life courses yesterday. I had to answer 25 questions in maths and 25 in English. 20/25 for maths and 25/25 for English I have been enrolled for both at level one (equiv. to GCSE D-G) as I haven't done any GCSEs in the past and because I have been out of education for a long time. I'm happy with this, it was explained that as soon as it looked like I was doing fine I could zoom up to the next level. The courses start in September so I'm looking forward to it. Also signed up for a one-off class in making Christmas decorations :rotfl: Well... it's a bit of fun Just got to get my driving lessons sorted now and I'm all set - can't wait!

I'm still hoping to do an Access course next year but am glad I've decided to take on an easier course first to ease myself in, thanks for everyone for your advice and support

bestpud

Glad you've made a decision and started the ball rolling - good luck for September! :T

Be prepared for many years of study once you catch the bug!