Open University study advice?

falko89

ILW wrote: »

Does your wife work?

Yes only part time though, 16 hours per week.

Dunroamin

Voyager2002 wrote: »

First thought: 60 points is a lot! You might consider reducing your study load for the time being.

The guidelines the OU gives for the time required (in your case 17 hours per week) do include TMAs and so forth, although obviously they vary with individual circumstances. I do think that you should ask your tutor how long you should expect to spend on each TMA and so forth; use that information for planning; and if a TMA takes significantly longer than it should then consider why and perhaps make changes. (The OU should have given you "The Good Study Guide" and that has lots of good ideas about this kind of thing.)

Second point: your relationship with your wife and the rest of your family is important, and it sounds as if it is coming under real strain. When a woman gives this kind of danger signal, it is very unwise to continue with "business as usual". I think it is clear that you need to reduce the time you spend studying, but obviously that does not mean giving up altogether. As a previous poster suggested, have a good long conversation with your wife about the OU and what it is for. However, the purpose of such a talk should not be simply to make her understand and accept the situation, but to pose the question of how much time you should commit each week. Once you have an agreement then stick to it, and if that means reducing your work-load and changing your choice of modules, that is a tiny price to pay for a reasonable family life.

Third point: the modules you have already completed (well done!) should have equipped you for something better than a minimum-wage dead-end job. It is never too soon to start looking!

60 points is the normal workload for someone studying part time whilst working full time, taking 6 years to complete the degree.

The situation the OP seems to be experiencing may be a gender reversal of "Educating Rita" where the student's partner doesn't support him/her and may actually be threatened by the process.Communication, if not counselling, might well be the solution.

Dunroamin

falko89 wrote: »

Yes only part time though, 16 hours per week.

How old are your children and what time to they go to bed?

falko89

Voyager2002 wrote: »

First thought: 60 points is a lot! You might consider reducing your study load for the time being.

The guidelines the OU gives for the time required (in your case 17 hours per week) do include TMAs and so forth, although obviously they vary with individual circumstances. I do think that you should ask your tutor how long you should expect to spend on each TMA and so forth; use that information for planning; and if a TMA takes significantly longer than it should then consider why and perhaps make changes. (The OU should have given you "The Good Study Guide" and that has lots of good ideas about this kind of thing.)

Second point: your relationship with your wife and the rest of your family is important, and it sounds as if it is coming under real strain. When a woman gives this kind of danger signal, it is very unwise to continue with "business as usual". I think it is clear that you need to reduce the time you spend studying, but obviously that does not mean giving up altogether. As a previous poster suggested, have a good long conversation with your wife about the OU and what it is for. However, the purpose of such a talk should not be simply to make her understand and accept the situation, but to pose the question of how much time you should commit each week. Once you have an agreement then stick to it, and if that means reducing your work-load and changing your choice of modules, that is a tiny price to pay for a reasonable family life.

Third point: the modules you have already completed (well done!) should have equipped you for something better than a minimum-wage dead-end job. It is never too soon to start looking!

60 points is a lot but its what was next in line after my previous modules.

The ideal solution would be to reduce my hours at work, I do 45 basic, we also have compulsory overtime as and when required which can !!!!!! things up bigtime, during the week isn't working for study as there is to much going on around here. I know several relatives who have done OU and got degree's my own mother being one of them, however they all did it when they were older and the kids had fled the nest.

Yes I have earned a certificate thus far with my studies, so you'd think it would count for something, sadly its never given a second though by employers.

hawk30

OllysMum wrote: »

I've completed two masters degrees with the OU - one with distinction, one with merit passes. The actual writing shouldn't take 6 hours - I would assume the research is done throughout the module. Fail to prepare etc.
.

I still disagree. Until you start writing, you don't know whether the research you have done so far fits with how your writing will evolve. I plan my TMAs, but sometimes get taken down unexpected routes. Not all TMAs take more than 6 hours, but some will.

Oh, and I have a first and a distinction in my non OU higher ed quals, so I don't have any difficulties with study.

falko89

Dunroamin wrote: »

How old are your children and what time to they go to bed?

My kids are 2,5 & 9, they all go to bed about the same time as us as we've gave up on the constant running up and down the stairs, them not staying in bed etc, so we all go to bed about 9pm.

mummyroysof3

Is it possible to negotiate quiet time with the wife at weekends? Or study after the kids are in bed during the week?

I don't work but have 3 young children so find it hard to fit it in sometimes.

hcb42

I have got two degrees via OU, an MBA and a First Class Honours Degree. I am now starting degree no 3, but only on a level 1 law at the moment

I agree, TMAs cannot be knocked out in a few hours, mine would take thinking time and planning time over 2-3 weekends typically.

I think the key is discussing with your wife (and family) about how to manage this. I did the majority of my studying Sat/Sun as evening study has never worked for me either.

I need to go and start writing my tma

Dunroamin

falko89 wrote: »

My kids are 2,5 & 9, they all go to bed about the same time as us as we've gave up on the constant running up and down the stairs, them not staying in bed etc, so we all go to bed about 9pm.

That seems to be your problem right there - kids going to bed too late and adults going to bed too early.

princessdon

Advice yes - but you won't like it.

you work full time, your wife works part time and your full time hours are a lot less than my OH works.

The issue is your childrens routines, lack of boundaries (ie running wild) and your wife's inability to cope alone without your input.

Sit down with her, devise a study plan that gives you AND her a break.

Eg you take ALL 3 children out for 3 hours on a weekend and give her 1 night a week for a bath, keep fit, gym, visit friends or whatever she likes.

In addition to this she gives you time. She takes the children OUT of the house at the weekend to allow you time to study, she takes full childcare, bed, bath routies for 2 nights during the week.

The rest of the time you are a couple.

My OH works 80 hours min, I work Full Time, we have now 4 children and he (if home) always has work to do. I keep the children quiet, away from him, read, play chess, paint, do homework etc at all times so he can concentrate.

Then like today he has taken them off on an adventure in the woods since 9 am and they still aren't back.

In short you need your wife on board and a routine for your children. There are parenting courses she can do to create this routine, you may "run up and down the stairs" for a night or two, but once the routine is in place it's there. My children have always had set bed times, as a "single parent a lot of the time" I couldn't survive without it. I need me time, I need couple time and I need them to understand that sleep gives them advantages and allows the brain to grow.