38 and going to Uni!

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

*UPDATE* 

So I thought I would give you all an update. Uni's going well. 2 Modules done  The bit I struggled most with is written assignments and the layout etc! Used some of the web links provided in this thread for help. Thank you very much! 

zagubov

Is the course fully remote like the OU? or do you have a campus to visit regularly for lessons?
Check the uni noticeboard for older students selling books (check it's the right edition). Have a chat with the sellers about what the course was like and what were the traps /pitfalls/tricky bits.
If attendance at lectures is real rather than virtual then do show up. Say hi to the other students. Regular attenders tend to support each other. Plus lecturers often distribute past papers to regular attenders near the end of the course when the exams are getting close. And yes, questions are often recycled. 
Regular attenders don't talk about this, because, hey the world ends up belonging to the people who can be bothered to show up for things.
And if the course has overseas students, would it hurt to chat to them about the details about the delivery and assessment and how they're settling in and coping with it?
I was an OU tutor and I loved it. Before the internet and also reliant on taping night-time lessons from BBC2 in the small hours. I'm embarrassed to say I missed taping the first lesson on Tuesday the 1st if whatever because I forgot that they were all very early in the morning of the Tuesday and not in the night that followed it.
I also studied PT for a master's while working FT at a similar age to you (I quit my OU tutoring so I could fit it in).
Be careful about asking for extensions when Covid is under control (which it absolutely isn't right now - wear a mask where you can).
Asking for extra time without a really good reason can be regarded as asking if you can cheat. So can writing too long an essay or other piece of work. Typefaces are often important. American spellings can be a big no-no.
Enjoy this course. It'll give you a second wind and recharge your batteries big-time.

leaphaze

Lots of good advice on this forum.

I completed my Open University degree a few years ago while working. Most of my studying was reading and absorbing (i.e. note taking). My target was 10 hours studying per week, but it can be very hard to do that when you have lots of other things going on. So rather than having a few blocks of many hours of studying, I studied in small bursts of less than an hour. So 30 minutes before leaving for work, 30 minutes during lunch time at work (I worked in a quiet office), 30 minutes at home after work; that gave me 7.5 hours per 5-day working week so only 2.5 hours to make up, spread around the weekend. This was only possible by having slim volumes to read, and writing up my notes at home.

Remember to set yourself milestones every few weeks and celebrate your successes!

Hope it all goes well.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

so i have 2 results back

written assignment - pass (3 marks off a merit) 
exam: distinction 

I have one more module left which is another written assignment 

I really struggled with the written part - I've never done an assignment before. I'm hoping I can do a bit more research before the next module  

SadieO

Well done, that's brilliant! Find out what your uni offers in terms of study skills support. I am sure they will have resources to help with writing in an academic style. 

olgadapolga

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel said:

so i have 2 results back

written assignment - pass (3 marks off a merit) 
exam: distinction 

I have one more module left which is another written assignment 

I really struggled with the written part - I've never done an assignment before. I'm hoping I can do a bit more research before the next module  

When I went back to uni as a very mature student, I found that one of the best resources for written assignments was the marking criteria. Once I understood how that worked, my grades went from 40% (a bare pass) to 70%+ (first class degree level).

Understanding the research and how robust it is can be useful - look at the CASP website on how to evaluate research:

https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/

Did you receive feedback on your marked assignment? I found that the tutors tried to offer constructive criticism.

Don't forget the intro/body/conclusion: tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them what you want to tell them then tell them what you told them.

Reference every sentence you write as if you write in a narrative style with no references, you'll lose marks.

Good luck with the next assignment 🙂

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

olgadapolga said:

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel said:

so i have 2 results back

written assignment - pass (3 marks off a merit) 
exam: distinction 

I have one more module left which is another written assignment 

I really struggled with the written part - I've never done an assignment before. I'm hoping I can do a bit more research before the next module  

When I went back to uni as a very mature student, I found that one of the best resources for written assignments was the marking criteria. Once I understood how that worked, my grades went from 40% (a bare pass) to 70%+ (first class degree level).

Understanding the research and how robust it is can be useful - look at the CASP website on how to evaluate research:

https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/

Did you receive feedback on your marked assignment? I found that the tutors tried to offer constructive criticism.

Don't forget the intro/body/conclusion: tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them what you want to tell them then tell them what you told them.

Reference every sentence you write as if you write in a narrative style with no references, you'll lose marks.

Good luck with the next assignment 🙂

I will look up the grading - thanks! 

I haven't had feedback on my final yet. I did receive feedback on my draft from my tutor but a lot of it was layout. I made sure everything was referenced also. 

I'll see if i can get the paper back marked and let you know! 

Thanks!  

twopenny

Congratulations!

This has popped up on the home page so I looked in because I went back to college only at 25 and did really well. Even better than when I was younger.

I had a friend who was a head teacher, had twins and still managed an open uni course. We were full of admiration and a touch or 'why!'

It's surprising what you can do. Now aged I joined the U3A and it was a bit of a shock with the terminology or intelligent people after so long but after the first session when my brain hurt it's a joy to use that side of yourself.

All the best in the future

Rosa_Damascena

If I had any advice to give it would be to put all but the most basic housework on hold (if it can't be delegated) but attend to maintenance issues fast.

This thread has got me itching to do something academic again as opposed to CPD.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

So this thread is a little old now. I passed my foundation degree with a merit  Next week I start the diploma - fingers crossed for me!