IA's Debt/Life/Little bit of Everything Diary...

mrsspendalot

choccyface2006 wrote: »

Good luck on the photography course, I am looking to do one too, though probably just at my local college, I have just bought a Nikon DSLR and need to get to grips with it

Sarah x

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01T189

Digital photography course??

barnaby-bear

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

lol... thank god.. the mathematics one frightens me to death.. My brain just has never been able to 'get' maths.... even when I was at school/college maths was like an alien language! I could never get it!

The point is you can pretty much pick and choose what you want... I only suggested the maths one as I thought it might help you get over your maths phobias:o...
But really just because something didn't click at school doesn't mean OU teaches in that way, a lot of girls slip through the school system because they are reasonably well behaved, don't do *badly* but get mediocre marks, so just don't warrant the extra effort that the delinquent fire-starter does. I don't see how you can claim innumeracy when you are constantly juggling all the figures, APRs and budgets... that is maths just in a different context. Under-achieving at GCSE is very different to inability... and to be honest did you have much of a reason to be interested at 15? Whereas if it's useful for getting a specific job or doing something it's suddenly more relevent...

but of course you don't have to do specific modules - there are some music technology ones and quite a few on housing, social policy and childcare which are things you have experience in....

mrsspendalot

.... and that is why I love the OU .... a course for everyone whatever your interests or level of ability.

My hubby's GCSE results spelled FUDGE lol. He has successfully completed 2 OU level 1 10 point courses (maths and health) and is now almost done on his 3rd, with his 4th about to start. To go from no GCSEs to credits at the level of 1st year undergraduate is fantastic!

immoral_angeluk

barnaby-bear wrote: »

The point is you can pretty much pick and choose what you want... I only suggested the maths one as I thought it might help you get over your maths phobias:o...
But really just because something didn't click at school doesn't mean OU teaches in that way, a lot of girls slip through the school system because they are reasonably well behaved, don't do *badly* but get mediocre marks, so just don't warrant the extra effort that the delinquent fire-starter does. I don't see how you can claim innumeracy when you are constantly juggling all the figures, APRs and budgets... that is maths just in a different context. Under-achieving at GCSE is very different to inability... and to be honest did you have much of a reason to be interested at 15? Whereas if it's useful for getting a specific job or doing something it's suddenly more relevent...

but of course you don't have to do specific modules - there are some music technology ones and quite a few on housing, social policy and childcare which are things you have experience in....

copying and pasting numbers in excel does not a maths ability give... :rotfl:

immoral_angeluk

Could someone explain the open degree though?? I'm a bit confused as to what you have to do.. how long it is etc...

mrsspendalot

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Could someone explain the open degree though?? I'm a bit confused as to what you have to do.. how long it is etc...

Ok the Open BA/BSc is basically a degree just like any other but without the rigid set of courses you must take in a particular area of study. It takes as long as it takes. Doing 60 points per year would take 6 years, which is what most OU students take. Full time students take 3 years and study 120 points a year.

You do 120 points at level 1, 120 points and level 2 and 60 points at level 3 i you want a BA/BSc without honours or 120 points level 3 if you want BA/BSc (honours). The honours gives you your classification (1st, 2:1, 2:2 etc).

It means you can study some maths, science, health, education, history etc. without worrying about fitting it into a rigid programme like the named degrees need. Most OU students take Open degrees.

debrag

you can take up to 6-10 yrs I think. Start at Level 1 working up to Level 2 for a degree. You can pick one of the degrees they list or make up your own. Some courses have residential school in the summer. There are set times you can start each courses. It like any other uni where u pick you modules.

mrsspendalot

the government only fund for a maximum of 8 years though, as they expect you to be able to complete it within 6 ( a couple of years grace for changes in circumstances etc. i think)

barnaby-bear

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Could someone explain the open degree though?? I'm a bit confused as to what you have to do.. how long it is etc...

The how long is pretty much a piece of string - people take gaps, decide to just take a certificate, some people do it as if full time in 3 years, some people take 8 or 9 years....
it's 360 points (240 have to be at level 2 up and 120 at level 3 up).... but it's somehting to say you are working towards but it's a question of reward to effort; being able to go into the CAB and say look here I have something of value having done this first course to show I have an interest, can apply myself and am qualified (and the confidence that gives) is the type of thing that swings you getting the experience and then having got some experience in that type of thing they may do some trainign and CVs tend to snowball - it's just getting a few bits to stand out and get the first few breaks IYKWIM

immoral_angeluk

So let me see if I understand it rights...things like the you and your money and social sciences would make up 90 points of the 360 if I linked them to the open degree.. and I would just have to do other courses to make up the 270 points?