distance learning advice
Hi all you sexy beasts! I'm going to undertake a distance learning masters in education, part time. I was wondering if anyone else on OT has done anything similar and has any advice on how to maximise productivity.
(knackerz is skinning up, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 6:30, 13 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Is it a taught or research based course?
I took an OU degree years ago, so here is my advice:
1. Set aside regular work periods and stick to them.
2. Meet every deadline or you will fall behind.
3. If you fail to make a deadline, talk to your tutor and see if you need to finish the work, rather than skip it and carry on.
4. Make as much use of contact time with tutor / students as you can.
5. Enjoy it, but work your arse off when you can.
6. Use you life experiences when you can.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 7:17, Reply)

Thank you
I was expecting the usual "I shagged your mum" response. It's taught for the first year with the option of switching to research in the second or sticking to taught. I reckon a research masters, although more interesting, would burn me out completely. If I decide to persue a Phd in the future, I'll start writing some research papers, but for now, I just want a masters, so taught it is.
Thanks for the advice, I'm a little worried that I'll flunk out half way and waste a load of time and money.
(knackerz is skinning up, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 7:26, Reply)

It will not be a wate of money if you flunk
One of the skills you will probably re-learn, is how to write. Look how little the average prole writes after they leave school, bugger all. I find that that skill alone was worth the effort.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 7:33, Reply)

I shagged your mum.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 8:14, Reply)

You can shag mine
She's 85
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 8:27, Reply)

Jackpot!

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 8:35, Reply)

BINDUN
Repeatedly.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 8:49, Reply)

Morning naysayer!

( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 9:16, Reply)

I was thinking last night that The Naysayers would be a good name for a band
edit: too late. it's taken
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 9:22, Reply)

Daym
Has there been a band/album called Special Needs Disco?
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 9:43, Reply)

I used to run a DL degree
The single biggest piece of advice I can offer is that you should take every possible opportunity to interact with the other people on the course, including staff.

If there's a course bulletin board, use that to start discussions. If there isn't, start a facebook group and ask for the details to be circulated to the other students. It's not a proper substitute for classroom argument and discussion, but it's the best you'll get.

Other than that: if you're having difficulty tracking down, say, a book, get in touch with the tutor ASAP; don't wait until a week before deadline day and then whinge for an extension.

Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time for assignments - and by this, I mean give yourself a week before a deadline to put the assignment to one side, then revisit it after a couple of days. Part time doesn't mean half-time; it just means that you could do with a 10-day week. Planning is crucial, as is discipline.

If you're offered the opportunity to have draft essays looked at, take it. It can make a HUGE difference to the final mark if you've had some feedback. And if advice is offered, take it. We don't look at drafts for fun; we look at them because it's academically worthwhile. We don't piss around making comments for you to take or leave; we make them to make you better.



I think that's it.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 10:00, Reply)

i like beasts

( broadsword, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 10:01, Reply)

YAY!

( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Wed 2 Dec 2009, 10:55, Reply)