My social science course with the Open University (OU) started in May. The first ‘package’ arrived late in April and included workbooks, cd’s, dvd’s, study pamphlets and the main course books. To be honest it all looked a little intimidating and I wondered where to start, until I found the most important document – the study calendar.

The study calendar provides a week by week guide as to where you should be on the course and what you need to achieve to stay on target. I started at Week 1 and tentatively turned to the corresponding materials, in hindsight I needn’t have worried, the way the course is laid out is excellent – way beyond my expectations. Each stage leads onto the next, nurturing you from ‘headless chicken student’ into ‘I’m in control student’, and that’s after only 5 weeks!

The materials are varied as mentioned above and of excellent quality, each study period can involve a multi-medial approach which I find keeps the course fresh and interesting. My course is split into four sections divided as such by the Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) due at the end of each “block”. The TMA is sent and returned with tutor notes to help you improve, I’ve just received my first back and was pleased to see a score of 80%, there’s a long way to go but at least it’s a start.

I’d highly recommend anyone who has ever considered doing something similar to look into it. I’ve found it easy to manage around other commitments and it’s worth mentioning again that this course hasn’t cost me anything as it was fully funded, the next will probably cost me a couple of hundred pounds but I definitely think it’s worth it.