DSE212 TMA01 Submitted

Okay, I know that the submission was due at midday today but I have only just submitted it and in the past it hasn't been an issue. The topic for part 1 was not really my cup of tea, it was about identity which was broached upon in DD101 and ED209 although in quite different ways. I get the feeling it is a rather central theme in Psychology so I guess that I am going to have to get to grips with it. I picked the psychosocial to compare against and maybe wish I hadn't as I think SIT would have been a better alternative. The psychosocial perspective appears a little warped which makes comparisons hard. The ethical part of it was interesting and the study involved was rather interesting especially when you google the real experiment and read in to it further.

On to TMA02 now and I have already highlighted the chapters which are relevent although I haven't quite decided which to do. I initially though that biological psychology would be the way to go as it deals with disorders however after ready the chapter on evolutionary psychology, I am quite interested in it. Think I might just start on the statistics side of it today whilst I watch two and a half men (the Charlie Sheen version, the new one is rubbish) and anything else on Comedy Central.

I am not working at the moment although being paid up till 30th November and although I was have my own crisis, I think I am going to have to go back in to the motor industry (kicking and screaming) for the money aspect. I really fancied doing something challenging but think job hunting is too hard right now and that for a while I should stick to what I know.

Reflections on DD101

I know that this post has been a really long time coming and in real terms ED209 is about due!! However lets start with what I learnt about DD101.

DD101 is a nice module, it covers a wide variety of topics which should interest most people who have any interest in the world from the troubles in ireland to the debate on Tesco towns. However there are some short cuts and advice that I may be able to help with.

1) You only need to really read the chapters that are relevent to the TMAs that you are doing.

2) The further you get in to the module, the more interesting the topics become.

3) Try to get to grips with what is required for a crtical analysis as early on as possible and really get to know your 'process' words so that you are getting the right answers to the questions.

4) You can only PASS this module so use it as a time to play around with the TMAs to see what works for you rather than trying to get that First as you won't see it.

5) Pick DSE212 as your next module as oppossed to ED209!! DSE212 is the level 2 version of DD101 in many ways. ED209 has really caught my interest but it isn't easy as there is so much to learn. The TMAs are okay but the amount you need to learn for the exam is heavy.

Shock, Horror......... an update

Ok, ok. I know I've been a little distant from this blog but have now been 'in a relationship' for 3 months (tommorrow actually) and I'm enjoying it. I will get bcak to this properly very shortly with loads of proper updates. Reflections on DD101 is still required along with other updates with regards to my OU path and others.

NEWS IN BRIEF:

DD101 - Passed

ED209 - Exam on 18th October. Actually have started revision and so far am pretty competent with: Temperament, Peer & Sibling, Gender and First Relationships. I am planning on another 6 to make 10 chapters in all. Seen question should be okay, have my bits from the chapter that I'm using and also the papers that I am pulling from.

DSE212 - Starts next weekend, books are all here and website is open. Looks pretty simple in relation to ED209. Folks, do DSE212 before ED209!!!!

SD226 - No books but registered for February.

DZR222 - the one with residential course. Signed up and going to Bath on 28th July for the week.

DSE232 - Signed up for this starting October next year I think but not really worrying about it quite yet.

Have taken October 10th off for 4 days to cram revise. Notes for the 10 topics will be in place so just need to read and play with them to 'actively' remember. Thinking that minor theorists are going to be tough to remember. I hope that 10 are enough..... if not I've been stupid.

The 10 - Temperament, Siblings and Peers, Gender, First Relationships, Origins of Development, Attachment, Disturbed and Disturbing, Young Consumers, National Identity and another one that I haven't decided on as of yet. After looking at the last 4 years papers, it is evident that these topics come up a lot with others scoring 0, and as I am well aware that I will never remember 14 topics, I am reducing this. My focus will be on temperament and Siblings and Peers as I have high hopes for them.

Off out with the boy tonight as per normal but he's good with my degree stuff as long as he gets his feet rubbed............ easy. LOL

ED209 TMA03 Results

The results are back am I am uber happy with them. I think they are my highest so far, in fact pretty certain. Great feedback to improve further but at least I now know the framework that gives me the highest grades.

Official DD101 TMA07 submission day today so it is the start of the 14 day wait for results assuming that this one does go by those rules. Once I have the result I will post a 'reflections' post.

ED209 TMA04 has been barely started so I suppose that I am a little behind with ED209 but I think I have the capacity to blast it out once I get started, it's still only 2,000 words but is a little more involved. After the tutorial I understand why they suggest DSE212 first as you would already have experience of project work and it is a lot slower pace.

I think I have a little crush on The Tech...... I know that I can't keep him but I feel like i'm a teenager again. Ah bless.

Highlighter shopping

Today has been day off work but has been a pretty busy one. Started with an airport run to Terminal 5 Heathrow with mum who's off to Scotland for a long weekend followed by going with dad on his voluntary work that he does for the hospital and then shortly I will be off to go and drop a car to the family mechanic to see if he can repair the unrepairable. I have also as the title suggests replenished my supply of highlighter pens which should last me till the course is over.

Just found out that an old friend is studying DD101 at the moment, I presume she is talking February start but should find out later.

I will do a post on DD101 reflections but will leave it until my mark for DD101 TMA07 is back so that I can be thorough about it.

The plan tonight is a bottle of wine and reading and highlighting Book 2 chapters 7 & 8 so that it is done and I can get on with Book 3 and TMA04.

After last night's tutorial I think I am a little happier with how to write up this report and also using about.com which has a great help section on psychology report writting.

People are talking about ditching one of the books for the exam and it seems to be common and actually expected by the tutor, I think Book 1 looks like it will be the one however I may revise the 2 chapters which have reared their ugly heads a few times in previous exams just so that I have choice in case I find a nightmare question for one of the others.

DD101 TMA07 Submitted & Finished

No boss day meant that I colud reference and cut TMA07. The cutting was really hard but hoping the right points were cut. I can't believe that DD101 is over........ it's been my friend since October so I went to the pub with the lads to celebrate. Nowt unusual there really.

Things with The Tech have moved on, won't go in to detail on an OU blog but it's all proved interesting and definitely makes work rather interesting. I am pro affairs at work now, they make the day more interesting.

ED209 Tutorial was wicked as always. No help can be given with the seen question so don't bother asking but loads of info on TMA04 which is going very very useful............ don't know how people do this course without tutorials due to amount of info given to help you along the way.

Hot guy in tutorial today, new and never seen him before.

Advise for TMA04 as I see it:

Get someone to code as well as you for inter-coder validity or do it twice yourself and put it in discussion and methods. My 'I' have been misinterpreted.

Use about.com to get a layout

Try to find a 'real' report to get guidence from.

Learnt a lot about Critical Analysis - 1 sentence on what theory is, 5/6 about the criticisms and 1 to sum up. Helps me loads.

I am thinking that DSE212 is going to be a fair bit easier than ED209!!!!!! To be honest, everything on OU website suggests this but being me, I couldn't wait.

Tomorrow is day off and it is pre planned - 10am - Mother to airport, 12.30 - Collect dad and do his voluntary work with him, 5pm - Meet The Tech for an hour, 6.30pm - Drop car to family mechanic............ Do I actually bother seeing ex-boy-toy as suggested............... I suspect not.

No boss day tomorrow..............yey

This means that I can complete and quite possibly submit DD101 TMA07 with a tear in my eye that it has come to an end. This will also give me a chance to do some of the background reading for ED209 TMA04 which after reading the forums is starting to make less sense than it did originally. The forums are really good for getting me to think about things that I hadn't previously.

Have spotted on boss's calender that he has a 3 day course at the end of the month which I see as opportunity to blitz ED209 TMA05......... I can't believe I am talking about TMA05 already.

Maybe a little good news on the fees front in that it may be the case that students who have already started their OU studies may be exempt from the tuition fee hikes that are imminent..... phew..... pretty certain I woul dhave bitten the bullet and still gone for it but this means that I can save more money for my MSc in October 2015.

The situation with The Tech is proving to be quite fun, it's all got a little flirty at work but at least now he is staying in the workshop more rather than buzzing around me, however I do hope that I opted for unlimited text messages in my tariff else it's gonna be an expensive one.

I can't actually believe that I am about to drop down to just 1 module.... I think it's going to make me feel lazy although it should give me a lot more time for ED209 to be the centre of my life. DSE212 starts October 1st which is 17 days before ED209 exam so suspect I will inspect my book parcel wheen it arrives and then leave it alone for the first 2 weeks.

DD101 TMA07 Update

Didn't actually finish business hours until 9.30pm so not a lot of free time. The things you do for your favourite boss............. and colleague............

Well, today was no boss day and it has been interesting.

I managed all my notes on TMA07 and wrote them up in to a rather nice assignment. The down side is that once it is referenced it is going to be around 200 words over the 10% over allowance and after playing with it, I can't find any bits that I want to risk leaving out. This should have been a 2,000 essay and not 1,500!!!! Note for future DD101 tutors!!! Have now left it for stepdad to proof read before pressing the glorious submit button for the last time on DD101.......... sob, sob, phew!!

Today has been entertaining in a rather naughty way. Since I left this job back in November a new tech started who is a little younger than the others and he's pretty cool to chat to. Everywhere I went today, he's been there to the point that others have been making comments about it........... me being me has been a little oblivious to it until after lunch when he offered to take a look at my sickly toy car at home (still didn't see where this was going.....Duh) so we swapped numbers, now the texts have got a little flirty. From now on he will be called 'The Tech' as I have the feeling the story may progress. 'Boy Toy' is in trouble at work but this really isn't so much my business anymore even though we are remaining friends and 'The One' is confusing the life out of me since bank holiday Monday so I don't know whether I am coming or going.

I am living the dream.............. REALLY?????

A day of dread

Ar 6.10pm today I will be resigning from my position here which means that I should be let go of on the spot for going to work for the competitor however byu the looks of it, there will only be 1 person left here tomorrow so wondering about the outcome. Am prepped and ready to be gone tonight, stepdad is preped to come collect me once the deed is done.

If the above goes to plan then it means that I will have 2 days without a car and therefore I have 2 days to blitz ED209 TMA03 (due next Tuesday (that crept up on me)) and DD101 TMA07. I am ready to see the end of DD101 now, I have really enjoyed it but now starting to see the workload involved in running 2 60 point modules together although I am doing the same again at the end of this year with SD226 & DSE212 however with no exam for SD226, I think that I might be okay.

I am stacking it about resigning today but my work buddy is going to stay with me till I've done it.

DD101 TMA06 Results

The results are back and it is by far the worst result I've had back to the point it barely passes however it is also the best feedback because it has explained critical analysis so much better to me. Picking a viewpoint and arguing for it is not what is required. Evaluation is the key here. I'm glad I screwed it up on a course that does not affect my final result however wish I had't picked the TMA with the most weighing. Fingers crossed for TMA07.

Attachment Theory

TMA03 is proving to be rather interesting, I am around 900 words in to the 2000 word assignment and have found a 'flow' with it. The first 1000 words will be from chapter 1, around 500 from chapter 2 and the rest on introduction and conclusion. I think I may have cracked it. With 3 assignments due in a 4 week period I am rather glad this is the case. I haven't looked any further in to DD101 TMA07 as would rather focus on the course that affects my final grade so will wait till I've pressed that glorious submit button for TMA03 first.

Weather seems to have taken a downturn but this is a good thing with regards to study as the temptation to be outside is not there so much.

Have decided to take the job back at my old company due to the freedom to study and go to tutorials even if they are on a Saturday which I am sure will be back for other courses. Will be resigning at 6.10pm on Wednesday after I have done 2 handovers and it will save the 'walk of shame' as the only people who will be left in the building are my boss, myself, 1 colleague and a service guy. I hate doing this but hey I should be used to it after the amount I've done it recently.

Off out to see 'The One' tonight, it's wrong I know but I have a lot of fun and can chill with the channel hopping maniac.

ED209 TMA02 Results, Tutorial 3 and other Stuff

Last night was tutorial 3 for ED209 and as per usual it was a god send. A little guidance was given for TMA03 which has helped massively so really need to get a start on it especially as there is a tight one between ED209 TMA03, DD101 TMA07 and ED209 TMA (which is still freaking me out a little). My tutor is a total dude with a wealth of knowledge about all the topics. It has been suggested that I should compare and contrast but still be critical and close it down so that nobody could pick holes in my arguement. I would really struggle with my grades on ED209 without seeing him on a monthly basis.......... almost educating rita.

ED209 TMA03 results have come back and I'm not unhappy, don't think I could have done much better although my tutor comments were interesting, he really just added comments about things that I hadn't thought of with regards to fine details which hadn't even crossed my mind.

Just printed the wiki entry on Bowlby's attachment theory so hopefully it will be of help in preparation. Will do some internet research on the topic whilst at work today because I'm on my own and now a little bored.

Voting Day - NO to AV

Tonight is voting night which is a family thing in my household.

My stepfather is a firm believer that if you don't vote then you have no right to complain if things aren't good. This kind of actually fits in well with the ideas for DD101 TMA07.

Tonight we will be visiting the village hall to vote 'No' then off to the pub for the celebratory beer.

DD101 TMA06 Submitted

Phew...... had panic attack all of yesterday thinking that the cut-off was at midday however DD101 still has midnight cut-off so managed to get it in at 7pm ish.

Time to make a start on DD101 TMA07 which after re-reading the brief, isn't going to be as problematic as first thought. It is only 1 chapter in the book which is important and not all 3. I have read through the transcript 'Citizens and the state' which has been very worthwhile as it has got my head around what the question is asking for. Now it is just a case of putting and arguement together.

ED209 TMA03 is due sooner so really need to blitz through these. I have a couple of Sunday's at work to get my head down on these but need to get some notes down first and get my head around it all. Erika Cox's booklets could prove rather invaluable for this TMA. I really want to get both these assignments done ASAP. I can't cope with the feeling of panic of leaving these things to last minute and I am looking at ED209 TMA04 with a complete blank.....................

DD101 TMA06 Completed

I managed to finish TMA06 on Sunday, it is now in the hands of my stepdad to make better English out of what I have written. I am pretty pleased with my assignment and hope tutor sees it in the same light. This is also my first critical analysis so hope I got that bit right too. I am hoping that critical analysis actually means picking a view point and finding evidence to back it up............. fingers crossed I am not way out.

Just took mum to Crazy Bear for lunch.......... expensive make-up for forgetting her birthday............. would have just been cheaper to buy a card so should teach me for next year.

Have started notes for DD101 TMA07 and ED209 TMA03......... hoping not to leave these to last minute.

Will be submitting TMA06 later today.

DD101 TMA06 Update

Thinking back, I actually started work on this assignment back in December when I was in my last company so based on that it has taken me over 4 months and I still have left DD101 TMA06 to the last minute to complete!!! This is not a good sign however since then ED209 started which has taken a fair bit of time. To be fair it is purely the write up phase as I think I have read the chapter so many times that it is almost commited to memory.

TMA system is down on Tuesday which is a pain as the TMA is due on Wednesday and boy toy's flat doesn't have internet access but I'm sure I can work around it.

Forgot mum's birthday last week so I'm in bad books however I am making up for it by taking her to The Crazy Bear for lunch, she's been wanting to go for ages because I used to go a fair bit and all her friends have been. Set lunch £14.50 is okay, larger at £6 a bottle is less okay. I suppose it's my fault for forgetting.

Erika Cox booklets have arrived and think they are going to be very handy especially for ED209 TMA03.

Have been thinking about DD101 TMA07 and making a few notes but I have to admit that the content isn't flowing too well in my grey matter and I'm struggling to get my head around it so doing a lot of googling about legitimate authority of states.

Back to DD101 TMA06 I suppose, 400 words done, only 1,100 to go, referencing and a self refelction to go. Arghhhhhhhhh

P.S. Royal Wedding - ended up watching it, actually enjoyed it and think they are a lovely couple. Also watched the Wills & Kate Love Story (I know, I know) but although it was a little cheesy, it actually was watchable.

ED209 TMA02 Submitted

Finally at the 11th hour I have submitted ED209 TMA02 and it has been a challenge to say the least, based on this I suspect TMA04 and TMA06 which are practicals are going to be just as hellish. At least for now it's another Essay for TMA03 and in a similar format to TMA01.

I am not certain that TMA02 is my best work but I have mentioned all the key points, I just worry that it is a bit of a ramble rather than constructed well. I am relieved just to have pressed that theraputic submit button.

On to DD101 TMA06 ready to be submitted next Wednesday, at least I have most of a body for this one so it is now just a case of sorting word count, referencing and submitting. Think I will multi-task this alongside the Royal Wedding.

Juggling 2 courses

This is a first for me but with only 6 days looming until ED209 TMA02 is due, I have barely typed anything for it at all. I won't say that I have done nothing because that is far from true. The TMA02 forum on my the website has had lots of info to get me thinking so I think that I can pretty much blitz through it once I actually sit down and start typing but I've not so far left any TMAs this late to do............ I hope this is purely a glitch.

With DD101 TMA06 due a mere 7 days after ED209 TMA02 I am feeling a little behind although I have most of TMA06 typed, just need to make sense of it and reference but will leave that till the day of the Royal Wedding I think.

ED209 TMA03 due May 24th - Very similar to TMA01 so quite happy with this one
DD101 TMA07 due June 13th - Then I say goodbye to DD101 but want this done ASAP because of ED209 TMA04
ED209 TMA04 due June 21st - First practical and looks like heavy going..Doh

DSE212 - Starts October 1st so no overlap with ED209 apart from exam time
SD226 - Starts February 4th and after reading other people's views, this is a heavy going course.

ED209 Update

I have now worked out that if I can finish fOCUSII - Collection 2 which I have started but keep loosing the will to live with and complete fOCUSII - collection 3 then I am free running until May 21st but as I am getting very much in to the readings, I am pretty certain I will finish Book 2 before Easter and therefore I am free running (TMAs excluded) till the 3rd June which is a great feeling.

I can get on properly with DD101 TMA06, TMA07 (which requires a fair bit of reading and note taking) and ED209 TMA02 which I really need to get done between now and Easter weekend, TMA03 (I am looking forward to this as the question is based around atatchment theory and disturbed/disturbing behaviour) and make a start on TMA04 (practical, scary).

Onwards and upwards. Really, really want to get DD101 done and dusted for 2 reasons: 1) It will feel like a huge achievement, 2) I can totally focus on ED209.

National Identity

I am on to the chapter in Book 2 which I think is chapter 7 all to do with National Identity and I have to say that it isn't the most interesting chapter that I have read. The chapter on Gender is far more interesting as I am a little bit of a tomboy (maybe more than a little). One study shows that ridicule by fathers to sons if they play with non-gender typical toys could be a major factor. This proved of interest when my dad told me to be more feminine on Sunday morning and use a trolley rather than carrying my clubs......... I obviously pulled him up on this.

Really really need to sort out fOCUSII stuff and Media Kit pretty soon as falling a little behind with those.

DD101 has fallen a little by the wayside but have most of a backbone to work for TMA06 so not too worried especially as it is due after ED209 TMA02 which I am loosing interest in progressively, I may work on this tonight as am back round boy toy's place. He has developed a love affair with the PS2 especially GTA: San Andreas and Lego Star Wars which to be honest, I quite like. I am now a PS2 widow therefore can study till my heart is content.