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Darryl Dyke

Another Result

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There I go moaning that my B322 result is taking it's time and it arrives later that day.  To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it.  OK, a grade 3 pass isn't bad but I felt a little cheated by the ocas score of 64%. I personally don't think that the tutor really understood my business idea in that she kept comparing it to another type of business that was, in her mind at least, related to the type of business I was proposing.  The only real similarity was that they were both restaurants.  Because of this, I lost points on my TMAs and the value of the feedback I got was significantly diminished.sad

What's even more galling is that, having got a respectable 74% on my EMA, my score is on the borderline for a grade 2.  Basically, the subjective nature of the marking on B322 and a lack of appreciation of the basic premise of my business proposal has cost me a grade level.

My whole experience with B322 has put me off doing any more business studies courses.  The module is subjective (you're marks are down to the basic understanding of a particular tutor), poor value for money(no tutorials, not even online ones) and, if you've done a couple of business modules already, teaches you absolutely nothing. Rather it just goes back over subjects a student will have already covered at level 1.

From now on my degree will be focussed on design and engineering.

Permalink 1 comment (latest comment by Julie Hellon, Friday, 3 Aug 2012, 21:03)
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Darryl Dyke

No Mojo

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Edited by Darryl Dyke, Tuesday, 19 Jun 2012, 12:41

Having finished B322, and still waiting for the result two months after submitting my EMA, I'm enjoying my studies much more.  I'm on TMA04 of T206-Energy for a Sustainable Future at the moment and, despite a few hiccups with TMA03 (caused by my PC going pop), the module is going very well.  TMA04 is half done as I did the essay question last week (with 3 weeks to go) leaving me with just the question bits to get through. It's also helped by having a great tutor.  Someone who explains things clearly, from different angles if necessary and who is easy to communicate with.  This makes a tough, but interesting, module much clearer and more accessible.

 This morning, however, despite my best intentions, I have no inspiration, if that's the right word.  I sat there for an hour before deciding that enough was enough.

It's happened before though.  Mind's wandering and I'm not focussed.

I'll have another go tomorrow and, in the meantime, I'll take the textbook to work this afternooon and try a little "light" reading about tidal energy and heat pumps during my breaks.

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Darryl Dyke

Got it licked

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Edited by Darryl Dyke, Sunday, 1 Apr 2012, 16:49

Well it seems that sitting out the sunshine was worth it.  I've just read over my B322 EMA and it seems to be in the bag.big grin (Where's the jumping up and down going "Woo Hoo" smiley when you need it?)

I've still got more than 3 weeks until it's due in though so I think I'll hang on to it in case I want to tweak anything, but it looks pretty good to me.

Finished.

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Darryl Dyke

A Month of Hell?

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I'm coming to the end of B322 now with just the EMA to go. Trouble is that it coincides witht he second TMA of T206 so I've decided to "switch my life off" for a month to get these assignments done and dusted. That'll put B322 out of the way and allow me to devote all my study time to T206, a course I'm quite enjoying.  Not surprising really as it's basically a course about energy generation and i worked at a power station for 10 years. Not bad preparation as far as I see itsmile.

This coming month will be pretty hard though, what with a level 3 and a level 2 course on the go as well as working shifts full time.  Time to roll up my sleeves and get on with it.

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Darryl Dyke

The Results Are In

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Edited by Darryl Dyke, Friday, 16 Dec 2011, 11:13

Last week was a good weeksmile

I got my results from U101 and I'm really pleased with them. Who wouldn't be happy with an average over 80% between OCAS an EMA.  So I now have a Certificate of Higher Education (Open) (K05) comprising modules in design, engineering and business. Not bad considering I didn't even register for this qualification.

If that wasn't enough, I also got my result for B121 and, again, I was pleased with the mark at around 80% average. This meant I qualified for a Certificate in Business Studies (C63). So, after 20 months of studying, I have my first qualifications but, of course, they won't be the last and, just to gild the lily even further, my first TMA from B322-investigating entrepreneurial opportunities, has been marked. I was a bit apprehensive about B322. It's my first level 3 course and I jumped straight into it from level 1 so I was concerned about whether I could work to the required standard. It seems that my worries were unfounded as I got 76% for TMA01. I'm realy pleased with this and it's given me a great confidence boost for the rest of the course.

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Darryl Dyke

The Waiting Game

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It's been quite a while since I added anything to this blog, in fact I can't believe it was July when I posted last.  A lot's happened since then of course.  Best of all is that, after been out of work due to illness for an extended period, I've got a new job with British Airways starting in the new yearbig grin.

On the studying front, I finished both B121 and U101 with time to spare and now I'm waiting for the final results.  I must say that I hate this bit.  I finished both courses at the start of October so it's been two months now.  Of course I've been here before, waiting on completed marking, but what's making it more aggravating this time is that these two results will get me a  Certificate of Higher Education (Open) and a Certificate in Business Studies, my first actual "on-paper" qualifications from the OU. So right now I'm on tenterhooks and checking my Email every 5 minutes, itching to be able to update my CV with some new and up to date qualifications.

I do have one or two things to keep my mind off it though. Not least of which is that, despite my vow to take a few months off studying, I signed up for B322-investigating entrepreneurial opportunities, which, through some kind of perverse OU logic, counts towards a degree in Design and Innovation.  The process of choosing this course came from what I learned on U101-design thinking.  I did a problem solving exercise based around what course to take and this came up as the best option. I wouldn't have considered it otherwise.  Who says you wont apply what you learnwink

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