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Gareth Thomas

Moving onto the next stage with the OU (The start of my degree S111)

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Hello, 

Thought i have a quick update i haven't written in this for a while so i thought i would at the start of my next adventure.

I have now completed the YO33 access module from the OU i very much enjoyed doing the module, at some points it was hard as i had some health things going on and i fell a tiny bit behind and may have not done my best work.

But i am hoping i have learnt my lesson for that and i won't be making that again, got some good news hopefully on the job part i am awaiting an interview for a job which will be working within a lab which is pretty awesome which is a Monday to Friday role.

I know it is going to be rough going back to full time work and studying but i am very excited for the prospect of this new role and what it could mean for my future in pursing a role in science.

I am super excited/nervous to be starting my degree, already have completed the first week the induction into the S111 course which went fairly well.

Maybe tomorrow i may look into the second weeks of work and complete the checklist needed for the practical side of the course and i need to complete the check list in preparation for it.

That is me out for the evening hope everyone has a nice evening and a good sleep and i will see how i feel i may do a update or weekly updates going forward time dependant going forward.


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Gareth Thomas

Week 6 day 7 of YO33

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Realised yesterday I wasn’t so behind as I thought and now slightly ahead my work. Can’t believe I thought I was behind but that’s all good I will rework one of the weeks before the maths soon with proper notes this week as I done most of next weeks work yesterday smile. Still enjoying my course forgot to add I marked a 56% on my first TMA was slightly disappointed in that but it’s a start it seems I got a good understanding just to put that to words better but that i can work on for the next one going to try aim for 70% next one smile. On another side note I think I have decided what degree I want to do next and that’s environmental science environmental management degree which looks very expelling to myself.

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Gareth Thomas

Week 6 Day 3 of YO33

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Today has been a really good day in terms of getting back on track with my work. Managed to do all the maths section of last weeks work in a few hours whilst in the garden with a cold drink and whilst listening to drake and josh on my laptop. Felt that it went really well maths is one of my stronger areas so all the stuff I was reading was very familiar and was easy to understand. Just happy I have managed to catch upto this weeks work and will be able to do more work tomorrow before work tomorrow and hopefully by Saturday be fully back on track. Got a new desk coming tomorrow for my room, have been working on my bed with taking notes which was getting uncomfortable so I decided to invest in a bigger pc desk so I am able to do my work as well as having my pc stuff on the same desk so looking forward to that and depending on the time that comes I may do some work on it tomorrow smile. Going to leave it there for the day today has been a longer blog.

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Gareth Thomas

Week 6 day one of YO33

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havent blogged for a while have been very busy, but i have submitted my first TMA in time and excited to see how well i do with it, have fell behind slightly on the work due to not being well a few weeks ago but am coming back upto date this week. really enjoying what i am learning atm looking forward to my next TMA going to be a challenge. Havent done any work today due to having my first vaccine will see how i feel later if i am feeling alright will try and get some work done but i am due to work tonight which am unsure i will be going depending on how well i am feeling smile. will look to do further updates soon like i was before soon again

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Gareth Thomas

Week 4 day 3 of Y033

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Haven’t blogged for the last few days been super busy with work also with the gym as well just haven’t had a chance to just have an update. Studying has been going well today I spent a good part of the day completing my first TMA going to use the rest of the week to make sure it’s the best assignment I can hand in want to try and aim for as good as a grade as possible and I am able to show I fully understand what I have learnt so far. Have done some of this weeks work so far but have not gotten too far ahead slightly behind on that but plan to catch up over the next few days so I am on top of it all smile. Going to relax for the evening waiting for a parcel to come with the talk or food chain wildlife ecosystems I’ve decided to buy a trail camera that I am going to put somewhere and hopefully catch some nice footage of some wildlife let’s hope it works smile

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Week 3 day 6 of studying Y033

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Today has been the easiest I felt in terms of learning as it was to do with maths, I done the calculator first part in ease, I did maths GSCE re takes recently even though I was not able to complete due to a back injury I was very close to finishing and remember an awful lot so the term bidmas was still very clear on the brain as it was maybe only 3 years ago I done that, but it was still nice to know that I still remember the right way of doing it after a few years break, still feel my studies are going well I left a few pages which I will do tomorrow to finish up for the week ready for week 4. On reflection so far I feel as though I have learned an awful lot and I find myself brain storming what I learnt when I’m at work as I enjoyed it that much thinking in my head what I have learned, going to try take some time next week to start my TMA again and re do it as it’s when I have the most time free but so far I am loving doing this and looking forward to learning more 

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Gareth Thomas

Week 3 day 5 of Y033

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Just a quick blog today as I’m running slightly late for getting ready for work, but yesterday and today has gone really well, went in the TMA tutorial today with charlton which I found most helpful feeling a lot more happier when it comes it doing it now and handing in my first TMA is a lot of good points and helpful tips to go towards my thinking of my first assignment. Still finding it good my time keeping in terms of sticking to my planner for studying and not fell behind if anything I feel on top of it. Learning a lot atm is by the I feel going to be the most enjoyable unit to learn as it has my most interest in wanting to know more. Looking forward to learning more and more going to go back to my TMA soon I have started and make some tweaks in light of some of the advice charlton said and going to do that soon when I find some spare time to do that. Best get going to work long night ahead followed by the gym in the morning. Might do another blog tomorrow hopefully learning more about sudoku and how I am going to do my question for that in my TMA smile 

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Week 3 Day 2 of Y033

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Been another good day it terms of studying managed to get a lot done I felt learning a about plants and photosynthesis and the way it works and how it creates the energy for the plant to live. Thought it was really interesting to learn and to learn about animals in a small depth too and the different types of animals that rely on plants or can survive from plants and prey. Looking forward to learn more again tomorrow I know I didn’t have to take notes for the bits I’m reading at the moment but feel if I write it down I can store a lot more of the information which is something I found out which is good. Time to think about bed soon back to work tomorrow night so going to try make the most of the day before for studies before work also I have finished upto question 2 for my TMA I may make a start on question 3 as I feel it may take a while in terms of producing what I want in my head for how I want to present the Sudoku and explaining how i got the answers for it. If anyone reading this g’night be back maybe for a blog tomorrow. 

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Gareth Thomas

Week 3 day 1 of studying Y033

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Today has been a productive day for my studies will start yesterday I went to Isle of Wight for the day which was amazing. Looking out to the sea, thinking of what I learned the past week just appreciating it all was a wonderful thing for me was nice for the visual to think about what I learned. Today I managed to start my TMA question one and two of the assignment set feeling good about it at the moment. Also made a start on this week Module with time not going to be as strong this week going to need to rely on my last few days of my holiday to help get me ahead for this weeks learning and maybe use some extra time to maybe review my TMA and make sure it’s the best I can make it so I can show I understand a rock pool really well. Hope everyone  from YO33 is doing well on the course so far maybe they read this and can relate hope they are enjoying as much as I am. 

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Week 2 Day 5 of YO33 studies

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Back again with doing another blog post about my studies. Today has been a good day again nearly finished my work for the week now but do plan to use some extra time to get a little ahead in my studies. Feel as through I’m learning a lot at the moment and have really enjoyed what I have done so far. Just can’t wait to learn more as the weeks progresses going only for a short one today as literally all my day all I’ve done is some studying for a few hours then relaxed smile.

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Gareth Thomas

Week 2 day 4 of studying YO33

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Today has been the most pleasant of days spend today doing work about the ecosystem and learning about energy, and the black Smoker and how a whole new ecosystem was discovered in 1979 and how life survives and works at such heat has been really fascinating to learn about and has drawn my whole attention. Took a break for a few hours went for a walk down somewhere local to me at the uni park with a friend also which has been most pleasant also, just feel the more I learn the more I’m starting to notice things around me studying what I have studied has made me to see things differently and how it works. Looking forward to learn more and further my learning.  

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Gareth Thomas

Week 2 Day 3 of my YO33 studies

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Thought I’d add another blog today as I didn’t have a chance to yesterday due to work and being back at the gym I did not get any time to study yesterday so today I made up for it and done a lot. Today been a fun day of learning for me learning about rock pools and the ecosystem and how it works been really fun and feel I have learnt a lot today. On a plus I am going to the beach on the weekend as I am on holiday for a week so going to try and find out some rock pools for sure to get a visual of what’s happening which would be cool smile. Finding the work, studying and now going to the gym routine quite enjoyable at the moment feel as though I got a nice balance of everything atm which is good. Think I’m going to check in for the night and finish up for tonight and start again tomorrow smile

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Gareth Thomas

Day 1 of week 2 of my studies

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Haven’t blogged for a few days now as not a lot was happening I was working a lot and I did start some of next weeks work but not a great deal. But today I have managed to study for around 3 hours today learning a lot. Has been really fun a lot to take in. Think I may call it a day for now and continue tomorrow as I’m on my shorter shifts next week so am able to do a lot more. Spoke with my tutor also which was pretty cool looking forward to future contact still got a very positive mind towards my studying hope it continues think the trick is little and often and not to blow out and do all the work in a few days. On holiday soon also so may take advantage of that to get ahead of myself so when time is little I won’t have to worry as much. But in general really happy with how things are going at the moment  smile.

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Gareth Thomas

Day 4 of Being a OU Student

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Today has been a good day for myself. I had a doctors appointment for my lenses which i put in my eyes for my eye condition and today have confirmed i have now regained 20/20 vision which has made my day and excited for the future, no longer fell held back in terms of what i am capable of in terms of vision gives me a major drive to succeed at my access course and take my studying further. Today i done some more further reading in my book, started to learn a little about Charles Darwin which is pretty cool have a feeling this section of the 3 units i have to do i am going to enjoy the most. Got to be honest seeing this blog and being able to write even if it just me reading back on how things are going for now has be somewhat enjoyable, looking forward to hopefully writing in here how well i do on my first TMA and how i can improve and do better. Time to relax now got a long week ahead now filled with work, may write some more entry's during the week will see as and when. smile
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Gareth Thomas

Day 3 of being a OU student

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Edited by Gareth Thomas, Monday, 3 May 2021, 22:35

Today has been the least productive in terms of work being I finished all this weeks work. But I woke up around 1pm had lunch hang out with a friend today done some light reading on life for next week work. But what I have done is set up some timetables ready for the next few weeks knowing my work schedule found it a great use of my time to be prepared for this. Also sent an email to my tutor and looking forward to being in contact over the coming works whilst I progress through the course. Also outside of that I have been watching some science stuff on YouTube and found of some new interesting stuff in terms of animals and who protects there young best which was quite interesting which lead to more videos. Back to work tomorrow night so over the next few days things shall slow down until next weeks work so may or may not do some blogging whilst then depends if anything interesting happens. Now time for myself may start a new series or watch a movie and relax for the night l.

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Gareth Thomas

Second day as a OU student

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Day 2 of my adventure as a OU student doing Y033 access module, has again been a good one. Woke up from work around 1pm had some food hanged out with friends today for a few hours in my garden catching up, also telling about the course and how much I am enjoying it. Finished that around 7 then starting studying for the night, also found out stuff I will look into further like the likes of knowing the name Carl Sagan but did not know where from. Which now I have the answer for and will do further reading as it sparked some interest. Only downer I have to say is after only 2 days as a OU student I have done the work for the week which has came with disappointment, but tomorrow I may take the opportunity to advance read in the text book. The first module of the course is one I have the most interest at the moment so looking forward to learn about ecology and looking forward to my first written assignment hoping I can achieve a good understanding and do well. Time to call in for the night and settle with a movie. Also any fellow YO33 access course people may come across this I hope your doing well in your first couple of days as a student as am I and enjoying it too smile

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