One of the most acknowledged challenges of distance learning is the idea of 'learning in isolation'. Everyone will have a different response to the prospect but most will have at least a little experience of attempting to self-motivate and will have some concept of how difficult it can be to stick with, particularly over a stretch of years,
The interactive structure of the OU seems to vary between departments, modules and locations, so you can't be quite sure of what you're going to get before you start. Being a bit of a lone warrior, the thought didn't worry me too much and a quick scan through Facebook groups immediately confirmed that there were going to be options to communicate with other students. Oh, how I wanted to join some of those groups to get an insight but they all bore preclusive titles like 'AA100 January 2014(or-whatever) Starters', or similar and I didn't have the nerve. Knowing what I know now, I see it would have been fine to give that a go but, at the time, I was feeling like a bit of a pretender to the throne, terrified I'd be 'found out' and laughed out of town!
Only once you've registered and are about to start the module are you taken through your tutorial structure. I believe that if your group tutor's set up really doesn't suit then you can transfer to another one if it, perhaps, offers a more suitable time/location/whatever. I also discovered that you are perfectly entitled to apply to pop along to other tutorials if, say, you miss one of your own or, as in my case, your overwhelming enthusiasm means you want more time in the classroom than one tutorial group will offer. A trip down that route, purely for the fun of it, means that I now have 2 groups I can get involved with and though I am beyond thrilled with my allocated group and wouldn't change it for anything, it's nice to be able to get a different take on things with a separate group too.
The option for daily interaction is undeniably there in the form of social media networking. The OU has a vast number of associated pages, both general and specific, and I began joining these in the weeks before my module started. OU Library, Student Association, Write Club Society...the choice built up in a wave and broke over me within a matter of days giving me that first inkling of a sense of being integrated into the wider student organisation. There are also a plethora of non-affiliated pages which, whilst not policed by the OU, are expected to abide by their basic rules. Within days of finding my module page, further associated offshoot groups were suddenly on offer: Module Support Group, Marks Discussion Group and the rather ominously-named OU Freaks and Geeks Asylum!
At first, there is a flurry of activity on the main module page and around 250 people join. It is the first time I have any sense of being part of such a big group of people all on the same mission and it is both exciting and comforting. Observing interactions over the course of a few weeks, though, the range of attitudes and temperaments becomes apparent as the niceties give way to pre-first-assignment nerves, essay submission and the subsequent return of results. To be frank, there's a lot of whining about one thing and another, mostly people's resistance to the broad-basedness of the module and, more legitimately, to some tutors' lack of promptness with marking assignments. I'm a great believer in expressing a modicum of good-natured frustration, especially done in a humorous way, but oh my days.. I find myself wondering at how some people actually seemed cross that there was a lot of work to do. Mostly, I've ignored the remarks of that kind that scroll through my page but, occasionally, I can't resist putting my opinion down. After all, why have we signed up to do this if not to learn stuff? Personally, I can't imagine a better module to start a degree - a buffet of bite-sized introductions to such a wide range of topics.
Despite being slightly taken aback at some people's input, gradually connections have formed through shared interests and attitudes, geographical locations, etc. You can find your 'home team' - if you want one, that is. I didn't seek it out but I have ended up communicating mostly with an energetic, funny and interactive bunch of people who I really relate to and, despite having met none of them, actually feel a strengthening bond with. They're like me! We bounce ideas around, humour and encourage each other and feel we can share our individual interests in an environment of like-mindedness. It's a breath of fresh air and so good to have people close by in the ether who understand where you're coming from and want to talk about the same things that you do. (Most people in my everyday life are generally supportive but not interested in specifics.) If it's what you want, it doesn't take long to find and, of course, you are completely at liberty to avoid interaction completely if you so desire.
Neither are you obligated to attend tutorials. Only a fraction of my learning group manage to get to them and I want to jump up and down, waving my metaphorical arms, and let everyone know what they're missing! Not my remit, of course but I'm particularly sad that tutorials of the sheer dynamic quality I have the pleasure to be assigned to are not being attended. I feel it's a tragedy but it's their choice and their loss, I suppose. Ho hum...
The Issues of Standing Alone
One of the most acknowledged challenges of distance learning is the idea of 'learning in isolation'. Everyone will have a different response to the prospect but most will have at least a little experience of attempting to self-motivate and will have some concept of how difficult it can be to stick with, particularly over a stretch of years,
The interactive structure of the OU seems to vary between departments, modules and locations, so you can't be quite sure of what you're going to get before you start. Being a bit of a lone warrior, the thought didn't worry me too much and a quick scan through Facebook groups immediately confirmed that there were going to be options to communicate with other students. Oh, how I wanted to join some of those groups to get an insight but they all bore preclusive titles like 'AA100 January 2014(or-whatever) Starters', or similar and I didn't have the nerve. Knowing what I know now, I see it would have been fine to give that a go but, at the time, I was feeling like a bit of a pretender to the throne, terrified I'd be 'found out' and laughed out of town!
Only once you've registered and are about to start the module are you taken through your tutorial structure. I believe that if your group tutor's set up really doesn't suit then you can transfer to another one if it, perhaps, offers a more suitable time/location/whatever. I also discovered that you are perfectly entitled to apply to pop along to other tutorials if, say, you miss one of your own or, as in my case, your overwhelming enthusiasm means you want more time in the classroom than one tutorial group will offer. A trip down that route, purely for the fun of it, means that I now have 2 groups I can get involved with and though I am beyond thrilled with my allocated group and wouldn't change it for anything, it's nice to be able to get a different take on things with a separate group too.
The option for daily interaction is undeniably there in the form of social media networking. The OU has a vast number of associated pages, both general and specific, and I began joining these in the weeks before my module started. OU Library, Student Association, Write Club Society...the choice built up in a wave and broke over me within a matter of days giving me that first inkling of a sense of being integrated into the wider student organisation. There are also a plethora of non-affiliated pages which, whilst not policed by the OU, are expected to abide by their basic rules. Within days of finding my module page, further associated offshoot groups were suddenly on offer: Module Support Group, Marks Discussion Group and the rather ominously-named OU Freaks and Geeks Asylum!
At first, there is a flurry of activity on the main module page and around 250 people join. It is the first time I have any sense of being part of such a big group of people all on the same mission and it is both exciting and comforting. Observing interactions over the course of a few weeks, though, the range of attitudes and temperaments becomes apparent as the niceties give way to pre-first-assignment nerves, essay submission and the subsequent return of results. To be frank, there's a lot of whining about one thing and another, mostly people's resistance to the broad-basedness of the module and, more legitimately, to some tutors' lack of promptness with marking assignments. I'm a great believer in expressing a modicum of good-natured frustration, especially done in a humorous way, but oh my days.. I find myself wondering at how some people actually seemed cross that there was a lot of work to do. Mostly, I've ignored the remarks of that kind that scroll through my page but, occasionally, I can't resist putting my opinion down. After all, why have we signed up to do this if not to learn stuff? Personally, I can't imagine a better module to start a degree - a buffet of bite-sized introductions to such a wide range of topics.
Despite being slightly taken aback at some people's input, gradually connections have formed through shared interests and attitudes, geographical locations, etc. You can find your 'home team' - if you want one, that is. I didn't seek it out but I have ended up communicating mostly with an energetic, funny and interactive bunch of people who I really relate to and, despite having met none of them, actually feel a strengthening bond with. They're like me! We bounce ideas around, humour and encourage each other and feel we can share our individual interests in an environment of like-mindedness. It's a breath of fresh air and so good to have people close by in the ether who understand where you're coming from and want to talk about the same things that you do. (Most people in my everyday life are generally supportive but not interested in specifics.) If it's what you want, it doesn't take long to find and, of course, you are completely at liberty to avoid interaction completely if you so desire.
Neither are you obligated to attend tutorials. Only a fraction of my learning group manage to get to them and I want to jump up and down, waving my metaphorical arms, and let everyone know what they're missing! Not my remit, of course but I'm particularly sad that tutorials of the sheer dynamic quality I have the pleasure to be assigned to are not being attended. I feel it's a tragedy but it's their choice and their loss, I suppose. Ho hum...