I have registered today for TM470.
In fact, I had to do it anyway if I want to keep the transitional arrangements and next year is also the
last one for me to claim my degree, so unless I die before 9th January I
would have done it sooner or later.
I did it as a way of forcing myself to look forwards instead of feeling that even small situations are perceived as things that repeat themselves in a infinite loop that I would like to break for once and forever (see yesterday post).
Replanning has now (hopefully) finished for me.
From now until I complete M263, M362 and TM470 I just hope The OU doesn't make any changes in their rules that could avoid me to claim my degree in December 2014. I honestly cannot cope with more changes or replanning again.
I just want this to finish well (no issues, no surprises, no more bad news or changes) and then my brain will delete all the not-so-good things as it normally does and I will remember the fantastic academic level The OU provides, the freedom of studying online, the moment when I decided to study with The Open University, I will face what will mean for me as a person to have reached what it was probably my dream since I was 12 y.o., etc.
But overall I will remember all the people that have helped me to be the person I am and that somehow my goal is theirs as well. Those that passed away and those that are still with me, without their love and support I would have never reached the point I'm now nor have the opportunity to culminate my dream.
Just a bit more than a year and a half in front of me for all that to be a reality.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Unnecessary automatic substitution?...again?
My results in the M263 TMAs are already released (TMA01: 88%, TMA02:93%, TMA03: 90%, TMA04: 91%). Grading (OCAS) before substitution: 91%. Grading (OCAS) after substitution: 91%.
(drums) Ladies and gentlemen, once again in my life: Unnecessary substitution!
It happens to you when the grading in a module before and after substitution is applied is exactly the same but not all your TMA gradings are the same.
First of all, I think substitution is not a help at all else a way of masking mediocrity. How many times people that is not good at something have appeared as they are just because of substitution? How many of those helped by substitution would have jump in a job queue over others that have had the same grades in a different country where substitution didn't apply? How many of the "helped" ones that didn't need the substitution at all have been harmed by the unnecessary textual "gift" added? If one of your TMAs is at 50% level why should other TMAs compensate your ignorance in that part?
I hope that this time The OU has solved their issue and it doesn't appear the mention "(Substitution applied)" in my module description document.
The OU has "gifted" me with the textual mention already in other 3 modules I have completed 2 years ago, where my grading before and after that "substitution" was the same (M255: 94%, M364: 90%, M256: 88%).
In fact the only real substitution I have had in all my OU studies was in M359 that year also where a 91.25% was converted into a 92% (oh, thank you ever so much indeed for such a huge difference).
Just to start: Did I really need any kind of substitution in those cases? For a Distinction only 85% is needed ...wasn't really clear for the OU that I did not need any "help"? Second, if my grading before and after is the same what substitution has been applied? Third, what kind of help is adding a "substitution applied" text in a case like this? Fourth, why is not allowed to opt out of substitution? IMHO They are harming hardworking individuals through those mentions in their academic statement records, benefiting only the mediocre ones through the substitution practice.
The issue with the mention seems to be due to an OU rule stating that if not all your TMA grades are EXACTLY the same this textual mention will appear because the substitution system will fire (even if the system has really not added any value to you with the substitution!).
Sometimes I wonder if the person that dictates this kind of rules really thought about all the possible scenarios and decided that in a case like this the system would include the textual mention anyway or if it's a bug.
Just a helpful code in case it's a bug:
if (valueBeforeSubstitution != valueAfterSubstitution) then {
//print the "helpful" mention only in this case.
//No worries, the other cases do not need your "help", believe me
}
Coding that was easy, isn't it...well, not if we look at how The OU answered my email two years ago when I contacted them regarding this case. They replied me inviting me to use a form that is in place to claim should you're not happy with your grading.
...and that wasn't exactly the case, was it?
(drums) Ladies and gentlemen, once again in my life: Unnecessary substitution!
It happens to you when the grading in a module before and after substitution is applied is exactly the same but not all your TMA gradings are the same.
First of all, I think substitution is not a help at all else a way of masking mediocrity. How many times people that is not good at something have appeared as they are just because of substitution? How many of those helped by substitution would have jump in a job queue over others that have had the same grades in a different country where substitution didn't apply? How many of the "helped" ones that didn't need the substitution at all have been harmed by the unnecessary textual "gift" added? If one of your TMAs is at 50% level why should other TMAs compensate your ignorance in that part?
I hope that this time The OU has solved their issue and it doesn't appear the mention "(Substitution applied)" in my module description document.
The OU has "gifted" me with the textual mention already in other 3 modules I have completed 2 years ago, where my grading before and after that "substitution" was the same (M255: 94%, M364: 90%, M256: 88%).
In fact the only real substitution I have had in all my OU studies was in M359 that year also where a 91.25% was converted into a 92% (oh, thank you ever so much indeed for such a huge difference).
Just to start: Did I really need any kind of substitution in those cases? For a Distinction only 85% is needed ...wasn't really clear for the OU that I did not need any "help"? Second, if my grading before and after is the same what substitution has been applied? Third, what kind of help is adding a "substitution applied" text in a case like this? Fourth, why is not allowed to opt out of substitution? IMHO They are harming hardworking individuals through those mentions in their academic statement records, benefiting only the mediocre ones through the substitution practice.
The issue with the mention seems to be due to an OU rule stating that if not all your TMA grades are EXACTLY the same this textual mention will appear because the substitution system will fire (even if the system has really not added any value to you with the substitution!).
Sometimes I wonder if the person that dictates this kind of rules really thought about all the possible scenarios and decided that in a case like this the system would include the textual mention anyway or if it's a bug.
Just a helpful code in case it's a bug:
if (valueBeforeSubstitution != valueAfterSubstitution) then {
//print the "helpful" mention only in this case.
//No worries, the other cases do not need your "help", believe me
}
Coding that was easy, isn't it...well, not if we look at how The OU answered my email two years ago when I contacted them regarding this case. They replied me inviting me to use a form that is in place to claim should you're not happy with your grading.
...and that wasn't exactly the case, was it?
Alea iacta est
The dice are cast.
My M362 TMA02 has been already marked two days ago but I will need to wait exactly a month (26th June) to know my resultant grade on that. In this case every TMA will decide if I can continue to dream with a Distinction at level 3 or not and therefore if I can keep dreaming on a First degree or not. So the dice will need to be cast again just if this time I was a winner.
In a certain way it would be a relief if the distinction option disappears for M362 as it would mean I just need to focus on having a 2:1 degree and that is almost already done. In fact, if I achieve a distinction in M263 this June - I have now that option as yesterday my results were published and I achieved a 91% in the TMA04 - I mathematically will have a 2:1 degree just passing M362 and TM470 (just a Grade 4 is needed in such a case). On the other hand it would be a great disappointment to have done so many efforts and renounce to so many things and finally end up with something I could have reached doing half the effort. "Pathetic" would be a great term to define that situation.
My M362 TMA02 has been already marked two days ago but I will need to wait exactly a month (26th June) to know my resultant grade on that. In this case every TMA will decide if I can continue to dream with a Distinction at level 3 or not and therefore if I can keep dreaming on a First degree or not. So the dice will need to be cast again just if this time I was a winner.
In a certain way it would be a relief if the distinction option disappears for M362 as it would mean I just need to focus on having a 2:1 degree and that is almost already done. In fact, if I achieve a distinction in M263 this June - I have now that option as yesterday my results were published and I achieved a 91% in the TMA04 - I mathematically will have a 2:1 degree just passing M362 and TM470 (just a Grade 4 is needed in such a case). On the other hand it would be a great disappointment to have done so many efforts and renounce to so many things and finally end up with something I could have reached doing half the effort. "Pathetic" would be a great term to define that situation.
Friday, May 3, 2013
TMAing during holidays
I'm almost finishing M362 TMA02, only some theory question counting for 10% of the TMA remains and I'm now again on track with my study plans... this is a good point.
To do this I have been working very hard to end M263 TMA04 exactly the day before (21st April) I took my holidays to come to Gran Canaria to visit my family.
I'm here since 22nd April, coming back tomorrow and during my stay here what have I done?
Did I go to the lovely beaches? Did I visit 100 friends and partied all day?
Nop, I highligthed the first Unit of this TMA in the airplane while coming and have been working very hard on my M362 TMA02 since then, so I can now study for my M263 exam in my return, 39 days free of interruptions to dedicate to M263 exam preparation!!.
Wow!! It does sound fantastic, doesn't it? I hope you can feel the irony in my writen words. Welcome to my OU life :-)
Even better, I have just enough time now to end the remaining bits before fliying tomorrow, I will arrive at UK at 4:05am on Sunday morning and start studying for the exam from 5th or 6th May onwards. Coming back to work on 7th.
For sure you just hate me for how fortunate I am (and feel right now) after such great lovely holidays in a paradise that one can see through the window of the "office".
I know all of you are green of envy reading this, LOL!
At least I have enjoyed time with my family while they were around and just one TMA remains for this year. These are also good points.
"Let's see the bottle half filled" and carry on... or I will cut my veins :-).
To do this I have been working very hard to end M263 TMA04 exactly the day before (21st April) I took my holidays to come to Gran Canaria to visit my family.
I'm here since 22nd April, coming back tomorrow and during my stay here what have I done?
Did I go to the lovely beaches? Did I visit 100 friends and partied all day?
Nop, I highligthed the first Unit of this TMA in the airplane while coming and have been working very hard on my M362 TMA02 since then, so I can now study for my M263 exam in my return, 39 days free of interruptions to dedicate to M263 exam preparation!!.
Wow!! It does sound fantastic, doesn't it? I hope you can feel the irony in my writen words. Welcome to my OU life :-)
Even better, I have just enough time now to end the remaining bits before fliying tomorrow, I will arrive at UK at 4:05am on Sunday morning and start studying for the exam from 5th or 6th May onwards. Coming back to work on 7th.
For sure you just hate me for how fortunate I am (and feel right now) after such great lovely holidays in a paradise that one can see through the window of the "office".
I know all of you are green of envy reading this, LOL!
At least I have enjoyed time with my family while they were around and just one TMA remains for this year. These are also good points.
"Let's see the bottle half filled" and carry on... or I will cut my veins :-).
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Déjà Vu
My result for M362 TMA01 was published today and I had an 88%. This is the same grade I had in the M263 TMA01 and also in the first TMA of M363 last year.
A real Déjà Vu!
Not the paradise but good to know I still keep over the 85%. I cannot say I'm jumping for joy with a mark like this but considering how busy I am at the moment with my job responsibilities, that I only dedicated 15 days to it and all that I will consider it a good one.
I just hope my marks in M362 this year are a bit better than the ones I had in M363 last year were I ended up achieving just a 85% in OCAS (88 | 87 | 80) and a 81% in the OES.
Let's see if I have the elusive Distinction at level 3 this time. :-)
A real Déjà Vu!
Not the paradise but good to know I still keep over the 85%. I cannot say I'm jumping for joy with a mark like this but considering how busy I am at the moment with my job responsibilities, that I only dedicated 15 days to it and all that I will consider it a good one.
I just hope my marks in M362 this year are a bit better than the ones I had in M363 last year were I ended up achieving just a 85% in OCAS (88 | 87 | 80) and a 81% in the OES.
Let's see if I have the elusive Distinction at level 3 this time. :-)
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Question marks
I have just received my M263 TMA03 results two days ago and I had a 90%, this means that I only need now a 53% in TMA04 to keep the Distinction option for the exam. I have never had such a low mark in any TMA during the 4 years I have been studying with The OU so I assume it's very doable to sit the exam with the Distinction option in place.
A completely different thing will be to have more than 85% in the exam in June. If that would happen my classification table would be reduced to its first column and I officially would be in route towards what is called in UK a good degree (a First or a 2:1 Honours degree classification).
Today I'm already highlighting Unit 15 (out of 16) of M263, the last one I will need for TMA04 (due on 16 May) as Unit 16 is assessed at the exam only. So, I calculate I will be uploading the last TMA soon with more or less one month in advance. That will allow me to concentrate on preparing the exam and doing the TMA02 for M362.
Now that I mention M362, I uploaded M362 TMA01 on 1st April (15 days in advance), my tutor marked it straightaway (2nd April) and it's now waiting to be released (probably on 17th April).
So, some question marks are still to be unveiled in the next months but for now is good to dream a bit about it. That is to say, the other columns of my classification table are still there but small-dreaming like this provides motivation :-)
Saturday, March 23, 2013
The end of the tunnel
Yesterday the OU has finally published the pricing for the next academic year modules.
TM470 will cost me £795.00, making a total of £6435.00 with each penny paid from my pocket and a huge amount of hours studying plus a very long list of trade-offs in pro of a dream (that I honestly prefer not to list here) some of them having consequences for me at work and in my personal life.
Once I finish - on Dec 2014 - I will have done:
53 TMAs
3 TMA00s including real TMA exercises
5 EMAs
4 CMAs
6 iCMAs
8 Exams
...And 5 years of my life will have almost passed in front of University units but the hardest bit of all this is not reflected in any of the amounts expressed above. All of the above is fine for me and I'm happy I took the decision of studying for my degrees back in 2009.
2009 was a very good year, everything was going as planned and things seemed very possible then. For me, the hardest part in all this process has happened after the OU informed us in November 2010 that they were going to introduce a new flexible degree that would get rid of the current BSc Computing I was studying. They introduced a limit for us to claim our degrees (Dec 2014) and it was initially decided that only one degree could be under transitional arrangements (and also some other limitations). That destroyed my initial plans of studying for B44 and B29 and obliged me to choose to study for B29 hoping that I would be able to adapt to the replacement for B44 afterwards and end both degrees as I initially planned (first replan).
At the beginning of my second year I had to renounce(/decide not) to study some B44 modules to focus on B29 only as it was decided that the modules selected should be related to the degree we would be going for (and replanned again), after my second year I had to renounce also to the idea of claiming the equivalent to B44 after I was informed in a forum by another student that to claim two degrees one should have 120 credits at level 3 not counted for any other degree qualification, I double checked with the OU and the student was 100% right and so I accepted that I couldn't change my reality...and replanned accordingly.
The reason is that the new flexible degree introduced has only 90 credits available at level 3 without counting the project, due to the introduction of U101 at first level the replacement for B44 only offers 90credits at that level without any option of taking a 3 level module as free credits. So, I could not claim B44 (due to it expiring in 2014 while I was studying for B29) nor take the new replacement afterwards due to the above limit and the fact that The OU do not allow to repeat any modules. As the project would be the same module I already took for B29 I wanted to double check if that rule was applicable to it as well; I asked specifically for this situation and I was told that the rule also holds for TM470, even when the project would be different. So B44 and its replacement were out of my league forever.
As if my life would be a big joke, in June last year The OU gave an opportunity to people that would like to have a second degree under transitional arrangements to apply for it, unfortunately it was already too late for me as I would have never been able to claim B44 nor its equivalent anyway.
Also, during this time The OU had published end dates for the modules that were part of the old degrees (now in transitional arrangements). I planned accordingly to the published dates and studied those modules at certain years, trying to avoid being forced to adapt to the new flexible degree, all this planning and replanning just to see how they extended the final date for those modules afterwards.
Am I happy to have decided to study with The OU? Overall yes but the process wasn't as I expected. I also feel frustration due to everything that has happened and all the adjustment and renouncing I have had to do due to it.
Would I define my experience with The OU as a good one? 60% Yes, The OU has given me the opportunity to acquire the equivalent to the Certificates and Diplomas I have from my Spanish studies and I would value that as very positive as now I have English official recognitions and that make it easier to explain what I have under my belt in job interviews, etc. If everything goes as expected I will also end up with a BSc (Hons) Computing in 2014, and with a Diploma in IT next June that will allow me to do a top-up year in another UK online University and claim a second degree once I finish it. So around a 60% of my initial dream is still there, I will not be able to study a Computing and Design degree as I initially tried to, not even do a top-up year into that studies branch but the Diploma in IT will allow me to go into a degree in another area I'm also interested into, so... I think 60% is a good grading that reflects my experience until today.
Would I have selected The OU to do my BSc (Hons) Computing if I would have known in 2009 that all the changes that have happened were going to happen? No, I would have preferred to study in other University that wouldn't have changed their study plans during my studies, just for the sake of avoiding so much replanning and unnecessary hassle. I have ended up sick of being notified of the change of the change after the change that changed something that was previously said it was X but now is Y and have to replan accordingly.
Would I study something else in a future with The OU? Yes, I probably would but with a completely different frame of mind; maybe something that if it ends up as I planned it's fine but that if it doesn't it's fine as well. Honestly, the quality level they offer (teachers, materials, etc.) is excelent and just that would already be a perfect reason to study with them at any time but I definitively would not do it under the same situation nor with the same perspective I faced my studies this time.
TM470 will cost me £795.00, making a total of £6435.00 with each penny paid from my pocket and a huge amount of hours studying plus a very long list of trade-offs in pro of a dream (that I honestly prefer not to list here) some of them having consequences for me at work and in my personal life.
Once I finish - on Dec 2014 - I will have done:
53 TMAs
3 TMA00s including real TMA exercises
5 EMAs
4 CMAs
6 iCMAs
8 Exams
...And 5 years of my life will have almost passed in front of University units but the hardest bit of all this is not reflected in any of the amounts expressed above. All of the above is fine for me and I'm happy I took the decision of studying for my degrees back in 2009.
2009 was a very good year, everything was going as planned and things seemed very possible then. For me, the hardest part in all this process has happened after the OU informed us in November 2010 that they were going to introduce a new flexible degree that would get rid of the current BSc Computing I was studying. They introduced a limit for us to claim our degrees (Dec 2014) and it was initially decided that only one degree could be under transitional arrangements (and also some other limitations). That destroyed my initial plans of studying for B44 and B29 and obliged me to choose to study for B29 hoping that I would be able to adapt to the replacement for B44 afterwards and end both degrees as I initially planned (first replan).
At the beginning of my second year I had to renounce(/decide not) to study some B44 modules to focus on B29 only as it was decided that the modules selected should be related to the degree we would be going for (and replanned again), after my second year I had to renounce also to the idea of claiming the equivalent to B44 after I was informed in a forum by another student that to claim two degrees one should have 120 credits at level 3 not counted for any other degree qualification, I double checked with the OU and the student was 100% right and so I accepted that I couldn't change my reality...and replanned accordingly.
The reason is that the new flexible degree introduced has only 90 credits available at level 3 without counting the project, due to the introduction of U101 at first level the replacement for B44 only offers 90credits at that level without any option of taking a 3 level module as free credits. So, I could not claim B44 (due to it expiring in 2014 while I was studying for B29) nor take the new replacement afterwards due to the above limit and the fact that The OU do not allow to repeat any modules. As the project would be the same module I already took for B29 I wanted to double check if that rule was applicable to it as well; I asked specifically for this situation and I was told that the rule also holds for TM470, even when the project would be different. So B44 and its replacement were out of my league forever.
As if my life would be a big joke, in June last year The OU gave an opportunity to people that would like to have a second degree under transitional arrangements to apply for it, unfortunately it was already too late for me as I would have never been able to claim B44 nor its equivalent anyway.
Also, during this time The OU had published end dates for the modules that were part of the old degrees (now in transitional arrangements). I planned accordingly to the published dates and studied those modules at certain years, trying to avoid being forced to adapt to the new flexible degree, all this planning and replanning just to see how they extended the final date for those modules afterwards.
Am I happy to have decided to study with The OU? Overall yes but the process wasn't as I expected. I also feel frustration due to everything that has happened and all the adjustment and renouncing I have had to do due to it.
Would I define my experience with The OU as a good one? 60% Yes, The OU has given me the opportunity to acquire the equivalent to the Certificates and Diplomas I have from my Spanish studies and I would value that as very positive as now I have English official recognitions and that make it easier to explain what I have under my belt in job interviews, etc. If everything goes as expected I will also end up with a BSc (Hons) Computing in 2014, and with a Diploma in IT next June that will allow me to do a top-up year in another UK online University and claim a second degree once I finish it. So around a 60% of my initial dream is still there, I will not be able to study a Computing and Design degree as I initially tried to, not even do a top-up year into that studies branch but the Diploma in IT will allow me to go into a degree in another area I'm also interested into, so... I think 60% is a good grading that reflects my experience until today.
Would I have selected The OU to do my BSc (Hons) Computing if I would have known in 2009 that all the changes that have happened were going to happen? No, I would have preferred to study in other University that wouldn't have changed their study plans during my studies, just for the sake of avoiding so much replanning and unnecessary hassle. I have ended up sick of being notified of the change of the change after the change that changed something that was previously said it was X but now is Y and have to replan accordingly.
Would I study something else in a future with The OU? Yes, I probably would but with a completely different frame of mind; maybe something that if it ends up as I planned it's fine but that if it doesn't it's fine as well. Honestly, the quality level they offer (teachers, materials, etc.) is excelent and just that would already be a perfect reason to study with them at any time but I definitively would not do it under the same situation nor with the same perspective I faced my studies this time.
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