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Senate Reference Group meeting in Milton Keynes - Part 2

Phew !!!!!

It was very busy few days! Although I can not express how glad I am that I was part of the S R G meeting! Guys seriously it was amazing!!

Of course I wouldn't be able to help myself and not to take a picture on the train..... :D

And another one in my hotel room 

 As you can see I could finally ( first time in my life) take a mirror selfie!!!! My life is now complete.  I can not do it at home, because first of all I don't have a mirror which would be big enough and second of all I would probably not be thinking about cleaning it properly so I would have picture full of smudges and of course I would have a huge pile of my clothes behind me. So I thought to myself : I want to feel like a star, once in my life and I will take this picture.... :D  

At the actual day I had a quick tour around the campus and I couldn't believe how big our campus in Milton Keynes is. It is huuuggggeeeee!!!

I've took few pictures of some places :

That's Jennie Lee building

 On our way to the library.

 Berrill

Useful map :D

 Trees there were huge!

 O U Library.... I did not wanted to leave.... Can't help it, I just love books!

 Entrance to the library with Sue.















Excuse all of those selfies I am a very self-centre person :D


















Walton Hall with Sue posing :)
You can find some information about it here











 Our campus also have art work placed all over the place there are my few favourites:

Bounding Bull ( Dominic Benhura)

Viper Sniper (D. Benhura)

We walk our own path (Richard Harris)

A Kind of Infinity (Ray Castell)

Contemplation (Tom Harvey)

And the one that is close to my heart: Learning Together (Ray Castell) 

 This sculpture was commissioned by O U to celebrate 40 years of providing open and equal education opportunities to thousands of people. It has two androgynous people with their heads inclined towards each other. They could be anybody, any colour, any ability....

 If you would like to find out more about the O U art, please go here

 I've meet a lot of really kind and welcoming people there. This trip was worth to wait for, now I can't wait for the conference. ( Have you seen the conference programme? No? Try here)

 After my tour me and Sue had a pleasure to be at The O U presentation called : Learning now, for the future.

 Where we were informed about the progress of the O U.  With what students are happy with, what kind of complaints they are. There was a quick chat about competition that students were taking part in. If I recall correctly it was about :  Imagining how the future (O U) will be like. You can find the results, poems, logos etcetera on the forum.
 
We could see the main challenges acknowledged by O U.  Main principles and the most important a plan of action.

Then, me and Sue went for the S R G meeting, unfortunately I can not tell you what was happening there, as it is confidential and I might be destroyed if I say something hahah

 But what I can tell you is that O U and Senate are making sure that every issue is acknowledge and they are doing an amazing job at trying to help and improve our experiences.  And guys believe me it is not an easy job. Just for the meeting every member of the Senate has received 25 different documents and some of them were 20 pages long!  They all had to read it, make sure that we as students will benefit from it and raise any issues if they did not agree with some parts. How amazing is that? That we have someone to take care of us, and they offer their free time, on the top of their courses!

If you want to find out more about O U S A go here  


That's it for today because I am dropping I had a very busy day today and tomorrow is my only day of. On Saturday I am going to be attending a Consultation meeting in Cardiff . Where 20 students from Wales will be able to discuss matters concerning OU students in Wales.


At the end I just wanted to say, that if any of you  have something that you would like to discus with me you can contact me either trough the 'Contact me' form on the blog ( Top right corner) or you can drop me an email at :  bg3344@my.open.ac.uk

Senate Reference Group meeting in Milton Keynes

 What a journey!

I am sitting in a hotel room absolutely exhausted but so happy!

 I was invited by Sue ( SAR the Students Association Representative for Wales (ousa-sar-wales@open.ac.uk) ) to join Senate Reference Group meeting in Milton Keynes. When Sue messaged me few days ago asking if I would be able to attend, I wasn't really sure if SRG meeting is a place for me.
 Yes, I want to be involved with OU as much as possible, but this felt a little bit like jumping to the deep end of the pool without the ability to swim.... Which in my example is absolutely accurate as I CAN'T swim... :D

 I was supposed to meet Sue on the train, half way through... When I was reserving my tickets I was not aware that all of them will be reserved in a 'quiet wagon'.... Just for the future references.... Please do not book your tickets with such a seat!!!  Me and Sue said hello to each other, as you would do when you are meeting a new person and an old gentlemen told us of!!! I mean, really... I've felt like a teenager. We weren't loud, we just simply said hello. :D If that wouldn't be enough, after starting to whisper to each other about important OU staff a lady in from of us started to basically bully us, trying to keep us silence!  Of course a loud noise made by her lunch box was acceptable :D I do not know how did we manage not to say : We thought is a 'quiet wagon' :D  I was told by her that even if my seat is reserved I should go somewhere else. :D How mean can you get ? Luckily for us we had only 5 minutes left and we were free. I don't think I have to add that after that experience we were giggling about it till the end of our journey, because EVERY seat I've reserved in each of the trains was in a 'quiet wagon'!!! If I know my luck, tomorrow all my seats will be in the exact wagon!

  I've meet today a few members of Central Executive Community ( CEC) and I have to say they were lovely! Made me feel welcome and comfortable. I am really happy that I've decided to come. And Sue took me straight under her wings and took me through the whole experience step by step. Plus she is so nice and easy to talk to I wasn't able to keep quiet around her ( That's probably why we was told of  hahah ) .

 I will write an update of the actual meeting which is happening tomorrow morning, I was made aware that I can't repeat certain details, but I will share with you what I can. But for now I will have to go hit my pillow, because I am one, very tired girl....

So much to do, so little time!

 I have been very busy for the past few weeks, I am trying to juggle studying with the rest of my responsibilities, but it is not easy. Specially now, when my depression had came back. And it cam with a bang! I wasn't expecting it, but I presume you never are.... How can you be prepare for it? When you life is good you don't expect to feel like that!

 I am suffering with it for so many years now, I know all the 'tricks', I know what I should do, still it is hard. I am really trying.
There is so many positive things happening in my life. I would like to mention that my place at the  OU Students Association Conference 2014 is secured now, my tickets are booked and you will be able to meet me there!!! ( If you are going of course). That's something worth getting excited about right?  I would love to know how many of you is going!! It is happening only every two years and I just can't wait!!  So if you are going , please give me a shout :) 

  TMA 3 has knock me down a little bit. I can't help but feeling lost when I work with numbers! I hope you all had a better experience with it than me.   TMA 4... Makes me feel like : 
- Now, you are talking!!!! 

I just love comparing theories. I don't know why... Before you say anything... Yes, I am one of those sad girls who love to study :D 

I have to say that the nice thing about studying with The OU is that they help you so much! I mean, if you are going to look at the Assignment Booklet, they are practically giving you the whole structure of your essay.  And majority of the answers. 

MY volunteer work with OU is very rewording, I've managed to help to sign for a degree 14 people since I've started. I can believe that I have the opportunity to possibly help someone to fulfil their dreams, do something they never thought they can do.  It makes me feel all warm and fluffy inside. 

 I come across as heartless and cold person. I say what I think without even one thought about : 
- How someone will react/feel after listening to me. 
But the real truth is : I am big softy. I cry on Bambi, I spend majority of my time thinking how can I help people, I would give my last pound to someone in need. I am spending 80% of my time listening to people, solving their problems and it makes me feel good. 
Like I've mentioned before the place I live in, doesn't have many opportunities, not only for young people but for anyone. 
I had very emotional moment last week, when one person has received confirmation that her place on the course was secured. She gave me such a huge hug, it was hard to breath :) 

I am not sure if I would feel that good in a brick uni.... It is also my small therapy...  I would like to encourage everyone to get involve with this project. Who knows? Maybe it will make you feel the same as it makes me? :)

Me and my community aka FAST UK programme....

 Studying Psychology is one thing, putting in into our lives and being able to use within your community to help people- is another.... 

 I have spent last two days training with a charity called Save the Children which is delivering with Middlesex University London programme called FAST ( Families & Schools TOGETHER) for primary. 

 The first five minutes of my training made me think : 
- Wow! This really make sense! 

 I will not throw all of the details at you right now, but there was a lot of talk about Pruning Neurons , Immune system, cortisol, DHEA, Serotonin, Dopamine, researches done by Salvador Minuchin, Paulo Freire, Urie Bronfenbrenner. There was also attachment theory involved and all of that was researched, adapted and  put together, to help families. Isn't that amazing?  
It is making me feel good about myself.   Not only I get to help peopel, which was the whole reason behind studying Psychology! But, I can also adapt this programme within my family, to improve our life!!! 

It was two very long days, but I can say with a hand on my heart : It was worth it. 

This training was only the first step, now our FAST TEAM will have very busy two weeks, preparing letters, flyers, sending text to parents, trying to recruit 40 families. 

After that we will have 8 weeks, ending with ( hopefully) huge success!!! 

FAST was developed in 1988 by Dr. Lynn McDonald, Family Service, Madison, Wisconsin and enhanced with Ms. Estella Payton in 1989. 

                                                             

                                                             What is FAST all about??? 

There are three types of partners: 

School Partner - obviously person who works in school 

Parent Partner - one of the parents who has a child in a FAST school 

Community Partner ( like me) - person within community who wants to be involved. Mainly                                                         there were people from council, Plant Dewi Parenting, police.                                                         I had a privileged to be a community Partner, because I am                                                           studying Psychology and my my boss is organising FAST in                                                           our primary school! Again, how lucky am I?! 


                                                         Goals of FAST for Primary: 

Intermediate Goals : 


Goals that increase protective factors:
1. Parent Strength

•  Feels respected
• feels empowered
• feels supported
• feels more confident

2. Parent Involvement 

with Child ( Special Play) 

with Intimate Support ( Buddy Time) 

with other Parents ( Self-Help Group and FASTWORKS)

with Schools

with Community Activities & Resources 

Goals that reduce risk factors: 

3. Reduces Stresses f Daily Living

4. Reduces Substance Abuse in Child and Family

5. Reduces Chronic Family Conflict

                         

Ultimate goal: Better Child Outcomes in Home, School, Community: 

Child doing better at home

Child higher self-esteem

Child doing better in school

Child More positive about school

Child better relationship with parent 

Whoever thinks it's amazing, please put your hand up!  For all of those who would like to know more you can go to : www.familiesandschoolstogether.com

I can not express how excited I am! 

  I just wanted to thank everyone for your emails! It is making me feel so good, when I am coming home and there is inbox full of positive thoughts, comments and questions! It is making me feel really good, knowing that I am helping some of you, that you find my blog useful or funny and you all are so welcoming!!!  I will try to answer to all of your emails as soon as possible, so please bare with me! As you can see I am very busy doing as much as I can with different programs, so sometimes I am coming home and literally falling asleep on the sofa after quick dinner. Bless my partner he doesn't have a heart to wake me up, because he knows that I will not be able to go back to sleep, so he is carrying me upstairs nearly every night!!!  I don't think I would be able to do half as much, regarding my degree without his support! I know that he can't read this but I still want to say it : Thank you hun! Love you loads really, even when I am cranky... :) 

How it is like to study with The Open University?

Hi guys!!!

I really hope that you all are enjoying your time with OU? I have to say after only three months I love it! 

 I am actually feeling like I am part of something, and I did not have that feeling with my previous uni!

So as you all know I am volunteering with OUSV. My 'job' description is basically go and talk to people about my experience with OU and give them information about courses and possibilities.  And I just love the 'goodies' that they've provided me with :

 This is exactly what 'my' community needs. Being aware of opportunities. Nine times out of ten, when I am approaching new person they are telling me that they will not be able to get funding's, because this is what they have heard! The other concern is : I do not have time to go to meetings. 

So I just wanted to drop a quick post about common questions and give you guys some links, who know maybe one of your family members would like to study, but they don't know where to start? You can just send them link to this blog and from here they can take it further? 

So how do you study with OU? 

 My answers are based ONLY on my experience. 

The Open University   gives you the opportunity to study flexibly, in your own time.  I am doing all of my work in my own time, my own speed. It is as simple as reading materials, which are sent to your own house and completing TMA's. 

It doesn't mean that you will not have any help! They are on-line tutorials,  which looks basically like chat rooms,  there are OU forums and face to face tutorials with your tutor. You can choose which one of them is best for you, or if they are going to be beneficial for you. Apart from that you can always drop an e-mail to your tutor or call him/her. 

What about paying for your course? 

Well, there is few ways to do it. You might be able for a financial support.  If your household income is less than £28.180 

You can pay as you go. The payments are taken by direct debit. 

You might be eligible for Employer sponsorship. 

Or you can pay upfront. 

If you would like to find out more call : 08453006090 

or you can go to www.openuniversity.co.uk/ways2paywales

How long does the study takes? 

It depends on what kind of course you choose and which pathway. You can change your pathways with time.

 If you would like to study 60 credits per year ( part time), which would be studying only one module, for degree with hons it would take you 6 years, degree without hons 5 years, Diploma of higher education 4 years and certificate of higher education only 2 years. 

If you would like to go full time 

Degree with hons - 3 years

Degree without hons - 2,5 years

Diploma of Higher education - 2 years

Certificate of higher education - 1 year. 

Plus after your undergraduate study you can take it further and do postgraduate studies with OU! ( for more information go to www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate) 

The most important part of my degree is the help and understanding of mine conditions. I have such an amazing support from OU. I don't feel uncomfortable to talk with them about my conditions, when I feel like I need any extra help I know, they will try their best to provide it for me. It was such a relief that I could achieve something, do my degree in a comfort of my own house, get involved with The Open University in many ways and feel happy about the whole experience !

So if you are not sure if OU is for you, why don't you try to explore it without enrolling yourself? Open university is providing FREE online learning. Which is called Open Learn.  

Open Leanr can help you prepare yourself for a course, you can discover there very interesting articles and you can join debates.  

To try it, go to www.open.edu/openlearn

You can also go to www.open.ac.uk/itunes where you can download free educational content. 

And last but not least www.open.ac.uk/youtube where you can access OU channel.  

I will post all those link on the top of my blog, so don't worry they will be available so no one will have to scan through the whole blog to find them. 

If you have any questions about stuff I haven't raised in this post you can go straight to Student Support Team.  I will post all the numbers underneath, or if you don't feel confident enough to talk to them, you can e-mail me on cosma69@gmail.com and I will try either find answers for you or pass it further :) 

In England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Island, The Isle of Man and BFPO addresses outside UK 

www.openuniversity.co.uk/ug

Call Student Registration & Enquiry Service +44 (0) 845 300 60 90

e-mail them through www.openuniversity.co.uk/contact

In Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland 

www.onepnuniversity.co.uk/ug

In North Ireland  028 9032 3722

In the Republic of Ireland ( Dublin) (01)6785399 ( Belfast) +44 28 9032 3722

All other countries

www.openuniversity.edu

+44 (0)845 241 6555

For Welsh Speakers ( I siaradwyr Cymraeg)

The Open University in Wales

18 Custom House Street

Cardiff CF10 1AP 

029 2047 1170

e-mail (ebost): wales@open.ac.uk

News update!

 First of all I would like to apologise to everyone who is my regular reader for my absence!   I really wanted to drop at least few words but I really couldn't. I was very ill, and I've spend most of my days in bed, not only neglecting my work, hobby and blogs but also my family, friends and uni work! It is so hard sometimes knowing that you have so much to do but the pain is stopping you every time you try.

 Few updates and news.
  I know I've started my blog with weekly follow ups on the work list, which you can find in Learning Companions, I will still try to do that. I am not sure what I will do about post about TMA's, we all are far into the course by now and I don't see much point to remind us basic informations on how to write an essay.  I am sure that we all are able to follow our tutors feedback. What I might do instead is a list on one of the sides of my blogs, with the list of post with the basics. I might find some more useful informations as we go and post them or even put some of the tips from my tutor feedback.

If any of you, would like to read about anything specific plsea drop me an email, or message on facebook.  If you disagree with me, or have more informations, which are up to date, please contact me as well. The last thing I want to do is to share wrong informations and give bad advice. If you message me at least I will be able to change it. I hope that all of you know that I am only human and I make mistakes ;)


 I am now officially involved in the  North and Mid Wales OUSV project , I am waiting for all my materials and as soon as I will get to know all the ins and outs I will do a post about.

That's not all!

 I am also having a pleasure of being a student reps with BPS !!!!! I was so happy when I have received an email informing me about it.

And the best news I had...  I was offered to write an article for the OUSV Newsletter, which is due out next month!

It is pointless to say how much I love writing! But I would never imagine that I would EVER be able to have the opportunity to write so well in English and be bale to be involved in so many amazing things.

Which just proves me that choosing The Open University as a uni to do my degree with, was one of the most important and right choices I have ever made!


 I will still give a 100% on my blog write useful tips and try to share with you all of my experiences :)

Oh! If you have a blog about how it's like to be a student yourself, drop a link to it in comments. I would love to know how everyone else is getting on with OU!

That's all for today, I hope everyone had a good time with TMA 2 ( will post about it tomorrow ) and you all are getting started with the TMA 3 :)