Introducing the social sciences. Learning Companion 1 - Week 2.

In this week of the module you will study:

• 'Material Lives', 'Connected lives' and 'Ordered lives' (Making Social Lives DVD) (4 hours) 
• this section of the Learning Companion ( 5 Hours) 
• Online Activities 3 and 4 ( 2 hours)  

We have finally left our colourful L. Robson, I am sure for some he will not be miss.  I was doing this week in the study materials with a question of the first TMA in mind. Of course my favourites are highlighters, but as someone has mentioned to me : they do not work for everyone. If you are ending up highlighting your whole book, leave them immediately! Replace them with coloured sticky notes.

 Try to do the online activities, they are handy is good to print them out or simply write your answers somewhere, so you can always go back to it and check what could you improve.

You have one more week till your final TMA week. So I would like to come back for a moment to first week in LC1 , check the Activity on the page 26. If you think about it, completing this activity will pretty much be completing the main work for your TMA.  ;)  Plus it is not as stressful as TMA !


 I hope that all of you are getting on with your work and are enjoying your studying experience. Life can be so much fun if you take everything with a smile. Of course it is hard at times, and even I feel like giving up on some days, but that's  normal and I know that tomorrow will always be better. :)

Idea of the day : Be social!

 Hey, I am talking to you! Yes, you've heard me! 

 The Open University is giving you lots of advantages. Studying at your own time, in your own bed ( if you fancy it), great opportunities and resources. 

I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about studying and he/she knows, that they can do their work, pretty much by themselves. 

 

 The only one thing which OU is not giving you is : Social interaction. 

You do not go to the class, therefore you do not see any classmates. You don't share your stress with anyone else. You have no one to talk about ideas, problems and all the other stuff connected with your subject. 

 Humans are group animals, we need others, to stay sane.  Like it or not - you need other people. 

 OU is offering you student forums. Lots of students are making facebook groups, for particular subject. Is as easy as typing the code of your subject in fb search. I personally belong to three different groups there. 

 Each group has different people and I like diversity. I don't talk much with everyone. Unfortunately nature has provided me with a very low level of patience for humans :D

 So instead of screaming to them : 

- Do you want to get yourself killed by me?!!!

I am simply avoiding any kind of interactions with those people. I have to mentioned here that I've already meet few people who I've instantly liked. You know that feeling, when you meet someone and you automatically click ? 

I know if I post something on those pages about my study, personal problems even, those people will comment, talk to me, send me a private message - to make me feel better. 

 That;s what everyone need sometime. 

If you can go to one of your tutorials, meet people there. Invite them for a coffee, lunch or just get together to talk about your TMA's. I believe its called study-buddy? 

 Who knows , you might end up , being 'best friends forrr eeevvvaaaaaaaaaa' - as today's teenager says. :D 

 The point is : Don't be by yourself. 

Feelings towards your course can be overwhelming, upsetting, thee can bring you down sometimes. 

 So it is very important that you have that one person, at least, that you know you can turn to, talk to and even say : 

- I hate that f*** subject. 

It is ok, not to like it sometimes :D 

So, go and be social :) 

Introducing the social sciences. Learning Companion 1 - Week 1.

In this week you will study: 

• this section of the Learning Companion (4 hours) 
• 'The street' and 'Making social lives on City Road' ( Making Social Lives DVD) ( 3 hours) 
• 'Reading and note  taking' (Developing skills Audio CD) ( 30 minutes)
• Online Activities 1 and 2 ( 2 hours) 

Ok, let's start from the beginning.

The first section of the LC1 is pretty ease going, I've done few notes and I've highlighted few bits.
I've exchanged few e-mails with my tutor already, so I know what I'm looking for and how she is expecting my work to look like. Which is very helpful, some tutors for example do not allow the 10% word count rule. When you are using minus or plus 10% of the word count. ( Please ask your tutor before you do that).

'The Street' it's very short and simple video. To be fair, there is not many information which will be use in the first TMA.

'Making Social Lives', here we are meeting quiet a character! Lloyd Robson. Many people describes him as annoying. To be fair... I was giggling the first two times I was watching that video. His wardrobe choices are just priceless and he really feels like a Mr.Bigg Stuff ! It was amazing! So if you are laughing, like me. Watch the video few times and try to do some notes. This video is very helpful and gives you many examples for your first TMA.

'Reading and note taking' Audio CD - not to bad, I am usually listening to my Audio CD before bed. At this stage, it doesn't feel like is the most important thing for me.

Online activities 1 and 2 - simple activities, you shouldn't have any problems with it. If your answers are different that the one provided, don't worry! That's why does activities are provided, for practise.


Quick tips: 

1. I am never reading my study materials without, highlighting pen and a piece of paper with pen. As I scan through the text I can always note key words, which are usually helpful. Highlighting text is a big deal for me. I have a simple reason : When I have to find something I don't have to read through the page to find it, I have it already highlight. 

2. Do not stress over the hours in LC1! Promise me that! The OU is the biggest university in UK. There is lots of people studying and where is lots of people, there are different levels. Some people study quick, some slow, some average, some are lazy, some are OCD, the list goes on and on.... Those hours are only a timeline, and the bar is set at the lowest level. It wouldn't be fair if they provide hours thinking about those people who are reading in an hour, doing online activities in 30 minutes. 

3. If you have accese to transcripts - use them whilst watching DVD and listening to Audio CD. ( highlight whatever is important for you).

So your study materials has arrived!

You've probably joined students forum and facebook groups three months before.

Now... Are you ready?  Good. Breath deep please and CALM DOWN!

No, don't laugh or think that I am silly! I'm dead serious!

You have 7 assignments to be worry about, plus planning and self-reflection. Don't jump to everything to quick!

Let me give you few tips:

1. Do not scan through all of the books and booklets and begin to worry about assignment number 3, when you haven't even started to cover the first one.

2. Do not stress about not being able to go for your tutorials - they are not compulsory and you can get the same help from your tutor over the phone or e-mail.

3. Don't worry where with their work are other people. You are not them. Don't try to keep up, you might lose some key information, important for your TMA. Take as much time as you need.

4. Make a plan. Just key points. It will help you organise the whole TMA.

5. Do as much as you can, when you can. If you can do only 20 minutes, do them! The key is to do your studying systematically. ( trust me, I had two scholarships and I was A* student, I know how to study) .

6. Let someone proofread for you, your TMA.

7. The most important : DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.  The best person to ask is your tutor. That's what they are there for. Don't worry about looking silly. Some of you are just starting studying after being out from school for a few years. The only silly thing you can do, it's not knowing the answer but not asking anyone for explanation and presuming that it is not important. Ask students ask googel, even your other half - maybe they will be able to help you. If not, remember that two heads is more than one.

Welcome !! Greetings! Hallo! Ola! Bonjour! 你好 ! Hej! Håfa ådai!!!! བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས།!!! - and I couldn't be bothered to copy-paste the rest.

So... You are here... And I am here.... We are here together.... :D
 Don't worry I am not planning to be as crazy in every, single post. Well... I am going to try....

Obviously I couldn't put to much in the section ' About me'. I did not have enough space there!
That's why in my first post I want to tell you a little bit about me.
 So, you already know my age and how many children and pets I have. I am engaged to the most amazing guy - which means not only I have to study but also plan my wedding this year! Yeayyy!

 You gather that English is my second language, so please be polite and allow me to make small mistakes. Of course, you can correct me, but do it with manners and we all are going to be happy ;)

 I came to live in Wales 5 years ago. It was refreshing, to start to know new people and culture. I am very specific person, but I have a talent to make friends. To be honest, you either love me, or hate me.  Like Marmite! :D

Now I've been working in school, I use to work with autistic children. I adore them! It brought me lots of pleasure to be able to work with such an amazing, little people! I was also a crèche worker at the same time. Little bit later I've opened handmade jewellery business. I was creating stunning pieces! Yes, I'm big headed.
 After a while, my conditions started to progress.  I had to stop working, close my business. It felt like the end of my world. I was working since I was 12 years old!

I've cried many nights, not being able to sleep. Suffering with pain in my back, shoulder, muscles, elbows, wrist, fingers, knees and ankles. Every inch of my body was hurting. Then I've started to have migraines, connected with my neck muscle spasms.

 Can you imagine being 23 and bed bound? Looking at your children and telling them : I'm sorry I can't go for a walk with you and daddy, I'm not very well, I have to stay in bed.

At the moment I haven't had a day free of pain in over a year. The levels of pain vary from bearable to ridiculously bad - that's when nothing helps.

 I am not planning to give up.

That's why I've sign myself to study with The Open University. I will achieve my degree and I will work as a Clinical Psychologist. Nothing can stop me, not pain, not a cataclysms, nothing!

I want to share with you all my journey. Because life is sad and difficult at times. That's why I want you all to be able to read my post, laugh and sometimes even says :

- Bloody hell, I am so glad that someone have worse than me!

Yes, you are allowed to do that! Even more, you should do that!
 It might gave you motivation, desperation, relief or even joy. - That's why I am here.

This year I am covering a module called :

  Introducing the social sciences - DD101

I will take you step by step, through my work and experiences. Although, please don't count for free work ;) So if you are here, looking for free essay, you can close the window now.
I will try to give my tips, will share what worked for me, but I will not share my TMA's.


Enjoy :)