Category: My Open University Journey Page 5 of 16

I mentioned last year that I’d got a desk and was hoping I’d be well enough to study at it. The picture I posted back then was of a very clear desk and I said in my post back then that I doubted it would stay that tidy. Well I was right.

My tidy desk back in August 2014

A lot of things have changed since that picture was taken. Not only has the desk got messier but it has had a few additions added to it. I now have a keyboard shelf to give me  little more space. Not only that but the monitor has grown in size, there is a box of index cards and a pot of pens all on there! But don’t forget the piles of reading and work always on the go since my current module began! So all in all this desk is often buried under mountains of paper and folders!

During a study session

Before the keyboard shelf was fitted

While working on a TMA

Brian my study buddy after a good tidy up!

The desk has seen a lot of work so far and I’ve not even had it a year! For the most part I have been able to work at it rather than on the sofa. I have to admit I find myself much more productive when studying at the desk but I don’t know if that’s because I’m at the desk or just because I’m not as ill as when I’m studying on the sofa! I still have my days when sitting at the desk is a struggle and some days I’m more inclined to rest then study at the desk, those are ones where I’d probably have forced myself to do a bit of study if I was on the sofa.

Overall having a desk to work at has made a big difference to my study life. Having separate areas to relax and study has had a bigger impact mentally than I thought it would; when I’m in the living room on the sofa now I really do relax, almost all thoughts of study are left at the desk (or for the middle of the night revelations in bed when I realise where I’ve gone wrong with a question!) It has made a massive difference and I hope to keep on studying at the desk for as long as my health allows!

As predicted it’s been a while since I updated this blog, but as ever life has been challenging with normal illness on top of chronic illness, setbacks and somehow managing to keep up with studying.

Despite these challenges T320 is proving to be an interesting and enjoyable module. Block 1 covered e-business from a business perspective, so nothing too different to B203 in a sense. In fact much of it overlapped with things I had learned during my previous module.

As I write this I am happy to have received my first TMA back, with a better than expected score. My essay was far from perfect, but given it had been written while I was exhausted with a hacking cough and the general dip in health that comes from having a normal illness on top of a chronic illness I don’t think 83% is bad.

I’m now working my way through Block 2 which again is proving interesting and enjoyable. Despite already knowing quite a bit of the basic XML subject, the details are proving very interesting. I’m managing to get through the study sessions quicker than the study schedule has allowed which has given me leeway to take a few much appreciated rest days. I’m hoping that this will continue so I am able to allow myself a good few weeks off over the Christmas period!

As ever most Open University related terms can be found in the Glossary. Anything not in there please feel free to comment and ask what on earth I am talking about! I’ll try and answer when I can.

Things haven’t exactly been plain sailing with my plans to slowly ease my way back into the studying mindset. But I am getting there. My module website is due to open tomorrow and that’s it I shall be back studying. Not officially since my module doesn’t start until October 4th, however as I think I’ve mentioned before I need to get a head start on this module. I’m hoping the little bits of studying I have been doing will be enough to make the start of the module run smoothly with little impact on my health!

I have my study area sorted and hope to be able to make use of it. The desk is set up, all ready for action! What’s the betting it doesn’t stay looking this clear for long?!

Anyway, like always this blog is likely to take a back seat from tomorrow as I attempt to focus on my new module. I’ll try and keep you updated as and when I can, and of course let you see if the desk stays this clear! Good luck to everyone starting a new module in the coming weeks and to those of you sitting exams in the next few days!!

Well September has crept up on me quite quickly. After a few months of not studying I’ve decided I need to use this month to slowly get myself back into the studying mindset. And hopefully avoid any major impact on my health. (I can only hope right?!)

You see despite getting plenty of rest during this break, I’ve also picked up a number of bugs and been working on setting up a study area ready for when T320 starts in October. Alongside doing a few fun things I can’t do whilst studying! All this means that although I have seen improvements in my health they haven’t been as great as I’d hoped for. So this module could be another big challenge. But as you’ll know if you’re a regular reader of this blog, I’m always up for a challenge when it comes to studying!

While my health isn’t all that great right now, I’m confident that by taking things slowly and building up my study hours I will be able to manage this module. In order to do this I have decided to spend the first two weeks of September studying ‘The Good Study Guide’ by Andrew Northedge. I figure that not only will it help me get into the studying mindset and build up the hours I’m able to spend studying, but also the knowledge I gain from studying it might help me with the actual module when it begins!

As soon as the module website opens I plan on printing out the materials – T320 Ebusiness Technologies; foundations and practice has all it’s reading materials online – and making a start on studying them before the official start date. I want, actually I need to get a head start on this module, not just for my usual reasons of if I get a few weeks ahead it doesn’t matter if I have a couple of ‘rough’ days where I’m unable to study because I won’t fall behind. But also because I have an event to attend on the official start date of my module and I know it will require at least a couple of days proper resting to recover. I can’t be sure how much rest will be needed, however from previous experience I can be pretty certain that it will be at least a couple of days perhaps longer. I don’t want to have to worry about falling behind and I don’t want to miss out on going to this family event. Therefore the plan is to get enough of a head start when the module website opens to not have to worry about falling behind in those first few days. Hopefully I’ll recover quickly and the head start will continue to leave me ahead and with some breathing space for any ‘rough’ days that pop up along the way.

Anyway overall I’m looking forward to T320 and what the module will bring, I’m just hoping my health will allow me to enjoy studying and not make it too much of a struggle!!