Distance Learning

[Scow]

I'm doing a distance learning Masters degree and I wonder if anyone is doing something similar, or has done something similar? How do/did you cope with it?

[Trav Le Bleu]

I'm doing distance learning and I wonder if anyone is doing something similar

I used to sit at the back of the class.

[Scow]

I used to sit at the back of the class.

[Trav Le Bleu]

In seriousness I have considered Open Uni, but I'm not sure I'd have the self-motivation required. I'm guessing that's what you mean when you ask about "how to cope with it?"

[Scow]

In seriousness I have considered Open Uni, but I'm not sure I'd have the self-motivation required. I'm guessing that's what you mean when you ask about "how to cope with it?"

Yep, I'd be interested to know how people on here have dealt with this mode of study, and their experiences of studying at a distance. I've only just started this course and it's the first time that I've done something like this.

[Earl Shilton Lee]

I'm doing a distance learning MSc which is jointly run by Manchester and Birmingham Universities as part of my job. It's in Leadership and Service Improvement. As the title suggests, it's bollocks. I don't have a choice but to do it as it's in my contract that I must do so and in truth I have no interest in it. There are some things which I've learnt through it which I've found useful in my job but it's a business degree which just isn't something I'm enthusiastic about.

But I wouldn't have been able to afford a masters myself, so I'll work hard on it and get the qualification. I'll probably do another masters and perhaps even a PhD later, although it will be in my area of interest which is International Relations/Politics. I don't find the work or the distance learning aspect of it particularly difficult, but I do struggle to give it the dedication it probably requires, partly due to work commitments and partly due to my own lack of interest.

[Daggers]

Doing an OU degree was tougher than doing a normal one in that I needed greater self control but the materials are far superior and I believe the degree conferred a greater level of understanding than my other ones. It also helped that my employer funded it and gave me study time off work. I rate the OU above any other establishment and believe that people who qualify with them to be a far superior student, in general.

The Masters I did with an American university by distance learning was an utter pile of tripe, the materials were shit and the lectures I had to attend were worthless - I don't reckon the qualification is worth the paper.

[Scow]

I'm doing a distance learning MSc which is jointly run by Manchester and Birmingham Universities as part of my job. It's in Leadership and Service Improvement. As the title suggests, it's bollocks. I don't have a choice but to do it as it's in my contract that I must do so and in truth I have no interest in it. There are some things which I've learnt through it which I've found useful in my job but it's a business degree which just isn't something I'm enthusiastic about.

But I wouldn't have been able to afford a masters myself, so I'll work hard on it and get the qualification. I'll probably do another masters and perhaps even a PhD later, although it will be in my area of interest which is International Relations/Politics. I don't find the work or the distance learning aspect of it particularly difficult, but I do struggle to give it the dedication it probably requires, partly due to work commitments and partly due to my own lack of interest.

Luckily for me, the MSc that I'm doing is through choice and I'm very much engaged with it. It's certainly a step up from an undergraduate degree. I think there's an increasing number of employers who expect/want a more qualified workforce. For some, an undergraduate degree is no longer enough; a Masters degree may be required to carry on with a particular job or to progress.

Doing an OU degree was tougher than doing a normal one in that I needed greater self control but the materials are far superior and I believe the degree conferred a greater level of understanding than my other ones. It also helped that my employer funded it and gave me study time off work. I rate the OU above any other establishment and believe that people who qualify with them to be a far superior student, in general.

The Masters I did with an American university by distance learning was an utter pile of tripe, the materials were shit and the lectures I had to attend were worthless - I don't reckon the qualification is worth the paper.

The OU has an excellent reputation and I know people that are currently studying with them - or have studied with them - really rate the learning materials and support. My course is through Leicester Uni and I'm very impressed with it. Thankfully, I also work there and they fully fund the fees. I receive printed course materials with module commentary (which acts as lectures) and this supported by online readings and further reading lists.

[Daggers]

The OU has an excellent reputation and I know people that are currently studying with them - or have studied with them - really rate the learning materials and support. My course is through Leicester Uni and I'm very impressed with it. Thankfully, I also work there and they fully fund the fees. I receive printed course materials with module commentary (which acts as lectures) and this supported by online readings and further reading lists.

My wife understood I needed hush when I was having my 90 minutes each night - once kids came along when I was studying further units it got more tricky and I had to give up, there's only so many hours in a day.

[Scow]

My wife understood I needed hush when I was having my 90 minutes each night - once kids came along when I was studying further units it got more tricky and I had to give up, there's only so many hours in a day.

I'm expected to dedicate at least 15 hours a week to study, alongside my full time job. I can't imagine how difficult it would be with a young family, too.

[Guest]

I'm doing a distance learning Masters degree and I wonder if anyone is doing something similar, or has done something similar? How do/did you cope with it?

One of my Masters was with the OU - in fact it was about using the internet for open and distance learning.

Fantastic way to do a course. You need to be self-motivated of course but it's a pleasure as you get older to be able to push yourself mentally whilst fitting the course in around your life. Living in the SW of France it also meant that I could follow an English uni course. All in all a great experience.

Part of my work now involves creating online distance learning courses (in languages) for my French Uni.

I'm expected to dedicate at least 15 hours a week to study, alongside my full time job. I can't imagine how difficult it would be with a young family, too.

I think mine was 18 hours a week, which involved online collaboration.

[FoxyPV]

Has anyone used Computeach or any of those other distance learning IT courses?

I'm looking into the possibility of retraining so I can move into IT and have been looking at Computeach as a starting point.

Any help / replies would be greatly appreciated.

[MooseBreath]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the likes of computeach have got a pretty dreadful reputation. They're an expensive middle man between you and a book.

[Steven]

Has anyone used Computeach or any of those other distance learning IT courses?

I'm looking into the possibility of retraining so I can move into IT and have been looking at Computeach as a starting point.

Any help / replies would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't used anything like Computeach so I cannot comment specifically. However the IT industry is all about experience and your first job will be the most difficult to get.

My best advice would be to try and find a way of getting experience, paid or unpaid, first in the area you want to get into.

[Steven]

Has anyone used Computeach or any of those other distance learning IT courses?

I'm looking into the possibility of retraining so I can move into IT and have been looking at Computeach as a starting point.

Any help / replies would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews218525.html

[FoxyPV]

http://www.reviewcen...iews218525.html

A bit hit and miss then.

MsFoxy is going to ask a mate of her's in work who's in IT what the best route is.

[Captain...]

I haven't used anything like Computeach so I cannot comment specifically. However the IT industry is all about experience and your first job will be the most difficult to get.

My best advice would be to try and find a way of getting experience, paid or unpaid, first in the area you want to get into.

I would second that, what area of IT do you want to get into, there are many ways in, such as testing and analysis, that don't require any specific technical background, the other possibility is speak to your boss or the IT department where you work, see if there are any projects coming up you can get involved in, I have no idea what your job is, but if you are in an office based job, there are normally projects going on and they often need help and input from the users (don't know if you are one).

If you do have a clear goal in your head that you want to become a Java programmer, then the best thing to do is just buy a book and work your way through it, or find internet tutorials, I taught myself the basics of HTML that way, if you don't have the discipline for that, you are probably not going to have the motivation for distance learning. Unless forking out well over the odds well motivate you.

If you do decide to go for distance learning, look into what the course actually entails, will you have any individual time with a tutor or expert, will you receive individual criticism and feedback, or will it be group based and group assessed, with online web chats but no actual 1 - 1 time. Or will it just have very little interaction, you receive and assessment complete it send it off and get the marks back.