Do I start my first TMA?

The course doesn't officially start until 1st March (a very different birthday gift for me!) but I am already deep into study and I am enjoying it a lot. I have looked at the timetable and realised TMA 01 is based on the chapters I have already read. I have decided there is no harm in planning out the TMA at this stage and maybe writing it out in draft.

But I am assuming that I am on the right track and that my tutor isn't going to have anything that useful to say to me at this stage. Am I being a bit arrogant? No I dont think so. Although I haven't done any formal study or essay writing for over 20 years, as a pharmacist I am ALWAYS studying . I have a professional obligation to keep my knowledge up to date so reading scientific papers is something I do regularly. But I haven't written a formal essay since September 1988. It is the essay writing I am worried about. I feel it wont hurt to get things drafted out early before I talk to my tutor. I can always alter things if I feel I need to once I have spoken to her.

Lets be honest I am scared about this first TMA. I want to have plenty of time to get it right. I need to prove to myself I can still do it as much as prove to my tutor.

I have already done a plan - and am already looking forward to going back over the relevant chapters to check my information. I know I learn best when I write things out.I do seem to be assuming the learning plan will be easy to do - and I am supposed to agree that with my tutor.

Well if I have gone wrong somewhere I have plenty of time to put it right.

Actually the next big event is first contact with my tutor - and that is something I am REALLY nervous about. I hope we get on OK.

Keeping ahead of the game - I hope

I watched the rest of the DVD this morning. I was interested to hear about how personal the relationship with your tutor is. Although thinking about it it would have to be.I hope I get on OK with mine and I am now wondering when he or she will ring me/email me.

O have also had another look at the suggested timetable. I am way ahead because the course doesn't begin until March 1st and I am already doing Chapter 2. But I have a feeling I need to slow down. I am assuming because I am familiar with the words and the concepts I am understanding it all correctly and I may not be. I must NOT be arrogant because I already have a degree. Its been a long time since I studied seriously.

I am also anxious about the TMA's and essay now. It has to be referenced - something I hate doing.

I am also worried that the online system wont work with Mac software - which could mean getting our desktop Windows PC repaired and running could be critical. Although I am sure Steve would let me borrow his to transfer documents into Word or Office.

I need to bite the bullet and log into the website and get that bit activated. I'm not sure why I am reluctant to do that.

I also need to get all my OU stuff in one place and that means retrieving the other letters from where I filed them and putting them in the case with my coursework stuff.

I guess all this comes down to fear of the unknown. I know once I take the first step,have the first contact from my tutor I will be fine.

Study is fun

I had forgotten how much fun studying is - mind you this is only the early stages and am sure it will get more challenging as I go on.

I managed to do some study during my lunch break. It was a welcome break from the pressure of work which was horrendous today.

Its good to see how the course material is set out to me easily usable by almost anyone.You don't realise how much information you take for granted that you know - and assume everyone will know. It was when I saw a note explaining what 'et al' meant that I realised not everyone would know. It just highlights the different backgrounds of my fellow students. I do hope I get the chance to meet some of them.

I found the material I read today interesting. Memory is an emotive topic for me after seeing how losing her memory affected Edna so badly. I am trying to relate what I leraned today abut the different types of memory (episodic, semantic and procedural) to how Edna's memory went. She could recall past events in her life (episodic) but had problems remembering how to do things (procedural) . But her episodic memory WAS affected because she couldn't remember recent events. So even those divisions of memory must be subdivided somehow. She had a reasonable memory for facts - so I geuss her semantic memory wasn't effected too much. It will be interesting to see if I get any further insights into her dementia by wnat I learn on this course.

The stuff on patients with divided brains was interesting. I have always known the left and right brains were different - but reading about how patients with divided brains cannot do something if they just see it with ONE eye because the message only gets to one side of the brain.

I always knew the brain was immensely powerful - I wanted to do this course to explore how powerful it is -but I am beggining to realise how much more complex it is than I ever thought.

This course is SO right for me

Time to study

Finding time is one of my worries. I sort of earmarked weekend mornings when I am the only one up but this morning I have watched part of the video - and found out you need 6 - 8 hours a week. I have realised I can find time before I go to work, during lunch breaks and at the weekend. I am actually quite optimistic about finding the time - but still dreading having to write an essay. I love writing - thats why I keep blogs - but I haven't had to write a serious essay since I passed my exams for the CPP back in 1988.

Oh well I'm sure Steve will give me some advice if I get stuck!

Another blog??

I have started an Open University short course called Starting with Psychology. I have decided to do this for a number of reasons

I have often wondered what the OU was like

I enjoy studying

The course will be useful whether I stay as a pharmacist or become a reiki therapist because in both cases I will be dealing with people. In fact I am including the coursein my CPD portfolio


I have wanted to understand more about psychology since I worked through CYLI7D and realised how powerful a tool the brain is

It gives me the possibility of going on to do parapsychology which fascinates me

Doing any study is good for my 'use it or lose it' approach to staying healthy in mind and body as I get older (I will be 58 in 2 weeks)


I have decided t be good and actually follow the plan supplied by the OU. This may sound obvious but t anyone who knows me this is not my normal approach. So I have actually checked the contents and read the leaflets they recommend before diving into the study book. The only thing I haven't done yet is watch the DVD,

So far I have done my reading during my lunch break. But at the moment it can be broken up into 10 -15 minutes chunks. That may not last once I get deeper into the course. Also what I read today was about the structure of the brain - which I already know. I am sure it will be harder later.

The course books suggest at times you reflect on what you have been reading, That has horrid connotations of the dreaded reflective portfolio that was such a trial to me when I was studying at Keele. BUT what the course seems to want is much less onerous . Free form reflection in a blog is something I now do routinely - and that is the reason I have started this blog (my forth - . 3 current and one completed )

My initial reflections on the course are that it looks challenging and to my pleasure I have already found things in the study book that I can relate to CYLI7D .

It was good revising the structure of the brain, interesting learning what 'plasticity' is - and fascinating to learn that our actions can change the brain. I am really looking forward to getting onto to stuff that is less familiar.