[satchef1]

I've got myself in a right mess. I'm doing Maths for Science (S151), Empire of Microbes (S171) and Exploring Science (S104). The EMAs for S151 and S171 are due in on the 31st and TMA04 for S104 is due in on the 2nd Feb. S151 isn't a problem, finished the book and almost finished the TMA on that one. S171 and The Right Chemistry, I'm behind on. The pacing for S104 has been the problem really, I was working incredibly long hours over Christmas and New Year so I didn't get much studying done. Combine that with already being behind on S171 and I've not got serious problems. I've not finished either book and I've not even looked at either TMA. I genuinely don't know how I'm supposed to get it all done. My tutor went on holiday on the 4th and isn't due back until tomorrow, so I've just been ploughing through as best I can in the meantime.

[Nitebot]

Well technically we've not supposed to have finished The Right Chemistry yet. I haven't!! I agree that this book has been a problem. You're supposed to get 7 chapters done before Xmas, whilst working on TMA3, doing other pre Xmas TMAs you may have from other courses as well as your Xmas preparations. If like me and you didn't get much done before Xmas, you're already well behind and playing catch up with stuff that is hard to take in if you have little previous chemistry knowledge. This has been a hard slog.

[satchef1]

I don't think I will finish it to be honest. I'm concentrating on getting S171 done, because if I don't pass that EMA then that's that module failed. Once I've done that I'll just have to do damage control on TMA04 and see how many marks I can salvage. At least I have future TMAs to use to bolster up my score in this module.

[Nitebot]

Phew, glad that Chemistry TMA is over! Tough subject when learning from scratch and the most demanding TMA yet. More biochemistry than I expected to be honest but I think it's designed to lead into book 5 now - Life! How general is that? And it's even thicker!

[arniesays]

What kind of careers do you guys plan on going into with this.

I'm applying for this course this year, and wish to go all the way to degree level in science, taking the biology and health sciences route.

But I'm now starting to wonder what I can actually do with it, especially as it won't give much lab experience.

[Nitebot]

(Original post by arniesays)
What kind of careers do you guys plan on going into with this.

I'm applying for this course this year, and wish to go all the way to degree level in science, taking the biology and health sciences route.

But I'm now starting to wonder what I can actually do with it, especially as it won't give much lab experience.

I'm doing it out of personal interest but you never know, these science modules may come in useful for something!! Huge numbers of people who do science with the OU are aiming to pursue or improve careers in the health sector. Yeah, limited lab time could be an issue although one employer on the OU careers site said it was an issue with campus based graduates as well, so...

NHS Scientist is probably an obvious career you might be interested in and the high flyer training programme option is supposedly very good. http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details...t.aspx?Id=2105

There's all the private lab based jobs. Post grad doctor training (tough). Science teaching (not so tough). And of course academia. Lots of competition though.

[PennineAcute]

Oh yes, currently working through the Bk 4 TMA on the January start. The book from hell it is. Bought an AS revision book which has helped a lot, but think I will be trying to get what I can out of this assignment and hopefully my others can boost what let me down in TMA4.

Having said that, it is a very very good course and am glad I have taken it.

[Ashtropy]

I'm looking at signing up to this year's S104 but will be travelling for the first eight weeks. Getting the theory done should be OK and I'll have internet access, just wondering if you had any practical stuff to do during this time?

[Nitebot]

(Original post by Ashtropy)
I'm looking at signing up to this year's S104 but will be travelling for the first eight weeks. Getting the theory done should be OK and I'll have internet access, just wondering if you had any practical stuff to do during this time?

Yep there's a group exercise and you discuss it in part of a TMA question.

[Nitebot]

Done at last!! God it was a hard slog but got through it. L1 compulsories done. Can now do any L2 science module. May be planetary science next.


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[Moho]

(Original post by Ashtropy)
I'm looking at signing up to this year's S104 but will be travelling for the first eight weeks. Getting the theory done should be OK and I'll have internet access, just wondering if you had any practical stuff to do during this time?

Yes there's a bit of practical, like a rain gauge experiment. It would be worth picking up some of the books second hand now, so you can get ahead with anything that'll be difficult to do while your travelling.

[kjglen24]

Hey guys

I am starting this course this year? How did you find it? What are your pathway's? Any tips?

Cheers

[Nitebot]

(Original post by kjglen24)
Hey guys

I am starting this course this year? How did you find it? What are your pathway's? Any tips?

Cheers

I found it pretty tough but it depends on your science background really. I knew some physics and maths but little chemistry or biology, which put me at a disadvantage to those who'd done more recent study in those subjects. The first three books were quite gentle but the difficulty cranks up significantly in Book 4, The Right Chemistry, which is when most begin to drop out. If you've done no chemistry then you look towards the back of the book with its relatively complex chemical equations and biochemistry, you can panic. But if you can get through that the biology, astrobiology, geology (boring to many) and physics and astrophysics aren't too bad.

[kjglen24]

(Original post by Nitebot)
I found it pretty tough but it depends on your science background really. I knew some physics and maths but little chemistry or biology, which put me at a disadvantage to those who'd done more recent study in those subjects. The first three books were quite gentle but the difficulty cranks up significantly in Book 4, The Right Chemistry, which is when most begin to drop out. If you've done no chemistry then you look towards the back of the book with its relatively complex chemical equations and biochemistry, you can panic. But if you can get through that the biology, astrobiology, geology (boring to many) and physics and astrophysics aren't too bad.

Cheers mate

I did chemistry A-level so won't be too bad on that... I'm horrendous at physics though


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[Nitebot]

(Original post by kjglen24)
Cheers mate

I did chemistry A-level so won't be too bad on that... I'm horrendous at physics though


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The course is heavy on the Earth sciences, especially at the start with Bk 1 Global warming and Bk 2 Earth and Space. The first straightforward physics comes in Bk 3 Energy and Light. But things get a lot tougher by Book 7: Quarks to Quasars.

[kjglen24]

(Original post by Nitebot)
The course is heavy on the Earth sciences, especially at the start with Bk 1 Global warming and Bk 2 Earth and Space. The first straightforward physics comes in Bk 3 Energy and Light. But things get a lot tougher by Book 7: Quarks to Quasars.

Had a quick look at book 7, don't understand any of it


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[Nitebot]

(Original post by kjglen24)
Had a quick look at book 7, don't understand any of it


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Some found it a total mystery but it's not too bad really.

[thoamswelham]

New to the OU and to studying.

Start S104 in October, Can someone tell me what TMA's iCMA are etc? when the course starts does the tutor contact you directly, advise you what is what?
Seems a little like im stuck in limbo here with all the books but no idea what questions to answer.

[Nitebot]

A TMA is a Tutor Marked Assignment. In short, a question paper with a submission cut off date is posted on the course website. You have to submit the TMA by the cut off date. You may need to scan hand drawn graphs and diagrams, so make sure you have a printer scanner. Some people without scanners took digital photos of their diagrams. Your tutor marks the TMA and sends a copy back to you with marks and notes. You get to try a test submission on a dummy TMA at the start of the course.

An iCMA is an interactive Computer Marked Assignment. These are like advance multiple-choice questions. You get say 10 questions. You might have to move words/phrases into boxes, work out an answer and enter it into a box or just pick the right answer out of 4 or 5. You answer Q1 and enter, if right then fine. If wrong then you usually get a second or third go (less marks) and after that the questions is marked as wrong. Once you've answered all 10, you'll already know how you've done. You then have to do a final submit to send all your marks off. They often makes mistakes in CMAs, so some questions are not counted after final submission.

Your tutor will contact you by email shortly after the start date so you can ask any questions. They'll ususally tell you to start studying and follow the suggested study timeline on your course page which has the cut off dates for TMA and iCMA submissions. Some group exercises are led by the tutor to make sure people do them in time. There’s also a tutor group forum and a wider regional course forum for student chat and some compulsory collaborative working. There’s also around 5 tutorials. Some tutors hold extra ones at venues and online. Hope that helps.

[kjglen24]

There is a fb group called S104 October 2012 of you want to join mate


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