Open University Chat Thread

You're filling me up with so much excitement about the course.

Nah in all honesty, the course is interesting and I feel more confident about the future as far as understanding finances/pensions goes... it's just because I want to be getting on with my science studies now, and I still have to complete DB123 so it's annoying me a bit.

Well, I was working full time (actually over full time, woo 50 hour weeks) so you should be ok

I think I'll go for it.

The only problem is that it's a Level 3 course, but it's seems orientated around teamwork, discussing ideas, and I know I'm not the only Level 1 starter to think about attempting it. It's about having a product idea, and then formulating plans like a business.

One of the reviews was from a Level 1 student who was a similar age to me, and he found it extremely challenging, and difficult to contribute amongst older, more business focused people, but it taught him a lot.

I had a poor experience of a Level 2 teamwork based course earlier this year, but the problem was as it was a compulsory course for the degree, there wasn't a great deal of enthusiasm from most of the team members. But for a level 3 course I should imagine everyone will be a lot more focused and so it should be a good experience (I did learn a lot from the one guy who put a lot of time in).

Level 3 is a big step up from level 1, things are far less 'guided'.

That's interesting to hear that, your Level 2 teamwork. How did you communicate? Day sessions, electronic conferencing, OU forums?

I really like challenges like this, which is what is tempting me, but as you say, it's a big step up.

After the discussion on this thread, I decided to set up a home network.

I've got it to work between my dad's computer (XP) and my computer when I boot Ubuntu, but not when I boot Vista. Therefore, Vista is stupid.

My BU130 stuff also came today!

LFC, it's an average. So you can do 50 hours some weeks and a bit less occasionally. Also, if you "agree" to it then it's OK.

Woo for ubuntu! Yes, Vista is very stupid

I hate all Windows. I always have. Actually, I liked 98. If I could, I would just use Linux in various flavours all the time.

I remember inheriting our old family computer when I was somewhere near my teens. It had windows 95 and I used to play monkey island II and solitaire on it... and open the old compuserve software , hoping that by magic, it would connect me to the internet... ignoring the fact that there were no cables to make it happen. Oh the naivety of youth.

What did you use in the end?

I vaguely remember that experiment. Although I clearly remember that I did it in the depths of winter and the large volumes of snow + high winds made it an absolute pain in the backside.

I hate all Windows. I always have. Actually, I liked 98. If I could, I would just use Linux in various flavours all the time.

My brother's old shampoo bottles I wanted something clear and originally I thought I'd use glasses but I realised that the circumference at the top was half an inch different to the circumference at the base, bloody deceptive glasses! So in the end I used the shampoo bottles as they had a flat base (no fluting like water bottles!), straight sides, were the same circumference all the way up to the neck and then I cut the necks off and used one of them for the one that needed a funnel! They're not clear though unfortunately They're currently sitting outside nicely positioned in the flowerbed so they don't blow over.

I was reading the OU science forums and someone said that when they did it last year they had a baby vole fall in their experiment! The cat brought a mouse in earlier so that better not end up in mine!