Open University tutor ******* me off!

Gecco

Gecco

Gecco

Associate
Joined
7 Jul 2006
Posts
733
I've just received my 2nd assignment back from a course that I'm doing.
Part of it was to explain file sharing & MSN Messenger in a single sentence as part from an article that we had to read.

I explained what file sharing was and he commented: "mainly used for music" and didn't award me a point. - mainly used for music ? He's having a laugh!

On messenger I wrote that it's a chat program and additional options for audio/video converencing are available. His comment: "or instant messaging" again he didn't reward me a point. - surely that's the same?

The other thing is everytime there is a given word limit, say 300 words for example, I always write about 200 words and cover the main points. In the assignment it states that points will be deducted if more words are used but not if less words are used. And he always moans about my word count and comments that I should write more. He deducts half the avaiable points because of it.
What's the point if I covered all the main aspects? I'd fill the rest in with **** wasting my and his time.

This is my second course and really putting me off continuing. The tutor I had on my first course was great however.

What are your thoughts on this? Should I complain to him about it ? As that is what it says in the code of practice before filing a formal complaint.
 
Sounds like someone following a marksheet, or similiar, too close to the letter. I remember seeing an AQA answer sheet for the question "What would be an appropriate medium to store a 600mb file?", the mark sheet said "CD-R, mark CD wrong." Seriosuly?

I would complain as your answers are clearly correct. Arguable "Chat system" is slightly less formal/accepted than the term "Instant Messaging" but it's far from wrong.
 
Is there anyone above him that you can complain to?
I agree he is wrong in the MSN and file sharing bits.

However if I had an essay which was supposed to be up to 300 words, I wouldn't just write 200. That's only using up 2/3 of the available word count. Perhaps expand upon a few things to reach around 250? Also does this include a cover page, ToC etc? I'm not sure about the Open University but some universities include the words on the cover page, whereas some don't... This may affect your mark?
 
Well, yes you should approach him and put your points across and see how he answers.

It sounds like hes reading stock answers from some kind of noddy list - which is not very professional.
'mainly used for music' is probably just an example answer, and not a very accurate one at that!

I would certainly pull him up about his marking before taking it further, but its pretty obvious he is not much of an IT pro.
I wouldnt make it a complaint as such in the first instance, I would simply question his marking technique backed up with examples, what he thinks the answer should be, and then what the answer really is! ask him to explain why he thinks file sharing is mainly about music, etc, then silence him with the correct answer.
If he still wont fall into line and give your marks back - then make a formal complaint.
 
mattyfez said:
What course is it, BTW?
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This, im after some easy qualifications. If those are the types of questions you are getting i could probably get drunk, go to sleep, get taken to mars by aliens and then telepathically force my tutor to do it for me.... sorry it just seems extremely easy, and i agree your answers are good but you could add a tiny bit more info. The downmarking is really bad though =/ seems like he doesnt know what he is doing.
 
He seems to be big headed about himself, doesn't seem to want to let people take the step up towards him, probably likes his superiority more than aiding his students, he's also probably threatened by the fact you probably know more than you should. My tutor was like that with me regarding Nutrition and Training, but praised me for it instead of being an ass, i was at college and he said my knowledge was at University level.
 
kgi said:
Don't you think that this pedantry that you are witnessing seeps over to potential employers with an immediate result of a low reputation for your degree and thus your employability?
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Im guessing thats why he is a bit annoyed by the marking...
 
frakker said:
How very astute of you.
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Oh, I did not know that you were oblivious to spending 3 years studying something that might end up meaning 0 to the market and employers. You have no obligation to 'finishing' or 'getting' a degree and you need to wise up to the fact that you are doing this for yourself and your future. Unless you can make it worthwhile then you will regret it and have a worthless piece of paper in your hand when you graduate. My suggestion pointed towards something that you need to consider greatly.

Many people go on doing a degree to please their parents and achieve expectations but are bitterly dissapointed the next day when they start applying for jobs left and right and suddenly realise that their crap education doesn't cut it through the HR filters.

P.S I am not suggestion that your course is crap, but if you feel like that and there are grounds to believe so then you need to revaluate your position and situation.
 
I'm doing a degree because mine is decent, I spend a few years basically getting drunk, being able to relate to pretty girls ;) and don't have to worry about spending etc.

Its not THAT expensive once you tally things up.
 
frakker said:
Fantastic that you know so much about me, my current employment position and reasons for doing my particular course with the OU.
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You are correct, it was my mistake directing my comment to you but I just grabbed your posts as a platform to sound my thoughts on people who are attending (what they believe to be) crap institutions and of the pitfalls in ploughing through a career-lethal degree. I should have made my post more generic towards anyone reading that might have concerns.

frakker said:
Sorry, there seems to be a level of my giving a **** that simply doesn't exist.
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No comment.
 
frakker said:
I've just finished my first Maths module with the OU and agree that they're the most pedantic, anal, outfit out there.

I got marked down in the TMAs ...
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Sorry to hear you've had a bad experience with them. I'm not sure it is the OU themselves as much as the individual tutors who can always hide behind OU regulations if necessary. My wife is doing statistics with OU at the moment (just finished 2nd year) and her tutors have been great so far - except 1 who was a bit lazy as he's due to retire soon - so it is all down to the 'luck of the draw'.

Hopefully you'll get someone better for your remaining modules :)
 
what is the subject code

is this a ten point subject ?
losing half of the marks due to 2/3 of the word limit is too harsh
 
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