Sorry to hear about your bad experience I've done 4 years of courses with OU and been very satisfied. Not had any bad experiences with tutors though sometimes hear about them going AWOL.
They do have strict guidelines to follow so not always tutors fault. Lower level courses try to show how to answer properly for higher level courses - hence why they will penalise you for not showing working and word counts even though it seems pointless. But they just trying to get you to do it as standard.
For TMAs always do exactly what it says and take your answer from the materials to save hassles. For the higher level courses you get more open ended freedom and can start using external referenced material.
Using fewer words should not be penalised - are you sure you covered the points in enough detail? Rather than argue about the word count get details on what else you should have put in then you can take it further if not satisfactory answer.
They do have strict guidelines to follow so not always tutors fault. Lower level courses try to show how to answer properly for higher level courses - hence why they will penalise you for not showing working and word counts even though it seems pointless. But they just trying to get you to do it as standard.
For TMAs always do exactly what it says and take your answer from the materials to save hassles. For the higher level courses you get more open ended freedom and can start using external referenced material.
Using fewer words should not be penalised - are you sure you covered the points in enough detail? Rather than argue about the word count get details on what else you should have put in then you can take it further if not satisfactory answer.
My employer has paid for my OU courses and other engineers I have spoken to look favourably on me doing this course. Getting off topic - no doubt there is much snobbery against the OU course and no doubt it does produce muppets like any other University. Far as I'm concerned it comes down to the person.
