Evaluation

-Introduction – motivation and expectations
- Positive experiences
- How course could be improved
- Evaluation of your own performance
- Conclusion – what you have learned

Having been unemployed for a significant length of time, and having a long term goal to enter university to complete a degree in languages I felt the determination to join the Access to University course, in order to reach the first part to my goal. I expected the course would not be an "easy ride", would be quite intensive and hopefully set me in good stead in preparation for university life. I expected I would learn about myself, my ability to study and find my most successful method for study.

The course definitely was a positive move for me. Due to the intensity and often quantity of the workloads expected, I learned how to manage my time effectively, though not perfect due to other factors such as work, these set me the challenge of finding my optimal method for studying, which I now believe I have achieved.

Areas I found helpful were doing presentations and continual essay writing within History. As this rarely ceased I identified a key method for me to retain information, and my unique style of essay preparation never before known.

There are few aspects in the course to which I would find need improving, however i do feel the use of the Self Access Centre for two hours of Spanish could have been more effectively used for class based Spanish practice, to focus entirely on grammatical structure and vocabulary building, through aloud repetition of verbs, grammatical structure and vocabulary in class in place of being sat at a computer for those two hours.

Initially until around January-February time, I felt I was underperforming, due to the lack of time I could spend on studying, due to having to work four to five days per week, however after slight changes to circumstances, this eased and my opportunity to study gained for the better.

I have discovered that studying at home is a near impossibility as I can easily be distracted. I have learned that sitting in a library or coffee shop where there are no distractions sees my attention and study interest span soar, effectiveness in producing essays work great and to perfect time - and undoubtedly at Edinburgh University, Starbucks will become a second home to me.

Two months left

Two months left before college finishes. It is time to think of what work needs caught up on as stands and when preparation to complete the lot shall be. Due to a major change with circumstances I am about to have a fair amount of extra free time. I have now taken note of all work which I am aware of which has to be completed, and worked out an estimate for the length of time these should take to be complete, as follows :-

History

1 essay, 2 days start to finish
assessment, 5 days preparation
historical study * 2 weeks start to finish


Communication

2 talks – 1 formal, 1 informal 3 days preparation each
2 listening assessments 1 – 2 days
Historical study * 2 weeks start to finish
1 reading assessment (done, to be handed in)


Literature

Rewrite of Wilfred Owen poem 2 days
Personal study essay 2 weeks, daily basis
Novella essay 2 weeks, daily basis


Spanish

Int 2 talk 3 days preparation
Higher talk 3 days preparation
La lengua de las…. 2 – 3 weeks preparation




My next step over the next week will be to arrange these into a specific day by day timetable, lasting between now and the return after Easter. This will follow in the next blog post once the timetable is created.

Difficult week ahead

This week is going to be a tricky week. I have to work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. I am not working at the weekend so I should be able to find a good amount of time for work come the weekend, however during the week I will be very limited as to what I can do. My only real options for study will be on buses. I plan to continue reading our novella for Literature at all small opportunities this week. Any other work before the weekend will be a bonus...

Good progress expected

Less than 100 days until the course is over. I am happy with my current progress and ease I have found in managing to source materials for essays, eg for my History Investigation. I am still a little behind on some areas, mainly Communication, however I think due to the fact I am about to be in a position where I can slightly reduce my hours at work, I hopefully will now have more time to study. My only downfall that has kept me from being clear of any work due has been a lack of time through having to support myself financially. My hope will be within the next week or two, I should be on reduced hours and play catch-up much easier.

Progress

I have found my technique of day by day planning of work to be done much more managable. As mentioned in my last entry, I plan what work I have to do on the day and have been managing to stick to this. For example tonight as things stand, I plan for my evening to go as follows.

5pm until 6.30/7pm - Dinner, house tidying etc
7pm - Spend an hour or so reading book for Literature
8pm - An hour review over Spanish studied from the previous week
9pm - 9.30pm - Short break
9.30 - 10.30pm - Reviewing History work done and preparing for next essay

I have generally been planning things in this manner, and with maybe minor time differences or finding something else of more importance.

Time

I have been having difficulties managing my time recently. Still due to working many hours, adn struggling to find time to manage all the tasks I need to do. I have to go on a daily basis to work out what I can do in minimal time. Today, my intentions are as follows:-

5pm - Home, and watch TV and prepare and have dinner
6pm - Read and prepare for Literature work
7:30pm - Take a short break then prepare to finish Literature
9pm - Short break followed by preparation in finding resources for History Investigation
10pm - Break down resources into appropriate subsections
11pm - Wind down History work for the evening, then get ready for bed.


As I am working from 4pm on Tuesday evening until late there will be no opportunity for me to do any studying that night.

I will make a plan for Wednesday late on Tuesday night or when I wake up on Wednesday. I will be able to study up until 3pm before leaving for work. I do not want to make a plan for Wednesday until nearer the time, as it will likely be nearer then I will know where I need to concentrate more on.

Improving gradually

Now I have the facility to find useful resources on the internet, I feel I am making decent progress on all topics. I am closer to defining the question for my History project. I haven't finalised the question as the basis for my essay though I am inclined towards a question to the effect of, "To what extent did the vast develpoment of high rise flats in Glasgow post war improve the quality of living of Glaswegians in social housing?" I hope this will be a suitable topic as it is one close to heart, many resources available to use, including first hand resources through people I know. Once and if this is confirmed as suitable by Evan, I will start to produce the plan for investigating this and confirming the resources used.



.....

I managed to find time this week to complete my History essay. I made a drastic choice and swapped my car ownership for the purchase of a computer. As a result I have found some it somewhat easier to study. For example, to handwrite a 2000 word essay would have taken me at least three to four days, due to the fact my handwriting ability is very slow. Also is the fact I would have to rewrite the essay from scratch if the essay was needing edited. Now having a computer, I can type an essay up, almost at the same pace as if I were reading it. The thought processes haven't changed, but having the ability to keep up more I think will prove to be very advantageous. I am now not dreading further essays, as once I have my initial plans for an essay, though I still struggle to find time, these can be completed with much greater ease.

I do have some catching up to do. I am a little behind with Literature, one essay is overdue, which I aim to complete tonight, or following the literature class tomorrow. I intend to spend the remainder of the day after classes in the library, where I feel I will be able to complete this, or make significant steps, finishing it back home if not done by library closing.

I am happy in managing to achieve a pass for my first Communication essay. I feel it was going to be not to high enough a quality, but have been proved otherwise. I am considering my second topic for completion. I think I may consider a topic around the history of, the life of, the life in, and other aspects relating to the high rise flats in Glasgow, considering there has been some debate about whether these should remain or become remains.

Contentment?

Not so. I am now finding things a bit of a struggle. Not due to non-commitment, simply as the bursary office after three months of waiting to hear a response to my hardship fund application, has STILL not given an answer back. As a result, the only way I can afford to make ends meet is to work five days per week on top of college classes. A ten day week makes it excruciatingly difficult to find any time to be able to spend any kind of time on college work. My aim is to study two to three hours per night, at the moment on the subjects which are falling behind, however this is proving impossible at the moment. Also adding to my hindrance is the fact I do not have a PC of my own, causing any essays to be a very long drawn out process. I am at a great disadvantage as I cannot produce an effective presentation for Investigating Europe or for Communication. Should I be in receipt of a college hardship fund, I would believe there stands a chance I may be able to purchase a PC, helping ease the pressure on me slightly - eventually - maybe...

My voice is not being heard.