So when does my journey begin?

Officially, my course starts on the 7th of October, but the study site opens near the middle of this month. That is when I intended on starting, however, other students have been a little eager!

When I received my assessment booklet, I wanted to start immediately because the first assignment seems fairly straight forward. Starting when the module site opens would give me around 6 weeks to complete a 1250 word essay which I believe is more than enough time. The assessment booklet is really informative on what you should do for each assignment so you can't go too far wrong!

I am on OU Facebook groups and in Whatsapp groups where some people have said they've already started their essay which I feel is a little too premature! It's possible that the site opens and then they realise that what they've done isn't quite right or you have to follow the study planner to a certain extent (there are videos, and other activities, to watch too). Some people have just decided to read the books they've been given, but I don't believe that's necessary. Their reason for starting so soon is so they will be one step ahead, but even if you started the essay on the 7th of October, you could still finish it early!

There are people doing my module in their 50s, having never written an essay and are panicking at almost everything and so I feel starting so soon, makes the less experienced learners worried that they're missing a trick or maybe they won't do so good if they're not starting almost two months early! I kind of feel like I must look out for the less experienced learners, as I was in education just a couple of years ago and it's not too alien to me.

Anyway, I shouldn't be so concerned with what everyone else is doing; I shall complete my degree the way I want to and that means starting when it feels right to! I'm sure everything will die down after the first assignment is given in and everyone had a clearer picture of what we're doing