DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Feedback of sorts

Had I looked harder yesterday, rather than being blinded by the result, I would have seen a link to view your performance in the examinable component.

It shows the assessment criteria and how each section could be rated.

Assessment criteria

Scale: Excellent, Good, Clear Pass, Bare Pass, Bare Fail, Fail Criteria :

i. Research question: clarity and relevance to the module

ii. Literature review and economic theory: clarity and relevance to the module

iii. Selection/collection of data/evidence: effectiveness in addressing the question

iv. Analysis & research method: effectiveness in integrating theory, data & evidence

v. Aptness of conclusions in drawing threads of argument together

vi. Evidence of independent thought and initiative

vii. Standard of presentation and referencing

I was glad to see that I was marked either Excellent or Good in the above criteria, and especially that for 'evidence of independent thought' it was Excellent, given that I had taken a far from easy course in this project, and pressed on in this direction against the advice from my tutor to simplify the project.

The other information on the site was the performance of all students in the EMA, which was a pretty standard bell curve sort of distribution.

It would be nice to get some more detailed feedback though - but I'm not sure if this is available.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Course result out.

The waiting has finally ended, if only I could have been patient for another couple of minutes - see previous post :-)

There is not a lot I can say about this except that I delighted with the result, and I think it is fair to say that the amount of time and effort expended on the EMA has been rewarded.

Also, I am really pleased that my decision to carry on with quite a complicated project, against the recommendation by my tutor to simplify the project and concentrate on just one regression, has been vindicated, and the project received a Pass 1 which I don't think would have been possible with a simple project.

So with one course left my target is Pass2 or better in DD306 Politics - Living Political Ideas, and a 1st Class Honours could be mine, which always seemed like a laudable if somewhat unrealistic target, but it now looks possible.

Well that has taken the pressure off a bit, would love to see some sort of feedback on the EMA - maybe that will come later, but for now, I'll enjoy the result, read for fun for a change and get study-rested ready to resume in October.

Unless I do get some feedback on the EMA this is probably the last blog entry until the DD306 course website opens or the books arrive.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Impatiently waiting on result

Waiting on the EMA and overall course result is now having a significantly adverse effect on my life.

My concentration level has fallen significantly, and productivity of any task is hampered by the continual refreshing of the OU Course Website results page.

The OU play their own part in this my sending out random and completely unrelated emails which cause a mixture of excitement, trepidation and ultimately (well so far anyway) disappointment.

The accepted wisdom with regard to course results is that they come out the week before the week of the deadline, so that leaves them the rest of today and tomorrow before leaving us with a terrible weekend of anticipation to conquer before this all starts again on Monday.

This is torture. Give me my result.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Course Review

Well, time for the course review.

This course review is more difficult than the others courses I have reviewed, as without an exam to revise for, all I can actually remember from the course at this point is the Econometrics tutorials and the EMA project.

This course has not been as much of a revelation as DD209 was, and I think it has suffered from quite a bit of overlap with DD209 - especially the section on game theory, therefore there was not nearly as much new stuff.

To be honest I can't actually remember much about the sections or the TMAs that hasn't been written previously on the blog.


If I was going to give an advice on the course it would be to engage with Econometrics as soon as you can, and also read ahead to the Books 2:1 and 2:2 and choose a area of interest as soon as possible to get as good a run up on the EMA as possible.

I chose econometrics because you are in far more control of the project. In comparison Primary Data Projects means getting questionnaires out and getting permissions from employers or groups can be a nightmare and getting returns can also be a problem. Secondary Data Projects means wading through tons of other peoples reports and attempting to churn something of value out of it - just too much time reading stuff of no interest - I would find it difficult to motivate myself.

Also, the Econometrics Forum is well run and really active. Graham who is the tutor running it is really helpful and can steer you in the right direction to find a suitable data source and then offer advice after that.


Other than that, if you have done DD209 and done reasonably well, DD309 will be a walk in the park. I have had by far and away the highest marks ever for my TMAs, I put a great deal of effort into them but there was nothing that earth shattering about any of these essays.

All in all, I suppose DD309 has been a bit of a disappointment in terms of learning loads about economics, but if I get the mark I need then I suppose I'll be satisfied with the experience.

Not a great endorsement, is it :-(

Also, as I am lucky and I am still on the transitional fees, the courses work out at about £25 per week, which is pretty good value considering the website, books and tutors. The new full time fees in England makes it nearly £85 per week (£2,700 for DD309), and I not sure I'd be as happy about that.

One more to go then I guess my academic career is really finished, it would have been fun to do a Masters, but it is unlikely that my finances will allow that.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 33 - EMA CUT OFF

Assessment: PROJECT (EMA) (cut-off date 5 Jun)

That's all folks....... officially the end if the course

Hope you all got your EMAs in on time and that they were as you would have wished them to be. I guess that is it until the marks come through, probably mid-July.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - At last

Diane must have come back off of her lunch break and the website has been updated, Plan B can officially be scrapped, I can stand down the local college printers and we return to DEFCON 1.

So that is a big relief, absolutely nothing more I can do now, it is completely out of my hands.

So nothing else to do except keep my fingers crossed until mid-July.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - er... still no news

Well if the website update was scheduled to happen over night, either it didn't happen or there is still a queue or problem with the OU accepting my EMA.....

.... and let's hope Diane hasn't taken a days leave.

The EMA has been with the OU for over 24 hours. I may have to phone them later today.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - That's probably it for today then.......

Its a bit like waiting for the white smoke at the Vatican...... constantly looking at the website but no indication that my EMA has been accepted by the OU.

I guess they have all stopped for today now, so not expecting any news until tomorrow now.

If there is no news by this time tomorrow night, I'll be seriously looking at a Plan B.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Signed for but not accepted on the OU Website yet.

OK..... I'm now wondering who on earth Diane is, why she is signing for things before 8AM, is she even employed by the OU and why seven and a half hours later the signed for submission has not been entered onto the website. Seven and a half hours is a full working day..... what is the problem.

Plan B is now forming. Given how efficient the local college were, I can probably get the EMA reprinted Thursday afternoon and drive through the night to hand deliver, or at least I could if I didn't have to go to work.

C'mom Diane! Put me out of my misery!

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Tracked, Delivered and Signed for......

The EMA package was apparently signed for on 2nd June at 07:57, by Diane.

But its not yet be confirmed on the Open University website as accepted as my Final Assessed Work received.

So nearly there.......

By comparison, it appears that the DD306 Politics EMA can be sent in electronically, so none of the phaff, cost or time-wasting incurred printing, binding and posting.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Printed and posted

Staples quoted nearly £100 to print three copies of my EMA, and it would only be possible if the person who knew how to work the machine was in and it would take some time , and I may have to book it in and oh well it all seemed like too much trouble for them.

I contacted another local printer, who sounded slightly more interested, but only slightly, and then he didn't bother emailing me a quote.

Luckily, our local college also has a print shop, and not only were they happy to print my EMAs and bind them, they did so on the spot (20 mins) and only charged £30, which all things considered I thought was a bargain.

Content aside, flicking through the bound EMA it does look pretty good - if there are marks for presentation I should do well in that category.

Then it was straight off to the Post Office.

The lady behind the counter was pretty adamant that the only way to guarantee delivery for Friday was registered post. I have heard that the OU don't like registered post, well they are going to have to get over that, I have proof of posting as required.

As soon as it says EMA received on the website I can relax for a bit.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - F I N I S H E D ! ! !

Well that's that then.

5494 words - I could have done with another 250 words to finish it how I really wanted, but at pretty much the maximum I can do no more.

It is now ready to be taken round some printers tomorrow to be printed and bound, and if that fails I'll print it off at work and stick it in ring binders, as one way or another it is going in the post on Tuesday with guaranteed next day delivery.

This EMA has pretty much dominated the last 4 weeks of my life, and if I come up short it is not due to a lack of effort - lack of direction or understanding possibly - but not lack of effort.

And it looks good, even if I do say so myself, it is neat and tidy and where necessary colourful, hopefully that is worth a mark or two.

Day off tomorrow, hopefully I can get the printing sorted by lunch time and then get on with the rest of my life.......

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 32

End-of-Module Assessment

Events

• Assessment: PROJECT (EMA) (cut-off date 5 Jun)

Pretty much there now, right on the 5500 word count, need to do a couple of reads through for typos - then leave it for tomorrow for a last read, then it is finished and need I need to PDF it for the printers.

OK, the end is really in sight now........

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - The things you do to avoid doing the things you should be doing.....

With apologies to fans of Frank Sinatra, this is what I have been doing to avoid doing that I should be doing........

I Study My Way

And now, the deadline's near; 
And so I face a final flurry,
My friend, I'll say it clear, 
I'm in a state of fear and worry.

I've lived life like a fool,
I've pushed my essays to the deadline,
And more, much more than that,
The fault is all mine.

Extensions, I've had a few; 
But then again, it's my intention,
To do what I had to do,
And avoid resorting to substitution.

I planned each essay well
Each careful phrase, commit to paper
upload my work, Press send, it's gone,
it's now consigned within the ether

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt, 
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall; 
And did it my way.

I studied hard, God how I tried,
My project was econometric,
And now, as tears subside, 
Confusion reigns, I'm apoplectic,

To think I wrote all that; 
And some of it may even make sense, 
and now the wait begins, 
the markers have me in suspense

So why do we study, what is the point?
We try so hard not to disappoint,
To strive for knowledge, it is our quest; 
We do our best, to pass the test,.
But now its done, my summers free,
all of this for my PPE! 

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Regrets, I've had a few.....

Frank and I are in perfect harmony at the minute.......

      "Regrets, I've had a few..........."

Regrets.....mainly about committing to carrying out a mind boggling amount of regressions in order to try and prove a point that may or may not be valid.

I'm obviously hoping it is.

To be blunt my EMA sort of rests on it being so.....



"Second thoughts, I've had a few......"

but unlike Frank too many to even start mentioning, 'cos we'd be here all day and I've still got plots to draw, and some to re-draw because my OCD brain has spotted minor and to be honest completely unimportant labeling issues and I must fix them or I will not sleep..... ever !


As a result, Microsoft Excel and I are, if not good friends, then certainly worthy advisories.

..... and with each plot my appendixes grow, the EMA gets thicker and more expensive to print - in triplicate - and deliver. I'd better warn the Post Office they are gonna need extra help on Tuesday - my EMA package will be a two man lift.

Seem to have resorted to gibbering, and gibbering in written form, mental breakdown on the horizon if I wasn't doing this for fun!

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Advancing economic theory doesn't come cheap......

Being reasonably organised I decided to contact my local Staples to see how much it would cost to print and wire bind my EMA.

Three copies of a 50 page, colour printed and wire bound project is going to cost me around £100, so basically my appendices are costing me £50, I hope they are worth it.

This is somewhat of an unexpected disappointment, there are many things I could do with £100 and sending the OU part of a forest, in triplicate, is not high on that list.

If only there was some sort of electronic internet based method of sharing information, wouldn't that make things so much easier, and when I say easier what I mean is cheaper.

Mental Note To Self : Purchase Staples shares next year in late May sell in early June, repeat annually.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - The last push......

So, a busy couple of days, 4,700 words or so written, findings and conclusions to be finished, References and Appendices to be checked, but I've pretty much broken the back of this and expect to be making a valuable contribution to the field of economics shortly.

I will be right on the 5500 maximum work count and I also have appendices in abundance, but that is really so they can check the numbers if they so wish.

I would have preferred to have a couple of more weeks to keep reading and refining, but the timings of the tutorials and late return of TMA06 have not made this possible.

I have spent a huge amount of time and effort on this, so I am pretty happy that as far as effort is concerned I could not have done much more - time will tell if this has been worth it or not.

Need to print and bind on Monday, so time is pressing.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 31

Week 31 – Block 6: Project work

Part	Task
Project work	Project work

It's gonna be a busy bank holiday.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - TMA06 Marked and Returned

Not particularly happy that this TMA has taken so long to get marked, especially as my tutor seems now to be questioning the complexity of what I am doing and has suggested a far less interesting adjustment. This is especially odd as I pretty much laid out exactly my plan at the last tutorial and no concerns were raised then..... 

Also my lowest mark so far by quite a bit, although still a Pass1, which sort of reflects my running out of steam and enthusiasm for the EMA. Also I submitted early after a particularly mind-numbing spirit-crushing tutorial dominated by somebody to whom brevity is a stranger, so not surprised by the mark really.

Graham, who runs the Econometrics Forum, has been far more enthusiastic (although to be fair this appears to be his default position on almost everything), and so I will crack on against tutorial advice rather than have an extremely simple and mundane project. I must say however, that this has been my undoing in these sorts of projects in the past so the outcome will either be that the odds were that I would come good eventually or that I never learn.

I have no doubt that I could submit what I have done already and get a pass, but I need a Pass1 from this course in order to stand a chance at a 1st Class Honours - so I am afraid that the pressure is on.

I have to say that Graham is doing an excellent job on the econometrics forum, he appears to be there almost all the time and has been extremely helpful and patient, I'm not really sure any of us could have asked for more from him.

So, time for a big push over the next 10 days, as not only is the end in sight, it appears to be careering towards me !

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Still no TMA06

Less than a fortnight to go before the EMA has to be posted and TMA06 is still conspicuous by its absence.

Not happy about this at all - so I guess I press ahead and hope there is no need to make any changes.