DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - TMA05 Marked and Returned

Really good job by my tutor in turning round the TMA inside a week. They mark in order of submission and I can't believe many could have submitted later than me without an extension.

The mark equaled the highest mark I have had this course, so I am unbelievably pleased with this result and probably deserve it ina  way considering the amount of effort and hard work - not to mention frustration - that went into this TMA.

It does however leave me with a quandary regarding econometrics. I  am never really that confident in my answers, even though I go over everything and double check what I can, so I must be over thinking the whole thing.

The example econometric project that they give you as an example of what you should submit doesn't seem 100 miles from what we have just done. Obviously, the literature review is a massive part of the EMA, which is really TMA06, so I guess I need to get that started.

This was really what I needed after a couple of months struggling with competing work and family commitments combined with a bit of poor health. So this mark has been really motivating.

Just five and a bit weeks to go........

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - TMA05 Submitted

TMA05 submitted...... a real struggle this one, both motivationally and in understanding what was required. However there is nothing I can do now so except wait on the thing being marked, and I have great doubts about the mark on this one, it really could go either way.

It is now frighteningly close to the end of the course and the EMA is not something that can be left until the last minute and bluffed, so the challenge is going to be to keep the work rate up.

At least I think I have a half decent dataset and project question, although that will be confirmed on return of the TMA. With any luck the data won't go too astray and will broadly support the theory, although one anomalous variable would be go to add a bit of interest and 'mild peril' to the proceedings.

Lets hope for a speedy TMA turn around, and some confirmation that my econometrics understanding - such as it is - is basically sound, as it is pretty much to late to change the project method.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 26

Week 26 – Block 6: Project work

Part	Task
Project work	Project work

Hang on there Mr. Overly Optimistic Study Timetable...... we will be working on the TMA until pretty much the submission deadline and then having a couple of days brain rest.

Project Panic will recommence at the weekend....

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 25

Week 25 – Block 5: TMA week

Part	Task
1.1 Block 5 TMA week Read DYEP: Econometrics, Sections 6–8	Complete TMA 05

Complete TMA05...... easier said than done. In my opinion, considering the difficulty that a great deal of people seem to be having with econometrics, the questions for TMA05 is less than helpful and left me questioning both the results and theory before my tutor confirmed I was heading in the right direction.

Tackling this TMA has been a case of back to basics, in that the TMAs 02 and 04 have been re-visited along with the econometric tutorials and examples from this module and I think I have enough to be getting on with. It feels like a bit of a re-hash of the previous econometrics TMAs with a bit of theory thrown in, but if that is what they want then........ I'll get re-hashing.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 24

Week 24 – Block 5: Research Methods – Week 4

Part	Task
24.1 Research Methods - Module I: Econometrics	Finish reading DYEP: Using econometrics
24.2 Online tutorials – Module I: Econometrics	Complete the online tutorials DYEP Module I: Econometrics
24.3 Research Methods - Module II: Collection and analysis of primary and secondary data	Finish reading DYEP: Using primary and secondary data
24.4 Online tutorials – Module II: Analysis of Primary and Secondary data	Complete the online tutorials DYEP Module II: Primary and secondary data

Note: DYEP stands for Doing Your Economics Project

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 23

Week 23 – Block 5: Research Methods – Week 3

Part	Task
23.1 Research Methods - Module I: Econometrics	Start reading DYEP: Using econometrics
23.2 Online tutorials – Module I: Econometrics	Start the online tutorials DYEP Module I: Econometrics
23.3 Research Methods - Module II: Collection and analysis of Primary and Secondary data	Start reading DYEP: Using primary and secondary data
23.4 Online tutorials – Module II: Collection and analysis of primary and secondary data	Start the online tutorials DYEP Module II: Primary and secondary data

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 22

Week 22 – Block 5: Research Methods – Week 2: Literature Review

Part	Task
22.1 Research Methods Week 2: Literature Review	Read Week 2 DYEP: Reviewing the literature in the PDF booklet DYEP: Getting started
22.2 Online tutorials – DYEP: Literature Review	Complete the online tutorials DYEP: Literature Review

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 21

Week 21 – Block 5: Research Methods – Week 1: Introduction

Part	Task
21.1 Research Methods Week 1 – Doing your economics project: Introduction and overview	Read Week 1: Introduction and overview in the PDF booklet DYEP: Getting started
21.2 Online tutorials – DYEP: Starting your project	Complete the online tutorials DYEP – Starting your project I, II and III
21.3 Online tutorials – DYEP: Studying the sample projects	Complete the online tutorials DYEP – Studying the sample projects I, II and III
21.4 Project Timeline – Recording your progress towards your module project	Learn the various stages of your project work

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - Week 1

	Week 1 – Industrial capitalism, markets and economics Part Task 1.1 Explore the DD309 study materials Read online welcome letter 1.2 Using forums in DD309 Read forum information 1.3 Industrial capitalism, markets and economics Read DEPMP, Book 1, Part I, Chapter 1 1.4 Rethinking market economics View a short film 1.5 Online tutorials: Game theory Complete Game theory I and Game theory II 1.6 [Optional] Tutorial 3: Modelling demand DD202 CD-ROM tutorial (revision material)
	Even before you get to 1.3 and opened the book for the first time (were you to do everything in the order suggested)  there was quite a bit of reading in 1.1 and 1.2. The main message I took from these sections was that Level 3 courses will be a bit of a step up from Level 2, a far bigger step than that from Level 1 to Level 2
	The TMAs on their own are around 50% bigger in terms of word count and require a far better standard of answer than I have been used to for the last three years.( Writing at Level 3 ) From the DD309 Course Webpage the TMAs are made up of the following sections. TMA/EMA Cut-off date Word limit Weighting 01 18 Nov. 2014 Part A: 800 Part B: 1800 20% (substitutable) 02 6 Jan. 2015 Part A: 700 Part B: 700 Part C: 1400 20% (substitutable) 03 10 Feb. 2015     Part A: 800 Part B: 1500 20% (substitutable) 04 10 Mar 2015 Part A: 800 Part B: 1500 15% (substitutable) 05 21 April 2015 Part A: 1200 Part B: 800 15% (substitutable) 06 12 May 2015 1200 10% (non-substitutable) EMA 5 June 2015 5000
	So, if nothing else this demonstrates the need to keep up to schedule, I'm not going to be able to wing a 2600 TMA in a day or so........ At least Chapter 1 was fairly straight forward and I still remember and understand the game theory sections from DD209, so not too much of a study shock from Week 1. GRETL and the accompanying data sets for Part 1 are downloaded and installed, but as yet I've not attempted to do anything with them. TUTORIALS Mid-week last week the tutorial dates came through, and then went away again.....and then came back. Initially I was very disappointed at there only being three face to face tutorials and the rest, five I think, are online. I like the chance to meet other students face to face and this has been severely reduced now. The DD309 that is running now had tutorials in London and they seemed to meet up before/after for drinks/discussions which seems a good idea, but now I will be driving that is less likely especially if there is only three tutorials as it doesn't really afford the opportunity to develop relationips. On the plus side it will cut down on traveling and getting up really early, and as long as the 'technicals' are up to speed, it may be a fairly efficient way to do tutorials...... we will see.
	It would appear that the tutorials are a real lottery. Those in London, Tonbridge and Cardiff have 6 face to face tutorials, while those in Ireland have only two face to face tutorials, so there doesn't seem to be any set standards for the learning experience.

DD309 : Doing economics: people, markets and policy - The Course Website Opens

The course website is open and looks a pretty familiar setup which is good. As this is a fairly mature course there will hopefully not be some of the problems we came across in DD209's first year.

No news yet on my tutor or tutorial dates, but hopefully that will come soon.