There comes a time when you are studying two modules at the same time when coursework deadlines overlap, and it all becomes a little manic. For those doing M250 Object-oriented Java programming and TT284 Web technologies at the Open University, this time comes between January and early March.
This year, the order of coursework deadlines is something like this:
- TT284 TMA 1 – mid-November
- M250 TMA 1 – early December
- TT284 TMA 2 – late January
- M250 TMA 2 – early March
- TT284 TMA 3 – early March (just a week later than TMA 2 for M250!)
- TT284 EMA Part 1 – late April
- M250 TMA 3 – early May
- TT284 EMA Part 2 – late May
- M250 Exam – early June
So, you can see that, firstly, there is not much time between TMA 2 and 3 for TT284 and, secondly, TMA 2 for M250 and TMA 3 for TT284 are due in at pretty much the same time.
It is also worth noting that TMA 2 for M250 only covers Chapters 6 and 7 of the textbook. However, if you go by the module timetable, you will have finished both chapters long before the deadline for TMA 2. So, you also must keep up with subsequent chapters, otherwise you risk falling way, way, way behind.
For M250, TMA 1 covers chapters 1 to 4. Chapter 5 is optional. The final TMA, TMA 3, then covers chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14. Chapter 8 is essentially a Java reference guide and the module skips Chapter 13.
TT284 structures the TMAs differently. TMAs 1, 2 and 3 covers blocks 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The EMA covers Block 4, as well as content from the module as a whole.
So, prepare yourself. Watch out for this if you come to study these two modules together. It will test your time management skills to the limit!