W200 Update

W200 update

I have now settled on a way to study -  I am currently doing mind maps, linear notes while I am reading the text (so I can interact with the text while I am reading it), and flash cards.  The mind maps will be per unit (and per 'sub-unit' if there is a lot of information in a 'sub-unit' as there appears to be!).  Linear notes will be all the way through including any supplemental reading - like the English Legal System book by Gary Slapper.  And the flashcards, these have been split up into definitions, opposites (e.g. criminal v civil law), learning outcomes, and cases.  I am finding there is tons of new information to learn - even though most of the items we covered in W100, W200 goes into more depth.. so the flash cards should help with that as well.  Hopefully the mind maps and flash cards will be useful for revision - time will tell.

Mind maps:  I have so far completed a mind map for unit 1 and used some software called imindmap to 'type it up'.. As you can see I love colour on my mind maps......!  I will make a seperate area soon where I will upload my mind maps -so people can get an idea of how to do their own mind maps, anyone want a hand or assistance starting off with mind maps just comment on this post and I will get back to you ....

Mind Map for Unit 1 of W200

Linear notes: these are straight forward linear notes made from the various manuals and the textbook, I have attached a picture of a set I started off doing, however have now moved over to A4 paper, so I don't need to rewrite them, and place them in my Staples Arc folder:-

Linear notes for unit 1 - W200

Flash cards:  Having started with some basic index cards I bought from Staples, I found these to be too thin and impractical for what I wanted to use them for - a fellow student - Jamie, suggested these on Amazon: 
Extra thick flashcards.  
These are excellent - although I would prefer colourful flash cards, these are extra thick and so will last a lifetime, they are the size of a credit card which are smaller than the ones I purchased from Staples, but this will stop me writing an essay on each one !  They are matt on one side and shiny on the other, I was worried they wouldn't take coloured felt tip pens very well but they did:-

An example of the front of my flashcards for unit 2A learning outcomes

An example of the reverse of my flashcards for unit 2A learning outcomes

transcribing all my old flashcard info onto the new ones

Key for colours to write with depending on type of card

Books: - have ordered some more Law Express and Concentrate books to help with an overview of the general topics on W200...

Facebook blocking:  I have resumed blocking Facebook from 0900-1700 every day.. although I tend to sneak on it via my ipad and iphone so not need to find a way to block facebook from these two devices! If anyone knows of anything please let me know.

Finally some titbits from the English Legal system book by Gary Slapper - I surprised myself by finding that this book is actually an interesting read.....  :-

Some things the government have done or not done as the case may be:

In the legislative and regulatory reform bill 2006, they tried to enable ministers to create new criminal offences, punishable with less than 2 years imprisonment, without the need to debate this in parliament, luckily overturned......

The minister for women and equalities will not enact part of the equality act 2010, which imposed a duty on public bodies to have due regard when making strategic decisions to reducing the inequalities of outcome that result from socio economic disadvantages - I am tempted to say that is a typical Tory response but am beginning to think all governments act like this..

Overall thoughts so far:  Finding there is a lot of information to get through, need to read about 50 pages per week, not including any supplemental activites, and readings.  But at the moment it is keeping my attention.  The more I learn about law, the more I realise that it needs reforming and changing as it doesn't appear to be working in the way it should.

W200 first unit read and Study Skills

W200 update - unit 1 read

Just literally finished reading the first unit which covers what we covered in W100 - no new stuff to learn yet.  It covered for example what is the difference between a social/moral and legal rule.  Why do some social rules become law and others not.   A person spitting in the street is not commiting a crime however I think many people would consider it against a 'social rule', and a person cutting in front of you in a queue - you would not expect to see them in court over it (unless violence was involved), but once again a social rule has been broken, but a legal law hasn't - at least in the UK.  Then it covered the main differences between civil/criminal law, and sources of law.  The one thing I found slightly offputting by this unit was the amount of external links to the College of Law website - which isn't opening until the 22nd Jan, however because most of it was on items that had already been covered in W100 felt relatively confident to just read the comments on those activities and move on.

The way I studied the unit was to write down all the headings onto an index card, indenting them depending on what priority the unit gave them (whether this is the intention of the indents in W200 I am yet to figure out - however the assumption is a heading with 1. Sources of law is more important then 2.3.4 xxxx).  Then I went to the review section at the end of the unit and wrote those down as well on a seperate index card.  Then I went and read through the unit reading and making notes under each section title.  Now I have to decide whether to type up the notes so I can put them on my iphone so I can read them while I am out..  or to make a mind map - or do both.  I have attached a picture of the notes so far (bear in mind I have actually written them down double sided on the main notes, so 6 sides of large index cards and 2 single sided for the headings and overview):

Unit 1 notes for W200

It took me about 4-5 hours to read through unit 1 and make the notes.  Although I still to type them up or do a mind map etc. This unit however is an overview of what we have already studied in W200 - will be interesting to see how long it takes me to do unit 2.

Study skills

New facebook group

I have created a new group on Facebook called Study Skills for OU students.  Kept on seeing loads of posts dotted about on loads of different forums relating to study skills, so nice to have everything in one place.

Procrastination article

Procrastination: found a good website blog which details a lot of study tips.  One in particular caught my eye regarding procrastination - it says leave Facebook lol!  Here is the page - the specific leave Facebook article is about 4 posts down (the other posts are useful to read as well)

Tips for fighting procrastination

Book for studying?

Have just bought this book onto my Kindle - have no idea whether it is a good book or not but looked good from the reviews etc, will let you know if it is worth a read

Link to the Study Skills Essentials book on Amazon

Cats and studying

Every time I get my books out a certain moggie appears on my books, namely Ruby lol, common problem amongst us cat owners! - I have created her own little space to the right hand side, but she still prefers plonking herself right on my books!

W200 update/desk layout

W200 update

 Just literally started W200 last week - in that I have started reading the first unit...  At first glance it looks like it is just a review of W100 with a few extra bits added in.  I love the end of unit reviews as I can use that for revision and a base for writing my notes and mind maps.
There also appears to be a big step up reading wise - unit 2 which is quite big needs to be read and 'digested' within a week!  So getting ahead - even slightly, is essential.

I may consider switching back to the LLB as oppose to an open degree, but will see how I get on with W200 first as there is plently of time to do that

Desk Layout 

Following are some pictures of my desk layout currently - relatively tidy at the moment as this was taken before studying commenced.  Second picture is my collection of law books amassed so far:-