OTEN
Tue, 14/03/2006 - 11:51am — Amy
So I'm now studying through OTEN. It's a big difference to the past 2 years of going to Tafe once a week.....I keep thinking I should be going to classes!!! 
But its a lot easier for me, because there's no pressure of when assignments are due, of going to classes and sitting there for 8 hours, and best of all, NO EXAMS!!!
I'm doing certificate 2 Business, which is also a change from vet nursing that I was doing, but hey, it doesn't require a lot of thinking!!! :twisted: Which is a good thing, with the brain fog I have!!
Anyone else studying?? How do you deal with the brain fog?
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They do have different
They do have different principles when it comes to their methods.
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RE:Oten
I did a course many years ago through oten (before I got sick) and found them terrific. I plan on doing another some time in the future.
Good luck with your course
, when brain fog kicks in, take some time out, go for a walk, do some breathing exercises, or even try some yoga....
http://www.undiagnosedillness.org
Hey guys! Don't forget Open
Hey guys!
Don't forget Open Universities Australia (https://www.open.edu.au/wps/portal) if you can't find what you want through OTEN. I've just enrolled in a course which is pre req to a degree program am hoping to start next year. AND don't forget to register with the Disability Liasion Unit. I have found them to be really lovely and helpful so far.
All the best with your studies
Marina
OTEN
Quote:The course selection is a bit limited
Yeh it is a bit. I'm still deciding what to do because they don't offer the course i was planning on doing. I'm going to do something though to keep my mind active.
OTEN
Yes attending FT TAFE is hard as it's pretty full on. I know that when I was going to study IT FT it was 1 full day and 4 half days plus study. PT is naturally much better but at night (ie 3 nights pw). So OTEN is certainly a way to go as you can do less of a workload and they do have it set up so you can chat with other students in an online forum.
IT is certainly a good course to consider, I found it really fun and it's a component of any job really.
I'm studying at uni PT at the moment but having problems with my work with possibly losing a PT working arrangement there and it seems that the PT jobs I've been applying for aren't really liking that they can't have me suit their hours but have to fit around uni (even though I had some ideas of how that can be done ie holidays, uni having advanced computers to do urgent work on) so depending on how things pan out I may be having to defer uni to free up time to be more successful in competing for PT jobs. So I'm thinking of continuing my IT studies too as it can be done through OTEN or in the evenings. DJ
OTEN
The course selection is a bit limited
The only things that are really in my field are the super expensive ones. I'm tempted by IT though, or a communication & media, thats got to look good on any resume
http://www.oten.edu.au/oten/study/courses/coursearea.cfm?r=1425
OTEN
Thanks Amy
Quote:you can take breaks whenever you need to.
I think i would find it easier because i'd be able to have a break whenever i need to & not have to travel or anything.
OTEN
Hey Ren
Sorry to hear you've relapsed!
I know that when I was at Tafe, the travel and timetables buggered me, and I've found the Oten a lot easier.
One thing though, you need to have the motivation to study by yourself. I'm fairly used to it after doing distance education in high school, but I still find myself not doing my Oten work when I know I should!
But the good thing is that you don't have teachers telling you what you should be doing and when, and you can take breaks whenever you need to.
I hope I've helped some, my brain is a bit fuzzy!
OTEN
Hi guys
I've been studying at Tafe this year but recently had to put it on hold because i've relapsed. I think the travel (30min drive each way) & having to stick to a timetable contributed to the relapse, so i'm thinking about studying through OTEN next semester. What do you guys think? For those who have/do study this way how do you find it?
OTEN
I was at studying (at college, doing a 4 yr diploma), when CFS first hit me right when I was trying to study for my exams. I ended up so exhausted and ill that I had to defer most of my exams and I was unable to concentrate at all.
I continued/struggled on the next year, (still not having completed some of my exams) and tried to fight throu the "brain fog" (that's a great description of it), and my lack of ability to focus and concentrate for any time. My brain fog was almost permanent at that point of time, thou it was more worst at some times than others... in my case nothing get rid of it. If my CFS was being bad, so was my ability to be able to think clearly, focus and hold thoughts well. The more I pushed myself, telling myself that I'd just push and get throu it.... the worst I got. I pushed myself with my studies so much that I ended up being bedridden for most of 9 mths. Looking back on things, I wish I'd never done that and wish I hadnt continued pushing myself so much, which ended up putting me into the most hellish 9 mths of my life. One wouldnt wish how i felt during that time onto any one. It took me many years to recover from that to a point of feeling okay (with my body not being in pain) again. Maybe my experience wasnt common but due to that I'd advise anyone with CFS to not push themselves at all when it comes to their studies...no matter how important it may seem to pass. To me it wasnt worth it.. I never was able to complete my studies and to this day (7-8 yrs later), I still wouldnt be capable of doing so cause I relapse easy. Ive only just been able to recently accept that I will never probably be able to finish my diploma.
But that OTEN does sound good thou if it didnt cause one to stress at all. (it is stress which makes me relapse more than anything else).
OTEN
OTEN is excellent as you do study it at your own pace and don't have to go to class. I started a Cert III in IT that way a few years ago and even though the course is FT over 1 term OTEN gives you up to 2 years to complete it. You can also combine OTEN with face to face classes ie some subjects OTEN others in a TAFE classroom.
I'm working part time and studying part time at uni now and because uni days aren't full days and my part time job has flexible hours I found that on work days I didn't do any study afterwards but on uni days I could drive home during the day and avoid the stress of peak hour traffic, relax and then do my studies when I felt up to it. Also sometime at uni subjects aren't on so you get a day off here and there during the week as well.
However it has taken planning as well ie I have to watch videos at uni so I tended to do this before lectures on the Monday morning when I felt more fresh and planning out for the week what I have to read and assignments to complete.
This term my subjects and days tend to finish at 4pm or 5pm with breaks between some of the lectures and a morning off during the week so I'm worried about how it will all go as the half afternoons off were better for me.
Cheers DJ
OTEN
Hey Abbey,
)
Yeah basically they send you out whole modules (or units) at a time, and you just do it whenever, you finish when you finish. Kind of like distance ed, except without the teachers breathing down your neck!! (joking!
There's lots of different courses available, best to check the oten site (www.oten.edu.au) some are available online, or partially online.
I forget.....do you get any centrelink thingys? Otherwise the cost might be pricey, same fees as Tafe basically.
I hope that makes sense, it's not making sense to me right now!!!
OTEN
How does OTEN work Amy? they just send work out and you finish when you finish or what?
What courses are available?
I'm thinking I'm stagnating with all this housewifing and a business course would do me some good I think
OTEN
First of all, hi guys
I study & work part time. At times i do stuggle with the brain fog. I just try to pace myself though. There are times when i just have to close the books & relax which i find so frustrating but i always come good.
brain fog
Such a good word, brain fog.
I'm studying full time at the moment though have done part time in the past. My masters is only 6 hours face to face (though this seems like plenty!) and so i try and just fit the required work in where i can. When i'm tired and can't concentrate due to brain fog i simply don't study or i try and do homework that is less taxing on my poor brain. Recently i've been focusing on really trying to relax, watch a movie, go for a walk, have a massage (loooove the massages) or yoga, meditation etc. I used to and still do get frustrated and upset which makes it worse, so the relaxation is the way to go for me. My lecturers also know the deal so i don't feel under pressure to go to class or hand stuff in right on time if i simply cannot do it.
Study tips
Since being diagnosed 12 mths ago I have studied part time at TAFE and worked fulltime doing accounting. The mental fogs are bad, but i have found that your brain is like a muscle you need to train it and practice concentrating or studying. I start by doing a detailed plan of what I need to do, then i give my self a time limit eg 3 hours. Then I pick the time of day that my mind is its clearest which is usually early mornings. In one day you may do 1 session or 2 shorter sessions. Drink lots of water I also like green tea and make sure you eat, but nothing to heavy as the body uses us more energy.
Keeping a regular excerise routine helps clear the fogs. At one stag I could only walk around the block, but as I demanded my body give me more energy it slowly started to supply it.
I did have days where i just had to have a sleep and try again the next day.
Try not to get fustrated as that will stress you out and create the fog.
I am now going to uni through correspondance. I personally find it less stressful, than going to class.