I have recently completed another assignment and received my result, I'm quite happy with it, and am now studying module 05. I am finding myself settling in to a better routine of study as time goes on. Evening seems to be the best time for me to start, but if there is time during the day I grab that too. The one thing with studying at home that I have noticed you do have to be disciplined with yourself. It's far too easy to get engrossed in a TV show for example and put off studying.
This for me isn't a problem as I choose not to have a TV, but it's a fair example of the sort of areas you have to have that self discipline in to make sure study isn't put off until another time.
When I first started out I was putting in a bit too much time and finding myself not taking in as much as I should have been, it shows that if you do too much, it can be as harmful as doing too little. After a couple of weeks I seemed to find a better balance.
I don't have a set time to study as such as I find if I have to do something when I've set myself to study, I get stressed out. Instead I set myself a minimum amount of study time per week, and generally have time to do more on top. I study for 1-2 hours, have a brew and get on with something in the house or walk the dog, then go back to it after an hour. The breaks in between seem to give it all time to soak in and for my brain to wind down a little, ready to carry on with some more. Those breaks in-between are important.
You really do have to remember what you are doing it all for and what the end result will be.
Studying at home means you don't have the benefit of the classroom environment where your study periods are set and guided by a tutor. No one is there to tell you when to start and stop, you have to keep on top of yourself and stay focused on the study.
Personally, I like to revise for at least an hour what I did the day previous, before moving on. If I find something I'd forgotten I'll concentrate on that. If I get to a point where something is not making sense I'll walk away, have a brew and relax a bit before I return to it. If after that it's still not getting through then I'll contact one of the tutors.
For anyone else studying with t4ts my advice is that the tutors really are there to help and even if you think it is something that you don't feel can be explained in a phone call, it generally can believe me! These guys are there to do that and know exactly how to advise you over the phone so as to help you understand. I know at one point I came across something I just couldn't understand and I didn't want to phone the tutor as I thought there was just no way of explaining it to me over the phone, so I emailed the tutor team thinking a written explanation would be the only way for me to understand. Within 5 minutes of my mail I had phone call from Barry, one of the tutor team and within 2 minutes it all made perfect sense. No matter what it is you're stuck with it really is best to just ring and speak to a tutor.
I've reached a point now where I'm settled nicely into my study and seem to have found my flow with it. Some days it can be hard going, and it's those days you really have to stick with it and remember just how much you have invested in the end result. Getting the assignment results back at the end of each module show you the hard work is worth it and give you the boost to carry on. I also am really looking forward to putting what I am learning into practice at the training centre. In the meantime, I'm happily studying and doing a little research on the internet. Already I am meeting new friends on the same or similar path, as well as talking to those already in the industry who are always willing to offer advice. I find this valuable, and am looking forward to the student forum being set up so we can all offer each other encouragement and maybe get to meet beforehand, some of the people we will be going to the training centre with. Until then, Good luck to all my fellow students and keep at it!!!