GDL Distance Learning: weekend one

Well, a few days after returning from the first weekend on the GDL, I finally have the energy and focus to write up the experience.

So I suppose that the first thing to say is that it is exhausting. The majority of people on the course work full time and some, like myself, also have family commitments. We all arrived for introductory lectures on skudy skills, electronic access and library facilities on the Friday morning and were assigned tutorial groups.

The afternoon comprised intensive lectures and tutorials on "English Legal Method". Basically this involves learning how to read and interpret cases. The classes themselves were fine, and I am glad I had prepared. However, the sheer length of time that we had to study was quite overwhelming. I had been up at 5.30 am to travel, following a very busy week beforehand with work and the children. We then had classes until 9.30pm in the evening. By the end of that I was completely exhausted - the brain stopped working at about 8.30pm anyway. Managed a pint in the bar and then went to bed and slept very very well!

Actually felt alert and awake on Saturday morning which was great as the bus took us to university at 8.45am. Our tutorials in the morning concerned Law of Tort which everyone found interesting. We also had a great tutor who really knew how to keep focused on the important issues. After lunch we had tutorials in European Law which I really enjoyed. Fortunately we finished earlier so at half past five we hopped on the buses back to the hotel knowing that we had no study until the next morning.

Due to the fact that the food was seriously uninspiring on the Friday evening, a group of us went into town to get a meal. It was nice to be sociable with other people on the course and I think it will be of great benefit to have other people to discuss study issues with. Facebook has suddenly become far more than a distraction and will potentially become a useful study aid!

Fell into the classic "student trap" however, and decided it was a good idea to stay up late Saturday night. It wasn't a good idea as the buses arrived to take us to uni at 8.30am Sunday morning. I am very lucky that we had a lively tutor for our Contract Law tutorials. He made a subject that I was concerned would fail to inspire me really appealing. This could well become a favourite subject.

I missed the afternoon tutorials on Constitutional and Administrative Law. The reports I have heard from fellow students have not been good either. I shall just have to see how I do on the practise coursework, I suppose.

In summary - the weekend was incredibly hard work, but would have been more so had I not prepared everything thoroughly beforehand. It has taken me a good couple of days to recover and this is not easy when you have full-time work and children to factor in!!! I have discovered that my memory seems pretty good - I remembered lots of cases from my reading and was able to contribute to discussions.

The next weekend is not until December. Prior to that I have stacks of reading to get through, a piece of assessed coursework for English Legal Method, 4 practise courseworks and, of course, full time work and my children to bring up!!!!

Lots of work ahead but am sure it will all be worthwhile. And I have been smiling all day as this morning my daughter had her 2 year "developmental check" and the Health Visitor announced that in all her years she had only seen one or two other children as bright as my daughter at that age. SOOOOOO proud of her. Going to work so hard so I can really support her.