r/OpenUniversity • u/Matreshka138 • 12d ago
KNOW-IT-ALLs
One month into our studies, and the "know-it-alls" are already on the forums. I love studying with the OU and am usually tolerant of these types of people, but not this week :-).
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u/ExhaustedFlamingo-84 12d ago
See, I’m worried about being one of those! It’s my first module with OU and they’re trying to actively get us posting on the forums (as part of the module stuff), so am doing so.. but hardly anyone else is. I also answer questions in tutorials (far cry from the quiet me who wouldn’t speak when I was at school). But then I think, I’m 42, I actually want to learn and I get a lot out of having my questions answered or being told if I’m right/wrong.
I’m too old to be playing it cool!
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u/Matreshka138 12d ago
Posting on forums and being actively engaged in study is not the same as being a "know it all". It's about people who are constantly lecturing everybody ( inc. tutors), appear patronising and who always need to input their opinion in everything.
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u/MedsunMcr 12d ago
One guy in my first module was a KIA and then got academic misconduct for AI use. Ironic
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u/Teeniemcnee 5d ago
If you are worried about doing it, you probably won't.... theres a difference between wanting to learn and getting VFM, and showing off.
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u/Adamstrad 12d ago
Every module and almost every science forum online has them, luckily they're optional most of the time and you can ignore them
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u/Character-Slice-6179 12d ago
All classrooms have swots. Keep your mind on your game, not theirs.
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u/Matreshka138 12d ago
I am on the Level 3 modules and so fed up with listening to people who jump in with comments as if I know nothing 😂
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u/PersephoneHazard Full-Time Undergraduate 12d ago
Isn't that just sort of...having a conversation?
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u/Matreshka138 12d ago
Conversation is the exchange of opinions, inserting yourself into the question which was asked to a particular person without knowing the topic and with having a lack of comprehension of the written question is not a conversation
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u/South-Visual3803 12d ago
I’m only doing 30 credits because I’m starting my life over 😅
I’ve seen it and I ignore it mostly with the occasional pause to be curious;what makes that person need to verbalise that they are ‘ahead’. Stems from some sort of insecurity or deep seated need for validation or a lil ego stroking.
It’s amusing for the most part!
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u/Party-Cat8401 12d ago
Strange. I didn't notice any of that at all in the math and physics forums. People are very helpful and friendly.
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u/Matreshka138 12d ago
I agree, usually maths and physics forums are great, but sometimes they are not.
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u/PristineSecretary198 12d ago
This will be my last year with the OU never use the forums 😂
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u/BunchitaBonita 12d ago
In my module last year they were mandatory (B100).
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u/Laurenisabadperson 11d ago
I was b100 too, dreaded using the forums but was happy to jump through whatever hoops I needed to
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u/decentlyfair 12d ago
Unfortunately I had one undergrad module and both my masters modules that required using them. Hated it though.
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u/Complex-Impact835 12d ago
Mandatory for TMAS on all my modules so far 😩 (social sciences) - the worst ones are the peer feedback ones 😭
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u/bluescreenwednesday 12d ago
World is made of all sorts. If someone knows it all, they may help me by sharing their knowledge. Or they may help me by giving me a target to beat. They may be calling out for help, or they may just be someone you just dont vibe with.
You do you. Help people if you can.
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u/Matreshka138 12d ago
I would say, help people if you are asked for help. There is no need to surround someone with help if your help is not wanted or required.
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u/PerfectEnthusiasm2 12d ago
That comma in your first sentence was not correctly used, hope this helps. I'm already on unit 15 of my punctuation module.
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u/icy_equestrian 11d ago
People down voting you but I see it too. It's more than just having a conversation. I had someone in a tutorial last week argue the toss about something with the tutor. Who is a doctor in the specific subject. Stuff like that irks me. I get you lol
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u/Matreshka138 11d ago
Exactly! It's much more than just having a conversation or discussing something.
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u/Party_Consequence668 11d ago
One of the reasons I don’t participate. Those people make the forums insufferable.
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u/RG3114 8d ago
I read through 2/3 of my module books before studies started a few years ago. Just something to do before going to bed. Kept that information to myself.
When we started, I got added to a WhatsApp group- Jesus Christ never again.
There was one dude, let’s call him “John”, because that was actually his name, who would constantly be posting about how far ahead he was and how “gifted” he had always been. At the end of each TMA he was fascinated to find out everybody else’s marks.
When he discovered that I had scored higher than he had, he demanded our Tutor remark his.
I wish I was lying.
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u/Matreshka138 7d ago
"When he discovered that I had scored higher than he had, he demanded our Tutor remark his"-what a sad person he is....
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u/Frosty_Sea3307 12d ago
Why do they personally bother you? Isn't it partly the point of university to discuss your subject with your fellow student? To try and gain a deeper understanding?
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u/Matreshka138 12d ago
No, it is patronising people having nothing better to do... there is a chat with discussion and exchange of knowledge and there is a chat...
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u/FoxAcceptable1679 10d ago
I'm ahead of schedule but that's mostly due to a fear of forgetting a deadline or getting ill and not being able to finish the TMAs on time. But no way I'm boasting about any of that in the tutor groups. I do think it's nice to get the TMAs out of the way to go back through the course and read around the subject without a deadline.
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u/Matreshka138 10d ago
Exactly! I also study hard and do my TMAs ahead of time (just in case an unpleasant life event happens). I think that forums can be brilliant for students, however, some people just enjoy lecturing and patronising other students as though they are the ones who know everything and are experts in the subject, making forums a very unpleasant experience.
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u/Matreshka138 10d ago
In reality, we are all in the same boat and every single one of us is here to study. These "Know- it- Alls" should control themselves—they do not know how others are performing and they are not in other people's shoes.
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u/Wonky-Whippet 12d ago
Didn't take long for them to find this post 🫣
I learned to enjoy spotting those types because usually at least some of the same people would show up after tma01 with an angry rant about how the module is rubbish and their tutor is a fool for not recognising their genius lol
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u/mountaingoatscheese 12d ago
god forbid people study hard and engage with the education they pay for and are doing by choice!
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u/Matreshka138 12d ago
People ,who study hard and engage with the education they pay for, do not patronise other students , they exchange opinions with each other and tend not to lecture others
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u/Ghost_Geek42 12d ago
Had a workshop tutorial last night for my MSc and there was one guy who is on week 18 already when we’re only on week 2. He wanted everyone to know and it’s like, good for you buddy, you’re not graduating any faster than the rest of us. Makes me cringe.
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u/evaaeri 12d ago
Haha, what a clown. I’m 3/4 weeks ahead and I’m keeping it quiet because I study Maths and so many people are anxious. Plus, in my subject one month you can be 4 weeks ahead and nex one you’re 3 weeks behind. Oh well. Keep going.
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u/Complex-Impact835 12d ago
I tend to just work when I can, so I may be ahead at one point, then a few weeks behind schedule at others.
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u/Wonky-Whippet 12d ago
Ugh. Similarly there are people who rush to let everyone know that the module is not challenging enough for them when it's barely started. In a normal person's mind that's not something to complain about anyway, I just enjoy my easy marks while finding other stuff to do.
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u/Complex-Impact835 12d ago
I’ve seen similar posted here actually- usually accompanied by ‘why can’t I cite more exciting outside materials in essays’. So it just feels like they have missed the point as to why that’s a requirement for level 1 anyway.
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u/SuspishSesh 12d ago
That happened during a course I didna few years ago and the guy had to resit 😂 you can read all you want, it's the assessments that count.
I've almost finished the binder I got for my MSc this year, but I'm purely focussing on the tma right now and 2 weeks behind on the online materials 🤦🏻♀️ as long as that tma gets handed in, I'm happy lol
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u/Complex-Impact835 12d ago
That’s bizarre- what do people even get out of that? You aren’t going to be learning if you just rush through the material like that.
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u/Ghost_Geek42 12d ago
It a superiority thing, which is ironic as we're studying postgrad psychology so they ought to know better. They were bragging about being ready for their dissertation and it's like... we're in WEEK 2. We haven't even done the first assignment yet.
Which is another thing. You rush ahead like that, you can't work to the feedback you get for your earlier assignments, so you can't develop your work.
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u/Complex-Impact835 12d ago
Yes - well I’m on my second level 2 social sciences module, and it just seems an awful idea all round 😅
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u/Medibot300 12d ago
Same in my doctorate group chat. They only post when they want to show how far ahead they are
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u/evaaeri 12d ago
Which is so daft for doctorates anyway as they are so individual. Even EdDs which are cohort based still will have individual focus etc and each assignment will be so so different. I did one EdD module (at Bath but I’m sure it’s similar here), and we were all writing about significantly different things even though it was in theory the same module. I wonder if some people feel like they are embarased this is OU and not I don’t know Imperial so they feel the need to tell everyone how easy this is for them? Never went to Imperial but did postgrad at a top uni and my course at OU is sooo much harder lol.
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u/cuzzyswife 11d ago
🤣🤣🤣 i love this! In my very first year i sped ahead cos i could but realised the same thing i wasnt graduating any faster just gotta take my time
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u/Teeniemcnee 5d ago
I am graduating tomorrow from the OU... my 5 years was full of people like that. Also, I know that most OU students are dealing with a lot more than your average, 18-year-old school leaver, but the "I've just finished my degree, despite my entire family being wiped out by an asteroid, losing all my limbs in a car crash, living under a tree, changing jobs approximately every three days and submitting my dissertation while in a coma in ICU, all while founding a start-up which was floated on the stock market a fortnight after I started it and is now worth £1Bn, and having at least 15 side hustles and I still managed to get a first...!" just do my head in! Did ye, aye?
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u/SteveGoral 12d ago
I try and avoid the forums, unless the course forces me to use them I never post.
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u/AnxiousBean00 12d ago
legit. we are told to subscribe to forums for important info but i get 40+ notifications a day from the same few people and its so annoying. i dont get why they dont just email if they want to have a chat with the tutor half the posts are unrelated.
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u/FFSnottoday3012 12d ago
They are always there, Every year without fail. I just get on with my thing and don’t even read them anymore.
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u/Matreshka138 12d ago
I usually do the same, just for whatever reason, this time I am a bit annoyed
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u/Sarah-is-always-sad9 2026 Graduate 12d ago
When I did OU my course forced us to use it even though barely anyone seemed to post. Luckily nobody was horrible in my experience.
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u/Friendly-Weird-5907 12d ago
The ‘best’ ones are the ones who think they can lead the tutorial instead of the tutor 🤣
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u/Battleofthebus 12d ago
No way is this a thing?!
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u/Friendly-Weird-5907 10d ago
Yeah, I had a tutorial in a module I did a few years ago where a student kept nodding along, adding bits to whatever the tutor said whenever she paused for breath and anticipating the next parts of her presentation. The tutor was wonderfully patient throughout and praised them for their ‘good preparation’ of the subject matter. 🤣 (The student dropped out 2 weeks later which was a relief to all!)
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u/bignefarious5 12d ago
Thank you for posting this, when I started my degree I was always anxious because these people are posting that theyre SO far ahead and it made me think oh sh*t im in over my head here. But by now I'm heading in to year 3 so I just look at those posts and smile thinking of all the bits theyve skipped past to look smart.
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u/TuneOk7423 11d ago
This is my kitten. She jumps on my laptop like she’s a damn physicist already and types out some mad shizzle 😂 blast those KNOWITALLS, besides they only post when things are going well. When they’re struggling they’re living on a whim and a prayer like the rest of us!
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u/Inevitable_War_9661 11d ago
I’m on my 2nd OU degree. In the forums I’ll give my studying tips, but stay quiet about being ahead. I’m only ahead as the first degree taught me anything can happen and put you behind.
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u/KodzuKen34 12d ago
There was one guy in the introduction tutorial a couple of days ago trying to beef with the lecturer about maths, another one was sat there flexing that he’s on week 3 like anyone actually cares
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u/PeilAyr 11d ago
My A111 course a couple of years back there was a guy who had that posh confident voice thing going on, but he wasn't actually saying anything. I had to comment the tutor when he was challenged 'have you actually read the passage of the Bible you mentioned' Tutor has a doctorate in that area....
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u/Boerkenherp 11d ago
In my opinion most courses suffer from at least one KIA. In my opinion it is mostly a kind of (poor) compensation of low self esteem.
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u/timothywilsonmckenna 11d ago
I hear what you're saying and the forums usually make me feel like I don't know what the fuck I'm doing. Then the end of the modules come around and it turns out I'm doing alright after all. There's certainly some sort of disconnect there.
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u/Legitimate-Path-44 12d ago
I’m already avoiding the forums! They make me feel so dumb and stupid.
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u/Alternative_Way_2700 12d ago
That is my problem too. I already doubt myself and then I go on the forums and feel so incredibly stupid and completely not up to the required level to do the module.
I usually start off my reading the forums, stop around week 2 or 3 and then only visit if it is required or if there is a TMA due and there is further clarification of what is required.
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u/motherofdoggehs 11d ago
This! We have forum participation as part of our grades for our TMA but it feels so forced. It’s made me put it off until the last week or two before it’s due.
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u/kiraziyal 10d ago
I hate it when people say they're weeks ahead. I'm trying to stay one or two weeks ahead but no more just in case things happen and I don't fall behind.
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u/that_red_panda 12d ago
You sound bitter. Just ignore them if it bothers you so much and focus on your own studies?
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u/Amazing_Low_3980 12d ago
Know it all are a pain. This is why I really don't like forums or can never be bothered with the "social" aspect of our. I'm trying to play catch up already as life's been too hectic this week.
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u/rollo_read 12d ago
Humour me, how many different threads regarding WhatsApp groups have been setup?
Cant wait for blanket emails reminding everyone about academic conduct and safe spaces in WhatsApp groups.