First Semester
With the year's end fast approaching and a discernable absence of updates here, it seemed now would make a good time to wrap up how my first semester has gone. I'll break it down for you:
Lectures | Computer Systems
This module is designed to provide us with a clear understanding of the theories and principles associated with digital computers and their architectures. This couples in with the evolution of computer hardware & software, their general uses and the importance of their role in the modern IT/Business world.
The module began with a crash course in binary. I say this not because binary is the most complicated subject to grasp, merely that the pace at which we ploughed through it all was a tad overwhelming. Nevertheless, within a couple of weeks we'd gone from binary to what has been a more rational look at how computers have developed. As for the pace, it's now painfully slow...
We've had two assignments thus far; the first, for which I received an A14, looked at software layers, GUI development, von-Neumann, and the importance of data to businesses. The second isn't due in for another two weeks but revolves around the roles of network and database administrators.
Lectures | Communications & Presentation
Dubbed "Professional Skills" by our lecturer, this module focuses on developing the skills employers expect from post-graduate students, as well as skills required to successfully make it through the degree (such as report writing, referencing, et al). I benefit from a professional attitude developed over five years experience working within the architectural profession. Others seem to struggle with basics such as comprehensive reading and writing (which if you've kept up-to-date with the news recently, has been a topic of much debate recently).
Outside of lectures, we've been set an assignment to be done in groups - as most work done in the professional sphere is spilt up between teams of people. This amounts to nothing more than a research project looking into IT graduate recruitment within various sectors of industry. We're required to showcase our findings to the class by way of a presentation. Having had to form contracts and hold regular meetings to ensure smooth progress of the assignment has added the professional dimension to proceedings.
As there will be other similar tasks throughout this module, this is a good chance to see who we may or may not wish to work with in future tasks. I can honestly say that I'm finding it hard to build up a list of people I'd want to work with - and that's nothing personal, it's purely their lack of organisation and work ethic... something that's essential to get right here.
There's also a report to be written, focused on ourselves, discussing our skills - strengths/weaknesses - opportunities/threats - learning styles - Belbin team roles. We're not allowed to use I/me/my/myself etc so it reads very formally; which is difficult when it's sometimes hard enough writing about oneself.
Lectures | Network Fundamentals
*yawn* ...oh, excuse me - this module generally looks at networks, from direct one-to-one connections through to world wide systems. It's also the most frustratingly boring module we have.
Yeah, we've had people fall asleep in lectures... no joke.
Don't get me wrong though, it's interesting learning how all these things work. I only wish it could be taught in a slightly more engaging manner. We've had two assignments thus far, the first being based around the 1858 trans-Atlantic cable which for all the British engineering brilliance it took to get it going, lasted three weeks (not had this back yet). The second assignment, due in before Christmas, focuses on setting up different Internet connections. Nothing too taxing on an intellectual level - but the challenge of maintaining interest enough to complete such tasks is what makes it all too much of a struggle.
Lectures | Software Development
This module introduces us to fundamental programming concepts and has focused on the C++ programming language. There's not a lot to say about this module really, other than how much fun I've had learning to programme these small, somewhat useless applications. Our first assignment was to write a programme to count words and upper/lowercase letters. My mark was a B12 and considering I've never seriously touched a programming language since playing with Basic years ago, I'm happy with it.
To be honest, I don't think there's much more of this sort of programming in my degree and that this module is here at the beginning as a taster. Next week we've got an in-class timed assessment to complete, which I'm looking forward to.
---
What I'll do is talk more about life here on campus in another post, perhaps tomorrow. I'm just becoming increasingly aware that my lack of activity both here and
on deviantART has left many outside my immediate family in the dark as to what's going on. Perhaps keeping this up-to-date should become a new year’s resolution?
Lectures | Computer Systems
This module is designed to provide us with a clear understanding of the theories and principles associated with digital computers and their architectures. This couples in with the evolution of computer hardware & software, their general uses and the importance of their role in the modern IT/Business world.
The module began with a crash course in binary. I say this not because binary is the most complicated subject to grasp, merely that the pace at which we ploughed through it all was a tad overwhelming. Nevertheless, within a couple of weeks we'd gone from binary to what has been a more rational look at how computers have developed. As for the pace, it's now painfully slow...
We've had two assignments thus far; the first, for which I received an A14, looked at software layers, GUI development, von-Neumann, and the importance of data to businesses. The second isn't due in for another two weeks but revolves around the roles of network and database administrators.
Lectures | Communications & Presentation
Dubbed "Professional Skills" by our lecturer, this module focuses on developing the skills employers expect from post-graduate students, as well as skills required to successfully make it through the degree (such as report writing, referencing, et al). I benefit from a professional attitude developed over five years experience working within the architectural profession. Others seem to struggle with basics such as comprehensive reading and writing (which if you've kept up-to-date with the news recently, has been a topic of much debate recently).
Outside of lectures, we've been set an assignment to be done in groups - as most work done in the professional sphere is spilt up between teams of people. This amounts to nothing more than a research project looking into IT graduate recruitment within various sectors of industry. We're required to showcase our findings to the class by way of a presentation. Having had to form contracts and hold regular meetings to ensure smooth progress of the assignment has added the professional dimension to proceedings.
As there will be other similar tasks throughout this module, this is a good chance to see who we may or may not wish to work with in future tasks. I can honestly say that I'm finding it hard to build up a list of people I'd want to work with - and that's nothing personal, it's purely their lack of organisation and work ethic... something that's essential to get right here.
There's also a report to be written, focused on ourselves, discussing our skills - strengths/weaknesses - opportunities/threats - learning styles - Belbin team roles. We're not allowed to use I/me/my/myself etc so it reads very formally; which is difficult when it's sometimes hard enough writing about oneself.
Lectures | Network Fundamentals
*yawn* ...oh, excuse me - this module generally looks at networks, from direct one-to-one connections through to world wide systems. It's also the most frustratingly boring module we have.
Yeah, we've had people fall asleep in lectures... no joke.
Don't get me wrong though, it's interesting learning how all these things work. I only wish it could be taught in a slightly more engaging manner. We've had two assignments thus far, the first being based around the 1858 trans-Atlantic cable which for all the British engineering brilliance it took to get it going, lasted three weeks (not had this back yet). The second assignment, due in before Christmas, focuses on setting up different Internet connections. Nothing too taxing on an intellectual level - but the challenge of maintaining interest enough to complete such tasks is what makes it all too much of a struggle.
Lectures | Software Development
This module introduces us to fundamental programming concepts and has focused on the C++ programming language. There's not a lot to say about this module really, other than how much fun I've had learning to programme these small, somewhat useless applications. Our first assignment was to write a programme to count words and upper/lowercase letters. My mark was a B12 and considering I've never seriously touched a programming language since playing with Basic years ago, I'm happy with it.
To be honest, I don't think there's much more of this sort of programming in my degree and that this module is here at the beginning as a taster. Next week we've got an in-class timed assessment to complete, which I'm looking forward to.
---
What I'll do is talk more about life here on campus in another post, perhaps tomorrow. I'm just becoming increasingly aware that my lack of activity both here and
on deviantART has left many outside my immediate family in the dark as to what's going on. Perhaps keeping this up-to-date should become a new year’s resolution?
posted by Matthew E Cornish at
10:53
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