I am currently working really hard on getting TMA 02 for M256 done and dusted so that I can concentrate on revising for the M257 exam on 18th June.
Have managed to get two of the three questions completed - and aim to begin the third one this evening. If I can have the TMA done by the 18th May (5 days) that will give me a full month to for the run-up to M257. I am nervous (as always) about the exam, mainly becuase of the new short answer style for the first 10 questions, and then a choice of 2 from 3 extended answers.
The last exam I did (M263) where I had to chose 2 from 4 questions I ended up picking (in retrospect) the wrong one. Not convinced that I won't do it again this time......
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
And the results are in......
Okay - so back from Florida (wonderful by the way - thoroughly recommend it) - and had the results for two assisgments waiting for me M257 TMA 04 and M256 TMA 01. Have to say that I wasn't expecting great shakes from either of them, and yet both came in at a respectable 92%.
The majority of the marks lost for M257 TMA 04 came from my inability to answer the last part of the last question.....I still don't fully understand the tutor's answer, so I guess that is something I will have to wait to grasp....or never will. Either way it was tough - and I would hope that the exam wouldn't throw up anything quite as demanding.
With M256 TMA 01 the majority of marks were lost on the first part (i.e. supposedly the easiest bit) of the TMA - where I lost five marks from not reading the question properly. Otherwise there were no major problems to report.
The majority of the marks lost for M257 TMA 04 came from my inability to answer the last part of the last question.....I still don't fully understand the tutor's answer, so I guess that is something I will have to wait to grasp....or never will. Either way it was tough - and I would hope that the exam wouldn't throw up anything quite as demanding.
With M256 TMA 01 the majority of marks were lost on the first part (i.e. supposedly the easiest bit) of the TMA - where I lost five marks from not reading the question properly. Otherwise there were no major problems to report.
Monday, 17 March 2008
In the doldrums
Seem to have lost the enthusiasm for my OU courses at the moment.
I don't know whether this is to do with me being mad busy at work - or the subject matter - but I am finding the M256 requirement documentation stuff very very dry. This lack of enthusiasm seems to have transferred into my TMA_01 part 1 mark - where I managed to drop 5% by not reading the question properly. Ah well - I suppose it should just galvanise me into performing my best on the second part... not sure that it is going to though.
I am also finding TMA 04 for M257 hard-going. Not because of the content, but because of the subject (threads) which I find a bit dull. Having said that I managed to complete most of the TMA (there are still the two final sections of Question 3 to finish) which is good because the TMAs for both M256 and M257 are due on the same day - April 10th.
Maybe the time pressure is getting to me - still with the continuous assessment for M257 finished after this, and a clear run to October for M256 I am sure it will work itself out in the end. And I have my holiday in Orlando to look forward to 1 week after the deadlines!! I can't wait :)
I don't know whether this is to do with me being mad busy at work - or the subject matter - but I am finding the M256 requirement documentation stuff very very dry. This lack of enthusiasm seems to have transferred into my TMA_01 part 1 mark - where I managed to drop 5% by not reading the question properly. Ah well - I suppose it should just galvanise me into performing my best on the second part... not sure that it is going to though.
I am also finding TMA 04 for M257 hard-going. Not because of the content, but because of the subject (threads) which I find a bit dull. Having said that I managed to complete most of the TMA (there are still the two final sections of Question 3 to finish) which is good because the TMAs for both M256 and M257 are due on the same day - April 10th.
Maybe the time pressure is getting to me - still with the continuous assessment for M257 finished after this, and a clear run to October for M256 I am sure it will work itself out in the end. And I have my holiday in Orlando to look forward to 1 week after the deadlines!! I can't wait :)
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
M257 - TMA03
The results are in for M257 - and once again I have done really well, 98% - thats 100%, 98%, 98% for the assignments so far. I lose my marks for code style - it isn't the most elegant - but I try to learn from my mistakes and improve every time I get the feedback.
I have to admit, that I have been really neglecting my OU studies of late - I think that I am technically behind with my reading for both M257 and M256. I need to pull my finger out.
If I am fishing around for excuses, it is probably because I have been so busy at both work and the gym after work, that OU stuff has been pushed to the bottom of the pile - plus as there are no looming deadlines I don't feel like I am under very much pressure. I realise this is dangerous as it could make me lazy, and the last thing I want to do is end up reading the units only so I can answer the TMA questions....that doesn't help anyone.
Maybe tonight I will make a concerted effort to get back on track.
I have to admit, that I have been really neglecting my OU studies of late - I think that I am technically behind with my reading for both M257 and M256. I need to pull my finger out.
If I am fishing around for excuses, it is probably because I have been so busy at both work and the gym after work, that OU stuff has been pushed to the bottom of the pile - plus as there are no looming deadlines I don't feel like I am under very much pressure. I realise this is dangerous as it could make me lazy, and the last thing I want to do is end up reading the units only so I can answer the TMA questions....that doesn't help anyone.
Maybe tonight I will make a concerted effort to get back on track.
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
M257 - So far so good
Once again the first two TMAs of M257 seem to be going well, with a 100% for the first and a 98% for the second. I have to say that I am really enjoying the level two Java courses - they are very much a 'get in and do something useful' experience, and the navel gazing and contemplation that accompanied some of the Level 1 courses (and the horrendous in my opinion M253) are significantly diluted. It doesn't mean that you don't have to reflect on stuff, you just reflect in a more useful and relevant way.
I am midway through TMA03 - I have managed to complete the first two questions and am considering question 3 as we speak. I can't explain the sense of reward that is achieved by writing a GUI which is interactive and does what you want it to. It really is first rate.
I am midway through TMA03 - I have managed to complete the first two questions and am considering question 3 as we speak. I can't explain the sense of reward that is achieved by writing a GUI which is interactive and does what you want it to. It really is first rate.
M255 Results
The M255 results are now published, and once again I have managed to surprise myself with a distinction! I am thrilled that I seem to be achieving with this new way of learning, but am worried as to how I will cope with the inevitable exam result which is not a distinction. Probably best to think about that when it happens.
Friday, 7 December 2007
M257
Well, M257 is underway and seems to be going okay at the moment (although to be honest the first 5 modules didn't have a lot of new content when compared to the course I have just completed (M255)). The results for the first TMA were good, and I have completed (although not submitted) the second one - which should give me a nice leisurely run up to Christmas.
I have signed up for M256 which begins in Feb, and is the last of the Level 2 courses I need to complete - reading between the lines it seems to be more discursive than both M257 and M255 so I might have to put a slightly different slant on things whilst I am studying.
I toyed with the idea of running a Level 3 course simultaneously in Feb, but ultimately decided against it. I think it probably would have been manageable if I hadn't had M257 running too - but 80 points would put too much of a strain on things I think. The current setup with the course means that I won't be able to follow my one in Feb, one in Oct model for the Level 3 courses as all of them only run once a year and begin in Feb. Seems a bit strange 60 points all in one go, and then nothing for a couple of months and I need to read the comments and reviews and talk to the course convenors to work out the best combinations. I still think it is important to keep the 60 points a year model - otherwise I won't be graduating until 2012!
Off out for dinner this evening - the first of a long list of festive bashes. Deep breath everyone......
I have signed up for M256 which begins in Feb, and is the last of the Level 2 courses I need to complete - reading between the lines it seems to be more discursive than both M257 and M255 so I might have to put a slightly different slant on things whilst I am studying.
I toyed with the idea of running a Level 3 course simultaneously in Feb, but ultimately decided against it. I think it probably would have been manageable if I hadn't had M257 running too - but 80 points would put too much of a strain on things I think. The current setup with the course means that I won't be able to follow my one in Feb, one in Oct model for the Level 3 courses as all of them only run once a year and begin in Feb. Seems a bit strange 60 points all in one go, and then nothing for a couple of months and I need to read the comments and reviews and talk to the course convenors to work out the best combinations. I still think it is important to keep the 60 points a year model - otherwise I won't be graduating until 2012!
Off out for dinner this evening - the first of a long list of festive bashes. Deep breath everyone......
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