The rubberbandits video, horse outside, comes to my mind at this moment. It's more or less how I feel, I mean, not like anything in the video plot - that is also a bit weird to say the least - else like if I have a horse outside just ready for me to fly away.
I'm just thinking about finishing the TM470 module and end up with the OU, I have even thought now about cancelling my Foundation degree in Leadership and Management if the new Uni accept my application for the Master and going straight away into my IT Master's degree on 2015. Yep, I think that will be what I will do.
The reason for the current mood is that the results were published today and far from having broken the loop - as I thought I have had - I achieved this year again an 81% in the M362 exam, a grade that The OU decided again not to put up a bit so....Grade 2 for me...and bye, bye First degree option.
It's the first time in my life in a module that is programming related that I do not achieve a Distinction but hey!, that was a 100% theory exam (a bit weird for a programming module to be honest).
Who cares! Just achieving a 40% in TM470 will give me now a 2:1 and nothing can give me anything better so if we add to this the fact that the TM470 preparation forum is being a bit of a pain for me I honestly think this is the best that could have happened.
As things are going for me in TM470 up to now I do not want to imagine myself if I would have had a Distinction in M362, just forcing myself to try to have a Distinction in TM470 just because that would have been my last opportunity to have a First degree. That is a reality that now will never happen. For once I think I will be happy with this situation.
I will try to make my life easier this year, so next goal will be "to achieve at least a 40% in TM470" and after that I will fly away, next stop will be Sweden so I need a good horse for that...and it's outside :-)
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Initial contact with TM470 and how things are
I have found that in TM470 there are no PDFs to download yet and as I don't like to read everything on the screen in a certain way I'm a bit "behind" my normal schedule as even when the module hasn't officially started yet under other circumstances I would have already read part of the materials, etc.
I published my idea in the forum the first day and I'm trying to progress on that following the advice of the forum moderator. I'm trying to do something that would push me to learn new things because how can I report on my learning if I would do something that I would already know by heart? Anyway, all this "tell me about your idea and I will tell you how wrong you are" is putting me a bit down really because somehow I feel I cannot get it right but I'm not surrendering.
Good news are that this will be the last module for this degree and that I still can enjoy the experience if finally my idea is accepted by my teacher.
On other OU related things, I'm still waiting for my M362 results that now are said to be published around 6th Dec the sooner, the OU sent yesterday an email that indicates that there could even be further delays. M362 is the module I want to base my project on so I need to wait until I have the results (hopefully a Distinction) to be able to fill the form that will help me to have a teacher assigned.
I published my idea in the forum the first day and I'm trying to progress on that following the advice of the forum moderator. I'm trying to do something that would push me to learn new things because how can I report on my learning if I would do something that I would already know by heart? Anyway, all this "tell me about your idea and I will tell you how wrong you are" is putting me a bit down really because somehow I feel I cannot get it right but I'm not surrendering.
Good news are that this will be the last module for this degree and that I still can enjoy the experience if finally my idea is accepted by my teacher.
On other OU related things, I'm still waiting for my M362 results that now are said to be published around 6th Dec the sooner, the OU sent yesterday an email that indicates that there could even be further delays. M362 is the module I want to base my project on so I need to wait until I have the results (hopefully a Distinction) to be able to fill the form that will help me to have a teacher assigned.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
OU printed materials available on demand
The OU has reached an agreement in October this year to start with 10 modules to pilot the process so those ones needing the books or preferring them can still have them for a small charge.
More info here: http://news.kmi.open.ac.uk/82/245
and here: http://news.kmi.open.ac.uk/rostra/news.php?r=82&t=2&id=231
Unfortunately for me B201 does not appear in this initial list but during next year I will contact them before I register on it, hopefully I will have a printed copy available then (or at least a PDF copy).
Only 3 weeks to the official results date and currently reading about the Master during what it is my first holidays without a TMA around.
I'm finishing now with the highlighting (and my second reading) of the book "Projects in Computing and Information Systems. A Student's Guide", Christian W. Dawson.I find it very enlightening regarding the project process.
I'm trying to have all my highlighting done before the project module opens this 19th Nov. (The OU delayed the starting date from 10th Sept to 19th Nov.).
More info here: http://news.kmi.open.ac.uk/82/245
and here: http://news.kmi.open.ac.uk/rostra/news.php?r=82&t=2&id=231
Unfortunately for me B201 does not appear in this initial list but during next year I will contact them before I register on it, hopefully I will have a printed copy available then (or at least a PDF copy).
Only 3 weeks to the official results date and currently reading about the Master during what it is my first holidays without a TMA around.
I'm finishing now with the highlighting (and my second reading) of the book "Projects in Computing and Information Systems. A Student's Guide", Christian W. Dawson.I find it very enlightening regarding the project process.
I'm trying to have all my highlighting done before the project module opens this 19th Nov. (The OU delayed the starting date from 10th Sept to 19th Nov.).
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Crazy as hell
I have been thinking about giving the step forwards professionally and about preparing myself for a Project Manager or a Team Leader role.
It's not that I do not like the Senior Web Developer role I have been into since several years now, in fact I like it but this is about personal and professional development, finding new challenges and learning new interesting things.
Yesterday a colleague told me that some people can go 'stir crazy' for being doing the same thing again and again at work as that will make them feel demotivated. I feel that the best way to avoid it is to put oneself in situations that will bring new learning to your table and keep your enthusiasm alive.
I contacted The OU on 12th Oct. regarding their Foundation Degree in Leadership and Management (G08), mainly asking if I would be considered a continuing student after finishing my degree in 2014, being so able to use my Business modules to do the foundation degree without adapting to the new structure, provided I finish my foundation degree before 2017.
After some confusion - where they thought I was asking for an extension of my transitional arrangements when that wasn't the case at all - everything is clear now and even when I was only asking to be able to decide accordingly in a future they took action and yesterday I received an email indicating they have already linked all my correspondent completed business modules now to the foundation degree (all the first level modules are done now, they even selected the free module for it without asking which would be the module I would like to use but curiously they selected the one I would have selected). It will be more than £2,500 per module as only two 60 credits modules left for me to claim it and I really need to think about it before deciding anyway.
At the same time, and in part because The OU took so much time to reply, I have been looking around for optional studies that could fit better to my professional aspirations and I have found a Masters degree that looks even better than the Foundation degree the OU offers because is IT specific.
I'm now crazy trying to see if I can fit all my studies and make them all :-), if it would be convenient for me not to go for some of them or what. I also have pending the top up degree and I'm still searching for online IT top up degrees with good modules.
What a cooking pot life is, I have all the time 1000 things going around and I'm always saying that I want my life back and have a rest but always engaging in new learning challenges. I have started to accept that this (studying all the time) is really my life and that what have happened before was really the unusual bit.
I have also enrolled in an online Maryland University course that will start on 6th Jan and will help me with my project idea's programming needs. There is also another course from Vancouver University in March that seems to top up the Maryland one so I need to think about it as well.
So many things one can do but we just have one life to do them.
Will all the trade-offs we do during life count as a coin in the other side to buy a ticket to come back and do the things that we left aside? :-)
It's not that I do not like the Senior Web Developer role I have been into since several years now, in fact I like it but this is about personal and professional development, finding new challenges and learning new interesting things.
Yesterday a colleague told me that some people can go 'stir crazy' for being doing the same thing again and again at work as that will make them feel demotivated. I feel that the best way to avoid it is to put oneself in situations that will bring new learning to your table and keep your enthusiasm alive.
I contacted The OU on 12th Oct. regarding their Foundation Degree in Leadership and Management (G08), mainly asking if I would be considered a continuing student after finishing my degree in 2014, being so able to use my Business modules to do the foundation degree without adapting to the new structure, provided I finish my foundation degree before 2017.
After some confusion - where they thought I was asking for an extension of my transitional arrangements when that wasn't the case at all - everything is clear now and even when I was only asking to be able to decide accordingly in a future they took action and yesterday I received an email indicating they have already linked all my correspondent completed business modules now to the foundation degree (all the first level modules are done now, they even selected the free module for it without asking which would be the module I would like to use but curiously they selected the one I would have selected). It will be more than £2,500 per module as only two 60 credits modules left for me to claim it and I really need to think about it before deciding anyway.
At the same time, and in part because The OU took so much time to reply, I have been looking around for optional studies that could fit better to my professional aspirations and I have found a Masters degree that looks even better than the Foundation degree the OU offers because is IT specific.
I'm now crazy trying to see if I can fit all my studies and make them all :-), if it would be convenient for me not to go for some of them or what. I also have pending the top up degree and I'm still searching for online IT top up degrees with good modules.
What a cooking pot life is, I have all the time 1000 things going around and I'm always saying that I want my life back and have a rest but always engaging in new learning challenges. I have started to accept that this (studying all the time) is really my life and that what have happened before was really the unusual bit.
I have also enrolled in an online Maryland University course that will start on 6th Jan and will help me with my project idea's programming needs. There is also another course from Vancouver University in March that seems to top up the Maryland one so I need to think about it as well.
So many things one can do but we just have one life to do them.
Will all the trade-offs we do during life count as a coin in the other side to buy a ticket to come back and do the things that we left aside? :-)
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
I have broken the loop for good!!
Today I have received my M362 TMA03 result and I have achieved a 90%!!.
M362 This year: TMA01:88%, TMA02:87%, TMA03: 90%
M363 Last year was TMA01:88%, TMA02:87%, TMA03: 80%
I have broken the Déjà vu!!
Three months of hard work just for 3% more than the previous one that was done in 12 days. Explaining theory is not my best skill and I have sweated blood with this TMA, reviewing it over and over again up to the point I knew it by heart. I did 16 different versions of this TMA before I was sure enough I couldn't improve anything else.
I can now tell that once I sit my exam on 7th October I would have sat all my BSc (Hons) Computing exams with the option to have a Distinction in place. Unfortunately the materialisation of that option hasn't been easy at level 3 for me, having sat two exams seriously ill (M359 and M364) and achieving an 81% last year in my M363 exam but... let's see how it goes this time :-).
It's a big true that 88% on OCAS is not the best average I have ever had, it's not even the best average I have had at level 3 either but it's over 85% and that is the only thing that really matters.
For a Distinction I need yet to make it real at the exam hall on 7th October and that is the hard bit of all this.
August it's being a very busy month (as it is every year for me, for some reason) but I'm already studying for the exam.
M362 This year: TMA01:88%, TMA02:87%, TMA03: 90%
M363 Last year was TMA01:88%, TMA02:87%, TMA03: 80%
I have broken the Déjà vu!!
Three months of hard work just for 3% more than the previous one that was done in 12 days. Explaining theory is not my best skill and I have sweated blood with this TMA, reviewing it over and over again up to the point I knew it by heart. I did 16 different versions of this TMA before I was sure enough I couldn't improve anything else.
I can now tell that once I sit my exam on 7th October I would have sat all my BSc (Hons) Computing exams with the option to have a Distinction in place. Unfortunately the materialisation of that option hasn't been easy at level 3 for me, having sat two exams seriously ill (M359 and M364) and achieving an 81% last year in my M363 exam but... let's see how it goes this time :-).
It's a big true that 88% on OCAS is not the best average I have ever had, it's not even the best average I have had at level 3 either but it's over 85% and that is the only thing that really matters.
For a Distinction I need yet to make it real at the exam hall on 7th October and that is the hard bit of all this.
August it's being a very busy month (as it is every year for me, for some reason) but I'm already studying for the exam.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Sweet and sour bittersweet
Sour:
Yesterday the University I have been chasing during two years to top up my degree changed the degree name to exactly the same name The OU uses for its flexible degree. I was trying to escape from that name since 2010 but that name follows me.
I feel I'm jinxed on this, cannot I just have the degrees with the names I want for God sake?
I contacted them trying to see if I can claim the old degree instead of the new one. It's not possible, I have stopped my application process yesterday and I'm back to point zero in my research on finding a University that would offer this degree online (with good modules if possible).
Only one Uni found at the moment and it was the one I discarded in favour of "the mutator one" :-).
This is very sad for me, the Uni had no exams, had a very good approach to the materials, fantastic modules, it's one of the UK Universities with the highest percentage of people going into work straight away after they finish...and it's even cheaper than The OU.
Sweet:
My M263 results have been published. I got a 88% OES, with a 91% OCAS. Providing that I finish all my modules on time I have now mathematically a 2:1 degree. Just having a 40% in the two modules I have ahead that will be the minimum grade I will be having.
Now I have 10% of probability to have a First, 90% to have a 2:1.
The new unofficial table is as follows:
Yesterday the University I have been chasing during two years to top up my degree changed the degree name to exactly the same name The OU uses for its flexible degree. I was trying to escape from that name since 2010 but that name follows me.
I feel I'm jinxed on this, cannot I just have the degrees with the names I want for God sake?
I contacted them trying to see if I can claim the old degree instead of the new one. It's not possible, I have stopped my application process yesterday and I'm back to point zero in my research on finding a University that would offer this degree online (with good modules if possible).
Only one Uni found at the moment and it was the one I discarded in favour of "the mutator one" :-).
This is very sad for me, the Uni had no exams, had a very good approach to the materials, fantastic modules, it's one of the UK Universities with the highest percentage of people going into work straight away after they finish...and it's even cheaper than The OU.
Sweet:
My M263 results have been published. I got a 88% OES, with a 91% OCAS. Providing that I finish all my modules on time I have now mathematically a 2:1 degree. Just having a 40% in the two modules I have ahead that will be the minimum grade I will be having.
Now I have 10% of probability to have a First, 90% to have a 2:1.
The new unofficial table is as follows:
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Repeating myself
M363 Last year was TMA01:88%, TMA02:87%, TMA03: 80%
M362 This year: TMA01:88%, TMA02:87%
In both modules the same tutor was assigned to me as well (I'm very pleased that's the case as my tutor feedback when marking is high level quality).
Can you see the pattern? LOL.
87%, Not bad for exactly 12 days of work - for the Units and TMA all inclusive - but a bit annoyed that I always make the same mistakes (repeating myself again).
My weakest point is not the programming bit, that part is always graded as excellent, it is to explain things in assessments, it's not that I do not know them well, it's that I always assume some parts are so evident that do not really need an explanation and other times I just do not explain part of something because other thing or perspective was asked but as my tutor perfectly explained in his feedback if I mention something I should give enough reasons for backing it up.
Everytime this happens to me I see myself crashing against a wall in TM470 next year ;-).
Let's be positive and see if I break the loop for good with my TMA03 and achieve higher than the 80% I did in M363 TMA03 last year, I'm not renouncing to have an 80%, at the contrary I wish I will have at least an 80% in my TMA03 this year as that will be the minimum to keep the Distinction opportunity for the exam (as it also was last year of course, even with different percentages in the grading distribution, I ended up having the same situation this year again with exactly the same TMA percentages). Déjà Vu to the maximum expression :-).
All in all, considering that only 27 days of study were dedicated for the first two TMAs I cannot be happier with the results, I'm just a bit frustrated for not having more time to dedicate to this module I think. I'm really enjoying it.
If everything goes according to plan I would be uploading the TMA circa 3 months in advance this time. It was a month and 20 days advance for TMA02 but I would like to have those 3 months to dedicate seriously to review everything and prepare the exam very well. I do not want to make a bad TMA though, so I will upload it only when I'm happy with my work on it, even if I need to wait until the cut-off date...priorities are clear, let's hope everything goes fine and I have a good result.
Currently I'm already highlighting the Units for my TMA03, first unit already done, second unit in process. 3 days working on TMA03 for now.
Let's go!
M362 This year: TMA01:88%, TMA02:87%
In both modules the same tutor was assigned to me as well (I'm very pleased that's the case as my tutor feedback when marking is high level quality).
Can you see the pattern? LOL.
87%, Not bad for exactly 12 days of work - for the Units and TMA all inclusive - but a bit annoyed that I always make the same mistakes (repeating myself again).
My weakest point is not the programming bit, that part is always graded as excellent, it is to explain things in assessments, it's not that I do not know them well, it's that I always assume some parts are so evident that do not really need an explanation and other times I just do not explain part of something because other thing or perspective was asked but as my tutor perfectly explained in his feedback if I mention something I should give enough reasons for backing it up.
Everytime this happens to me I see myself crashing against a wall in TM470 next year ;-).
Let's be positive and see if I break the loop for good with my TMA03 and achieve higher than the 80% I did in M363 TMA03 last year, I'm not renouncing to have an 80%, at the contrary I wish I will have at least an 80% in my TMA03 this year as that will be the minimum to keep the Distinction opportunity for the exam (as it also was last year of course, even with different percentages in the grading distribution, I ended up having the same situation this year again with exactly the same TMA percentages). Déjà Vu to the maximum expression :-).
All in all, considering that only 27 days of study were dedicated for the first two TMAs I cannot be happier with the results, I'm just a bit frustrated for not having more time to dedicate to this module I think. I'm really enjoying it.
If everything goes according to plan I would be uploading the TMA circa 3 months in advance this time. It was a month and 20 days advance for TMA02 but I would like to have those 3 months to dedicate seriously to review everything and prepare the exam very well. I do not want to make a bad TMA though, so I will upload it only when I'm happy with my work on it, even if I need to wait until the cut-off date...priorities are clear, let's hope everything goes fine and I have a good result.
Currently I'm already highlighting the Units for my TMA03, first unit already done, second unit in process. 3 days working on TMA03 for now.
Let's go!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Uncertainty but with some good points and a lot of hope
The University I'm going to do the top-up of my Dip HE Comp & IT is now doing changes to their planned modules. The contents will be unveiled near September. I now do not know if they will change the module contents as well or not.
I liked the old modules and their practical approach, they were the reason for me to decide to study with them, now everything is a bit uncertain until they will publish the new structure.
For now I know they are going to increase the number of credits per module from 15 to 20 and thus will be reducing the number of modules in the top-up year from 8 to 6. I also know that they are now asking for an English qualification for foreign students.
Another good point with this degree is that from the 8 modules they had they only had 1 exam (that was equivalent to the 40% of the module grade only!). That was another reason for me to select them as even when I do not fear exams at all I was searching for a practical approach that would allow me to use the knowledge in my day-by-day work at the same time I was learning it.
Good points: I will have less modules meaning I probably will reduce a year of studies.
Hope: I just hope they accept that if I have finished an undergraduate degree already with a good grade that demonstrates I can study another undergraduate level in English and would accept my application without any academic English qualification exam to be sit. Should that's not the case I will probably search for another University that be more open minded on this point as I just do not want to have to waste 6 months - or a year - of my life going to an academy course just to pass a stupid exam I do not need at all.
I also hope the modules I liked the most still remain in the new structure.
I'm happy these changes are happening before I'm going into the degree instead of while I'm inside. I do not want to live the situation of starting a degree that is being created on the fly so I will probably wait to finish my BSc with The OU before starting it, leaving them another year to define their modules and have them all in place.
I liked the old modules and their practical approach, they were the reason for me to decide to study with them, now everything is a bit uncertain until they will publish the new structure.
For now I know they are going to increase the number of credits per module from 15 to 20 and thus will be reducing the number of modules in the top-up year from 8 to 6. I also know that they are now asking for an English qualification for foreign students.
Another good point with this degree is that from the 8 modules they had they only had 1 exam (that was equivalent to the 40% of the module grade only!). That was another reason for me to select them as even when I do not fear exams at all I was searching for a practical approach that would allow me to use the knowledge in my day-by-day work at the same time I was learning it.
Good points: I will have less modules meaning I probably will reduce a year of studies.
Hope: I just hope they accept that if I have finished an undergraduate degree already with a good grade that demonstrates I can study another undergraduate level in English and would accept my application without any academic English qualification exam to be sit. Should that's not the case I will probably search for another University that be more open minded on this point as I just do not want to have to waste 6 months - or a year - of my life going to an academy course just to pass a stupid exam I do not need at all.
I also hope the modules I liked the most still remain in the new structure.
I'm happy these changes are happening before I'm going into the degree instead of while I'm inside. I do not want to live the situation of starting a degree that is being created on the fly so I will probably wait to finish my BSc with The OU before starting it, leaving them another year to define their modules and have them all in place.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Transitional arrangements
I have registered today for TM470.
In fact, I had to do it anyway if I want to keep the transitional arrangements and next year is also the last one for me to claim my degree, so unless I die before 9th January I would have done it sooner or later.
I did it as a way of forcing myself to look forwards instead of feeling that even small situations are perceived as things that repeat themselves in a infinite loop that I would like to break for once and forever (see yesterday post).
Replanning has now (hopefully) finished for me.
From now until I complete M263, M362 and TM470 I just hope The OU doesn't make any changes in their rules that could avoid me to claim my degree in December 2014. I honestly cannot cope with more changes or replanning again.
I just want this to finish well (no issues, no surprises, no more bad news or changes) and then my brain will delete all the not-so-good things as it normally does and I will remember the fantastic academic level The OU provides, the freedom of studying online, the moment when I decided to study with The Open University, I will face what will mean for me as a person to have reached what it was probably my dream since I was 12 y.o., etc.
But overall I will remember all the people that have helped me to be the person I am and that somehow my goal is theirs as well. Those that passed away and those that are still with me, without their love and support I would have never reached the point I'm now nor have the opportunity to culminate my dream.
Just a bit more than a year and a half in front of me for all that to be a reality.
In fact, I had to do it anyway if I want to keep the transitional arrangements and next year is also the last one for me to claim my degree, so unless I die before 9th January I would have done it sooner or later.
I did it as a way of forcing myself to look forwards instead of feeling that even small situations are perceived as things that repeat themselves in a infinite loop that I would like to break for once and forever (see yesterday post).
Replanning has now (hopefully) finished for me.
From now until I complete M263, M362 and TM470 I just hope The OU doesn't make any changes in their rules that could avoid me to claim my degree in December 2014. I honestly cannot cope with more changes or replanning again.
I just want this to finish well (no issues, no surprises, no more bad news or changes) and then my brain will delete all the not-so-good things as it normally does and I will remember the fantastic academic level The OU provides, the freedom of studying online, the moment when I decided to study with The Open University, I will face what will mean for me as a person to have reached what it was probably my dream since I was 12 y.o., etc.
But overall I will remember all the people that have helped me to be the person I am and that somehow my goal is theirs as well. Those that passed away and those that are still with me, without their love and support I would have never reached the point I'm now nor have the opportunity to culminate my dream.
Just a bit more than a year and a half in front of me for all that to be a reality.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Unnecessary automatic substitution?...again?
My results in the M263 TMAs are already released (TMA01: 88%, TMA02:93%, TMA03: 90%, TMA04: 91%). Grading (OCAS) before substitution: 91%. Grading (OCAS) after substitution: 91%.
(drums) Ladies and gentlemen, once again in my life: Unnecessary substitution!
It happens to you when the grading in a module before and after substitution is applied is exactly the same but not all your TMA gradings are the same.
First of all, I think substitution is not a help at all else a way of masking mediocrity. How many times people that is not good at something have appeared as they are just because of substitution? How many of those helped by substitution would have jump in a job queue over others that have had the same grades in a different country where substitution didn't apply? How many of the "helped" ones that didn't need the substitution at all have been harmed by the unnecessary textual "gift" added? If one of your TMAs is at 50% level why should other TMAs compensate your ignorance in that part?
I hope that this time The OU has solved their issue and it doesn't appear the mention "(Substitution applied)" in my module description document.
The OU has "gifted" me with the textual mention already in other 3 modules I have completed 2 years ago, where my grading before and after that "substitution" was the same (M255: 94%, M364: 90%, M256: 88%).
In fact the only real substitution I have had in all my OU studies was in M359 that year also where a 91.25% was converted into a 92% (oh, thank you ever so much indeed for such a huge difference).
Just to start: Did I really need any kind of substitution in those cases? For a Distinction only 85% is needed ...wasn't really clear for the OU that I did not need any "help"? Second, if my grading before and after is the same what substitution has been applied? Third, what kind of help is adding a "substitution applied" text in a case like this? Fourth, why is not allowed to opt out of substitution? IMHO They are harming hardworking individuals through those mentions in their academic statement records, benefiting only the mediocre ones through the substitution practice.
The issue with the mention seems to be due to an OU rule stating that if not all your TMA grades are EXACTLY the same this textual mention will appear because the substitution system will fire (even if the system has really not added any value to you with the substitution!).
Sometimes I wonder if the person that dictates this kind of rules really thought about all the possible scenarios and decided that in a case like this the system would include the textual mention anyway or if it's a bug.
Just a helpful code in case it's a bug:
if (valueBeforeSubstitution != valueAfterSubstitution) then {
//print the "helpful" mention only in this case.
//No worries, the other cases do not need your "help", believe me
}
Coding that was easy, isn't it...well, not if we look at how The OU answered my email two years ago when I contacted them regarding this case. They replied me inviting me to use a form that is in place to claim should you're not happy with your grading.
...and that wasn't exactly the case, was it?
(drums) Ladies and gentlemen, once again in my life: Unnecessary substitution!
It happens to you when the grading in a module before and after substitution is applied is exactly the same but not all your TMA gradings are the same.
First of all, I think substitution is not a help at all else a way of masking mediocrity. How many times people that is not good at something have appeared as they are just because of substitution? How many of those helped by substitution would have jump in a job queue over others that have had the same grades in a different country where substitution didn't apply? How many of the "helped" ones that didn't need the substitution at all have been harmed by the unnecessary textual "gift" added? If one of your TMAs is at 50% level why should other TMAs compensate your ignorance in that part?
I hope that this time The OU has solved their issue and it doesn't appear the mention "(Substitution applied)" in my module description document.
The OU has "gifted" me with the textual mention already in other 3 modules I have completed 2 years ago, where my grading before and after that "substitution" was the same (M255: 94%, M364: 90%, M256: 88%).
In fact the only real substitution I have had in all my OU studies was in M359 that year also where a 91.25% was converted into a 92% (oh, thank you ever so much indeed for such a huge difference).
Just to start: Did I really need any kind of substitution in those cases? For a Distinction only 85% is needed ...wasn't really clear for the OU that I did not need any "help"? Second, if my grading before and after is the same what substitution has been applied? Third, what kind of help is adding a "substitution applied" text in a case like this? Fourth, why is not allowed to opt out of substitution? IMHO They are harming hardworking individuals through those mentions in their academic statement records, benefiting only the mediocre ones through the substitution practice.
The issue with the mention seems to be due to an OU rule stating that if not all your TMA grades are EXACTLY the same this textual mention will appear because the substitution system will fire (even if the system has really not added any value to you with the substitution!).
Sometimes I wonder if the person that dictates this kind of rules really thought about all the possible scenarios and decided that in a case like this the system would include the textual mention anyway or if it's a bug.
Just a helpful code in case it's a bug:
if (valueBeforeSubstitution != valueAfterSubstitution) then {
//print the "helpful" mention only in this case.
//No worries, the other cases do not need your "help", believe me
}
Coding that was easy, isn't it...well, not if we look at how The OU answered my email two years ago when I contacted them regarding this case. They replied me inviting me to use a form that is in place to claim should you're not happy with your grading.
...and that wasn't exactly the case, was it?
Alea iacta est
The dice are cast.
My M362 TMA02 has been already marked two days ago but I will need to wait exactly a month (26th June) to know my resultant grade on that. In this case every TMA will decide if I can continue to dream with a Distinction at level 3 or not and therefore if I can keep dreaming on a First degree or not. So the dice will need to be cast again just if this time I was a winner.
In a certain way it would be a relief if the distinction option disappears for M362 as it would mean I just need to focus on having a 2:1 degree and that is almost already done. In fact, if I achieve a distinction in M263 this June - I have now that option as yesterday my results were published and I achieved a 91% in the TMA04 - I mathematically will have a 2:1 degree just passing M362 and TM470 (just a Grade 4 is needed in such a case). On the other hand it would be a great disappointment to have done so many efforts and renounce to so many things and finally end up with something I could have reached doing half the effort. "Pathetic" would be a great term to define that situation.
My M362 TMA02 has been already marked two days ago but I will need to wait exactly a month (26th June) to know my resultant grade on that. In this case every TMA will decide if I can continue to dream with a Distinction at level 3 or not and therefore if I can keep dreaming on a First degree or not. So the dice will need to be cast again just if this time I was a winner.
In a certain way it would be a relief if the distinction option disappears for M362 as it would mean I just need to focus on having a 2:1 degree and that is almost already done. In fact, if I achieve a distinction in M263 this June - I have now that option as yesterday my results were published and I achieved a 91% in the TMA04 - I mathematically will have a 2:1 degree just passing M362 and TM470 (just a Grade 4 is needed in such a case). On the other hand it would be a great disappointment to have done so many efforts and renounce to so many things and finally end up with something I could have reached doing half the effort. "Pathetic" would be a great term to define that situation.
Friday, May 3, 2013
TMAing during holidays
I'm almost finishing M362 TMA02, only some theory question counting for 10% of the TMA remains and I'm now again on track with my study plans... this is a good point.
To do this I have been working very hard to end M263 TMA04 exactly the day before (21st April) I took my holidays to come to Gran Canaria to visit my family.
I'm here since 22nd April, coming back tomorrow and during my stay here what have I done?
Did I go to the lovely beaches? Did I visit 100 friends and partied all day?
Nop, I highligthed the first Unit of this TMA in the airplane while coming and have been working very hard on my M362 TMA02 since then, so I can now study for my M263 exam in my return, 39 days free of interruptions to dedicate to M263 exam preparation!!.
Wow!! It does sound fantastic, doesn't it? I hope you can feel the irony in my writen words. Welcome to my OU life :-)
Even better, I have just enough time now to end the remaining bits before fliying tomorrow, I will arrive at UK at 4:05am on Sunday morning and start studying for the exam from 5th or 6th May onwards. Coming back to work on 7th.
For sure you just hate me for how fortunate I am (and feel right now) after such great lovely holidays in a paradise that one can see through the window of the "office".
I know all of you are green of envy reading this, LOL!
At least I have enjoyed time with my family while they were around and just one TMA remains for this year. These are also good points.
"Let's see the bottle half filled" and carry on... or I will cut my veins :-).
To do this I have been working very hard to end M263 TMA04 exactly the day before (21st April) I took my holidays to come to Gran Canaria to visit my family.
I'm here since 22nd April, coming back tomorrow and during my stay here what have I done?
Did I go to the lovely beaches? Did I visit 100 friends and partied all day?
Nop, I highligthed the first Unit of this TMA in the airplane while coming and have been working very hard on my M362 TMA02 since then, so I can now study for my M263 exam in my return, 39 days free of interruptions to dedicate to M263 exam preparation!!.
Wow!! It does sound fantastic, doesn't it? I hope you can feel the irony in my writen words. Welcome to my OU life :-)
Even better, I have just enough time now to end the remaining bits before fliying tomorrow, I will arrive at UK at 4:05am on Sunday morning and start studying for the exam from 5th or 6th May onwards. Coming back to work on 7th.
For sure you just hate me for how fortunate I am (and feel right now) after such great lovely holidays in a paradise that one can see through the window of the "office".
I know all of you are green of envy reading this, LOL!
At least I have enjoyed time with my family while they were around and just one TMA remains for this year. These are also good points.
"Let's see the bottle half filled" and carry on... or I will cut my veins :-).
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Déjà Vu
My result for M362 TMA01 was published today and I had an 88%. This is the same grade I had in the M263 TMA01 and also in the first TMA of M363 last year.
A real Déjà Vu!
Not the paradise but good to know I still keep over the 85%. I cannot say I'm jumping for joy with a mark like this but considering how busy I am at the moment with my job responsibilities, that I only dedicated 15 days to it and all that I will consider it a good one.
I just hope my marks in M362 this year are a bit better than the ones I had in M363 last year were I ended up achieving just a 85% in OCAS (88 | 87 | 80) and a 81% in the OES.
Let's see if I have the elusive Distinction at level 3 this time. :-)
A real Déjà Vu!
Not the paradise but good to know I still keep over the 85%. I cannot say I'm jumping for joy with a mark like this but considering how busy I am at the moment with my job responsibilities, that I only dedicated 15 days to it and all that I will consider it a good one.
I just hope my marks in M362 this year are a bit better than the ones I had in M363 last year were I ended up achieving just a 85% in OCAS (88 | 87 | 80) and a 81% in the OES.
Let's see if I have the elusive Distinction at level 3 this time. :-)
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Question marks
I have just received my M263 TMA03 results two days ago and I had a 90%, this means that I only need now a 53% in TMA04 to keep the Distinction option for the exam. I have never had such a low mark in any TMA during the 4 years I have been studying with The OU so I assume it's very doable to sit the exam with the Distinction option in place.
A completely different thing will be to have more than 85% in the exam in June. If that would happen my classification table would be reduced to its first column and I officially would be in route towards what is called in UK a good degree (a First or a 2:1 Honours degree classification).
Today I'm already highlighting Unit 15 (out of 16) of M263, the last one I will need for TMA04 (due on 16 May) as Unit 16 is assessed at the exam only. So, I calculate I will be uploading the last TMA soon with more or less one month in advance. That will allow me to concentrate on preparing the exam and doing the TMA02 for M362.
Now that I mention M362, I uploaded M362 TMA01 on 1st April (15 days in advance), my tutor marked it straightaway (2nd April) and it's now waiting to be released (probably on 17th April).
So, some question marks are still to be unveiled in the next months but for now is good to dream a bit about it. That is to say, the other columns of my classification table are still there but small-dreaming like this provides motivation :-)
Saturday, March 23, 2013
The end of the tunnel
Yesterday the OU has finally published the pricing for the next academic year modules.
TM470 will cost me £795.00, making a total of £6435.00 with each penny paid from my pocket and a huge amount of hours studying plus a very long list of trade-offs in pro of a dream (that I honestly prefer not to list here) some of them having consequences for me at work and in my personal life.
Once I finish - on Dec 2014 - I will have done:
53 TMAs
3 TMA00s including real TMA exercises
5 EMAs
4 CMAs
6 iCMAs
8 Exams
...And 5 years of my life will have almost passed in front of University units but the hardest bit of all this is not reflected in any of the amounts expressed above. All of the above is fine for me and I'm happy I took the decision of studying for my degrees back in 2009.
2009 was a very good year, everything was going as planned and things seemed very possible then. For me, the hardest part in all this process has happened after the OU informed us in November 2010 that they were going to introduce a new flexible degree that would get rid of the current BSc Computing I was studying. They introduced a limit for us to claim our degrees (Dec 2014) and it was initially decided that only one degree could be under transitional arrangements (and also some other limitations). That destroyed my initial plans of studying for B44 and B29 and obliged me to choose to study for B29 hoping that I would be able to adapt to the replacement for B44 afterwards and end both degrees as I initially planned (first replan).
At the beginning of my second year I had to renounce(/decide not) to study some B44 modules to focus on B29 only as it was decided that the modules selected should be related to the degree we would be going for (and replanned again), after my second year I had to renounce also to the idea of claiming the equivalent to B44 after I was informed in a forum by another student that to claim two degrees one should have 120 credits at level 3 not counted for any other degree qualification, I double checked with the OU and the student was 100% right and so I accepted that I couldn't change my reality...and replanned accordingly.
The reason is that the new flexible degree introduced has only 90 credits available at level 3 without counting the project, due to the introduction of U101 at first level the replacement for B44 only offers 90credits at that level without any option of taking a 3 level module as free credits. So, I could not claim B44 (due to it expiring in 2014 while I was studying for B29) nor take the new replacement afterwards due to the above limit and the fact that The OU do not allow to repeat any modules. As the project would be the same module I already took for B29 I wanted to double check if that rule was applicable to it as well; I asked specifically for this situation and I was told that the rule also holds for TM470, even when the project would be different. So B44 and its replacement were out of my league forever.
As if my life would be a big joke, in June last year The OU gave an opportunity to people that would like to have a second degree under transitional arrangements to apply for it, unfortunately it was already too late for me as I would have never been able to claim B44 nor its equivalent anyway.
Also, during this time The OU had published end dates for the modules that were part of the old degrees (now in transitional arrangements). I planned accordingly to the published dates and studied those modules at certain years, trying to avoid being forced to adapt to the new flexible degree, all this planning and replanning just to see how they extended the final date for those modules afterwards.
Am I happy to have decided to study with The OU? Overall yes but the process wasn't as I expected. I also feel frustration due to everything that has happened and all the adjustment and renouncing I have had to do due to it.
Would I define my experience with The OU as a good one? 60% Yes, The OU has given me the opportunity to acquire the equivalent to the Certificates and Diplomas I have from my Spanish studies and I would value that as very positive as now I have English official recognitions and that make it easier to explain what I have under my belt in job interviews, etc. If everything goes as expected I will also end up with a BSc (Hons) Computing in 2014, and with a Diploma in IT next June that will allow me to do a top-up year in another UK online University and claim a second degree once I finish it. So around a 60% of my initial dream is still there, I will not be able to study a Computing and Design degree as I initially tried to, not even do a top-up year into that studies branch but the Diploma in IT will allow me to go into a degree in another area I'm also interested into, so... I think 60% is a good grading that reflects my experience until today.
Would I have selected The OU to do my BSc (Hons) Computing if I would have known in 2009 that all the changes that have happened were going to happen? No, I would have preferred to study in other University that wouldn't have changed their study plans during my studies, just for the sake of avoiding so much replanning and unnecessary hassle. I have ended up sick of being notified of the change of the change after the change that changed something that was previously said it was X but now is Y and have to replan accordingly.
Would I study something else in a future with The OU? Yes, I probably would but with a completely different frame of mind; maybe something that if it ends up as I planned it's fine but that if it doesn't it's fine as well. Honestly, the quality level they offer (teachers, materials, etc.) is excelent and just that would already be a perfect reason to study with them at any time but I definitively would not do it under the same situation nor with the same perspective I faced my studies this time.
TM470 will cost me £795.00, making a total of £6435.00 with each penny paid from my pocket and a huge amount of hours studying plus a very long list of trade-offs in pro of a dream (that I honestly prefer not to list here) some of them having consequences for me at work and in my personal life.
Once I finish - on Dec 2014 - I will have done:
53 TMAs
3 TMA00s including real TMA exercises
5 EMAs
4 CMAs
6 iCMAs
8 Exams
...And 5 years of my life will have almost passed in front of University units but the hardest bit of all this is not reflected in any of the amounts expressed above. All of the above is fine for me and I'm happy I took the decision of studying for my degrees back in 2009.
2009 was a very good year, everything was going as planned and things seemed very possible then. For me, the hardest part in all this process has happened after the OU informed us in November 2010 that they were going to introduce a new flexible degree that would get rid of the current BSc Computing I was studying. They introduced a limit for us to claim our degrees (Dec 2014) and it was initially decided that only one degree could be under transitional arrangements (and also some other limitations). That destroyed my initial plans of studying for B44 and B29 and obliged me to choose to study for B29 hoping that I would be able to adapt to the replacement for B44 afterwards and end both degrees as I initially planned (first replan).
At the beginning of my second year I had to renounce(/decide not) to study some B44 modules to focus on B29 only as it was decided that the modules selected should be related to the degree we would be going for (and replanned again), after my second year I had to renounce also to the idea of claiming the equivalent to B44 after I was informed in a forum by another student that to claim two degrees one should have 120 credits at level 3 not counted for any other degree qualification, I double checked with the OU and the student was 100% right and so I accepted that I couldn't change my reality...and replanned accordingly.
The reason is that the new flexible degree introduced has only 90 credits available at level 3 without counting the project, due to the introduction of U101 at first level the replacement for B44 only offers 90credits at that level without any option of taking a 3 level module as free credits. So, I could not claim B44 (due to it expiring in 2014 while I was studying for B29) nor take the new replacement afterwards due to the above limit and the fact that The OU do not allow to repeat any modules. As the project would be the same module I already took for B29 I wanted to double check if that rule was applicable to it as well; I asked specifically for this situation and I was told that the rule also holds for TM470, even when the project would be different. So B44 and its replacement were out of my league forever.
As if my life would be a big joke, in June last year The OU gave an opportunity to people that would like to have a second degree under transitional arrangements to apply for it, unfortunately it was already too late for me as I would have never been able to claim B44 nor its equivalent anyway.
Also, during this time The OU had published end dates for the modules that were part of the old degrees (now in transitional arrangements). I planned accordingly to the published dates and studied those modules at certain years, trying to avoid being forced to adapt to the new flexible degree, all this planning and replanning just to see how they extended the final date for those modules afterwards.
Am I happy to have decided to study with The OU? Overall yes but the process wasn't as I expected. I also feel frustration due to everything that has happened and all the adjustment and renouncing I have had to do due to it.
Would I define my experience with The OU as a good one? 60% Yes, The OU has given me the opportunity to acquire the equivalent to the Certificates and Diplomas I have from my Spanish studies and I would value that as very positive as now I have English official recognitions and that make it easier to explain what I have under my belt in job interviews, etc. If everything goes as expected I will also end up with a BSc (Hons) Computing in 2014, and with a Diploma in IT next June that will allow me to do a top-up year in another UK online University and claim a second degree once I finish it. So around a 60% of my initial dream is still there, I will not be able to study a Computing and Design degree as I initially tried to, not even do a top-up year into that studies branch but the Diploma in IT will allow me to go into a degree in another area I'm also interested into, so... I think 60% is a good grading that reflects my experience until today.
Would I have selected The OU to do my BSc (Hons) Computing if I would have known in 2009 that all the changes that have happened were going to happen? No, I would have preferred to study in other University that wouldn't have changed their study plans during my studies, just for the sake of avoiding so much replanning and unnecessary hassle. I have ended up sick of being notified of the change of the change after the change that changed something that was previously said it was X but now is Y and have to replan accordingly.
Would I study something else in a future with The OU? Yes, I probably would but with a completely different frame of mind; maybe something that if it ends up as I planned it's fine but that if it doesn't it's fine as well. Honestly, the quality level they offer (teachers, materials, etc.) is excelent and just that would already be a perfect reason to study with them at any time but I definitively would not do it under the same situation nor with the same perspective I faced my studies this time.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
M263 TMA03 almost baked :-)
This will be one of the most "near the cut-off date" TMAs I have ever uploaded into my Student Home since 2009. I will yet need to do a spell-check and final presentational amendments to the TMA before that but I have finally considered it "almost baked" today.
Normally I upload my TMAs much sooner - sometimes even months before the cut-off date - but this time I'm not in that situation at all, and this is not due to the materials difficulty or something similar else due to my commitment to my new job as there have been a lot of weeks were I have worked between 45 and 53 hours in a week (those total hours do not include the lunch breaks) in the last months.
During this module the teachers had commented several times that part 3 and part 4 of the module are very hard but fortunately for me I consider this part the easiest by difference.
I have been working with Boolean logic almost during all my University life in Spain (during my IT and Telecommunications studies containing both Maths, Algebra, etc.). Part 3 of the M263 materials is a mix of Boolean logic, Databases and Testing!! :-).
Whatever my final grade on this TMA is I'm thankful to God for having the relieve of facing what I thought was an easy TMA at this busy time in my life.
Unfortunately even with that behind me I have now a bigger fish to fry as I need to do yet the TMA01 for M362 and my timing plan for having two months to prepare my M263 exam has already been totally smashed due to all the hours I have put at work.
Conclusion:
Shortly I will see myself trying to find time to prepare the M263 exam at the same time I do the TMA02 for M362...but at this time that is the far future, now I still need to deal with M362 TMA01 ...and days are substracting themselves from the calendar very fastly this year.
Oh, my! :-)
Normally I upload my TMAs much sooner - sometimes even months before the cut-off date - but this time I'm not in that situation at all, and this is not due to the materials difficulty or something similar else due to my commitment to my new job as there have been a lot of weeks were I have worked between 45 and 53 hours in a week (those total hours do not include the lunch breaks) in the last months.
During this module the teachers had commented several times that part 3 and part 4 of the module are very hard but fortunately for me I consider this part the easiest by difference.
I have been working with Boolean logic almost during all my University life in Spain (during my IT and Telecommunications studies containing both Maths, Algebra, etc.). Part 3 of the M263 materials is a mix of Boolean logic, Databases and Testing!! :-).
Whatever my final grade on this TMA is I'm thankful to God for having the relieve of facing what I thought was an easy TMA at this busy time in my life.
Unfortunately even with that behind me I have now a bigger fish to fry as I need to do yet the TMA01 for M362 and my timing plan for having two months to prepare my M263 exam has already been totally smashed due to all the hours I have put at work.
Conclusion:
Shortly I will see myself trying to find time to prepare the M263 exam at the same time I do the TMA02 for M362...but at this time that is the far future, now I still need to deal with M362 TMA01 ...and days are substracting themselves from the calendar very fastly this year.
Oh, my! :-)
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Studying with or without physical books, that is the question
Yesterday I went into the M362 forum to discover a message regarding the intention of The OU to replace the physical materials (books, etc.) with online materials only.
It seems to be the debate started in a Science forum and it has been said that The OU has confirmed its intention to go 'paperless' (the term 'paperless' is my way of describing it, not that I'm aware it appears in the conversations).
If some of you want to add your voice to let The OU know you prefer to have physical books provided there is an epetition here:
http://oubooks12.epetitions.net/
Please note that I have no direct relation with the epetition website or this epetition in particular. I have signed it as I believe what they are trying to achieve is positive for future students and my only interest with this post is to let you know it exists.
It seems to be the debate started in a Science forum and it has been said that The OU has confirmed its intention to go 'paperless' (the term 'paperless' is my way of describing it, not that I'm aware it appears in the conversations).
If some of you want to add your voice to let The OU know you prefer to have physical books provided there is an epetition here:
http://oubooks12.epetitions.net/
Please note that I have no direct relation with the epetition website or this epetition in particular. I have signed it as I believe what they are trying to achieve is positive for future students and my only interest with this post is to let you know it exists.
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