I'm now the owner of a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computing, Upper Second-class Honours (2.1).
As if this would be a game of the destiny I had a Distinction (87%) on my project module.
It's like if life would like to add an eternal itchy and torture me on the fact that if I would have had just a 4% more in M362 and/or M363 I would have achieved a First but true is that my mind is anywhere else but on my BSc achievement and that I don't have that itchy at all.
I have so different plans for my life and my future now, based on my current Project Management studies that I honestly did not feel anything yesterday apart from the "ok, it's finished and now I can progress on my masters and change my life forever".
I have been programming since I'm 12 y.o. and I honestly want to try something else. I see the completion of my degree as the last bit that closes my past allowing me so to continue with my preparation for my future and that's why the degree in itself is not so important for me anymore.
That's it really.
The kind of reflection that normally everyone writes when they finished I did it long time ago here:
http://bscbefore31dec2014.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-end-of-tunnel.html
That is still valid, if you're interested feel free to read it.
I think I'm also done with the OU as my current plans pass more for the PM side of things than for achieving my Diploma in Leadership and Management with the OU. In fact I have found a University in Scotland that offers a Masters in Leadership and Management (2.5 years part-time) that has very good modules ...and it's even cheaper that doing the two modules of the Dip Leadership and Management with the OU!
I probably will go for it once I finish my Masters in IT Project Management in 4 years from now (yes, it's a double masters and it takes 4 years part time).
So, this is me with (masters) study plans for the next 4 - 6.5 years.
Showing posts with label TM470. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TM470. Show all posts
Friday, November 28, 2014
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Awaiting my results
That was it.
I have uploaded my EMA some hours ago and my mind is not with The OU stuff now.
I will start a Masters in Project Management after my results are out and another one in IT Project Management next August.
Now I'm starting to prepare (again) my PRINCE2 certification exam that I will be sitting next 18th October. I had to stop my preparation due to the high demand of dedication requested by TM470 so now that is over I wanted to take profit of my free time before my Masters starts at the end of November to achieve the PRINCE2 certification.
Stay tuned.
I have uploaded my EMA some hours ago and my mind is not with The OU stuff now.
I will start a Masters in Project Management after my results are out and another one in IT Project Management next August.
Now I'm starting to prepare (again) my PRINCE2 certification exam that I will be sitting next 18th October. I had to stop my preparation due to the high demand of dedication requested by TM470 so now that is over I wanted to take profit of my free time before my Masters starts at the end of November to achieve the PRINCE2 certification.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Just a month
...and it will be over. ;-)
Working a lot of hours per week on this module (again) as finally I have to re-structure my document into the EMA anyway. The idea progressing a document at all times during the module instead of doing separated TMAs was to avoid this step but finally I had so much information in my last TMA that I need to do a lot of work at this stage as well.
Under pressure at the moment but looking at the light at the end of the tunnel that is now starting to get shape as a way of relieving part of that pressure and find strength to get forwards. Hopefully the tunnel will not crash on December just before I go out :-).
I'm now thinking about not progressing my Foundation degree in Leadership and Management next year else studying seriously for the PRINCE2 certifications that I needed to stop last year to dedicate myself entirely to the project this year and then I will be starting my MSc in August 2015 (if the Uni accepts me) as I cannot start sooner.
Keep calm and carry on.
Working a lot of hours per week on this module (again) as finally I have to re-structure my document into the EMA anyway. The idea progressing a document at all times during the module instead of doing separated TMAs was to avoid this step but finally I had so much information in my last TMA that I need to do a lot of work at this stage as well.
Under pressure at the moment but looking at the light at the end of the tunnel that is now starting to get shape as a way of relieving part of that pressure and find strength to get forwards. Hopefully the tunnel will not crash on December just before I go out :-).
I'm now thinking about not progressing my Foundation degree in Leadership and Management next year else studying seriously for the PRINCE2 certifications that I needed to stop last year to dedicate myself entirely to the project this year and then I will be starting my MSc in August 2015 (if the Uni accepts me) as I cannot start sooner.
Keep calm and carry on.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Now only the EMA is left
I have received my final TMA03 grade and I achieved a 87%. That's not a bad grade and I understand why I lost the other 13%.
I had problems to put everything together as my TMA03 is 185 pages long now and it's becoming difficult for me to put everything under the proper headings and structure with such a long submission.
I asked for feedback on this and my tutor has offered me help with structuring the info and giving advice on how to reduce it and I accepted it. I have been thinking about how different it's when you find someone that is keen to help than when it happens otherwise.
At the beginning of the module I had a not-so-good experience in the preparation forum, it looked like every idea I had was just crap but then I found one that the moderator liked and things started to change from the point I was assigned a tutor onwards.
This module is a lot of work, a lot. I cannot imagine how people having two or more modules on the same year have coped with everything. Having said that, it's also very reflective and you will learn something new for sure. I find it hard but also rewarding if things go as expected but it can be very frustrating for people that having had consistently good grades across the years suddenly cannot fit into the module structure required.
My perception is that there is currently a great difference on how different tutors perceive the structure required for the TMAs (length, etc.) and the main concern I see in the forums has been all the time the length of the TMA and how that differs from the documentation provided and the worry about the second marker having a different approach and cutting down the final grade as he/she was expecting shorter documents.
Let's see what happens, just one EMA left now and if everything goes well for me and I achieve more than a 40% in my EMA I will be a graduate this December.
After 5 years studying I cannot believe I'm almost there.
Fingers crossed.
I had problems to put everything together as my TMA03 is 185 pages long now and it's becoming difficult for me to put everything under the proper headings and structure with such a long submission.
I asked for feedback on this and my tutor has offered me help with structuring the info and giving advice on how to reduce it and I accepted it. I have been thinking about how different it's when you find someone that is keen to help than when it happens otherwise.
At the beginning of the module I had a not-so-good experience in the preparation forum, it looked like every idea I had was just crap but then I found one that the moderator liked and things started to change from the point I was assigned a tutor onwards.
This module is a lot of work, a lot. I cannot imagine how people having two or more modules on the same year have coped with everything. Having said that, it's also very reflective and you will learn something new for sure. I find it hard but also rewarding if things go as expected but it can be very frustrating for people that having had consistently good grades across the years suddenly cannot fit into the module structure required.
My perception is that there is currently a great difference on how different tutors perceive the structure required for the TMAs (length, etc.) and the main concern I see in the forums has been all the time the length of the TMA and how that differs from the documentation provided and the worry about the second marker having a different approach and cutting down the final grade as he/she was expecting shorter documents.
Let's see what happens, just one EMA left now and if everything goes well for me and I achieve more than a 40% in my EMA I will be a graduate this December.
After 5 years studying I cannot believe I'm almost there.
Fingers crossed.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Two months and TM470 is over!
Today I came from some short holidays I had booked since long time ago as some friends had invited me to their wedding in France since 2 years ago and I had accepted. After two years saying I would be there it was my obligation (and desire) to be there.
Exactly 2 months for the project to finish... a post was mandatory :-).
I'm still waiting for my TMA03 result and I will be starting in a new job next Monday. So, a lot of things going on and everything still to be defined somehow.
Exactly 2 months for the project to finish... a post was mandatory :-).
I'm still waiting for my TMA03 result and I will be starting in a new job next Monday. So, a lot of things going on and everything still to be defined somehow.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
It's working for me but unfortunately not for everyone
All the efforts done during TMA02 served to keep the level achieved during TMA01. Today I received my results and I was very happy to see I achieved a 91% this time.
I have now taken 2 weeks off to dedicate myself entirely to the programming part, (hopefully) being so able to manage all the demands on this TMA03 without needing to do the same prolonged effort I did for TMA02 where every day was a challenge trying to find as much time as possible to dedicate to the project.
I have already the 10% needed from TMAs to pass the module in case EMA result would be a clean 40% (40 x 75% = 30%), in fact I have already achieved a 13.7% of the total grade so now my TMA03 result will serve to put my gradings up assuming my EMA will be a 40% or more.
It's being a lot of work but I'm really enjoying this programming part as I'm learning CodeIgniter as part of the process and the feedback from my tutor is being extremely valuable for me to see my own mistakes and (hopefully) fix them.
It would be a sort of an irony if I finally have my only level 3 Distinction with this module but I would also be glad if that's the case as it will be a recognition to all my efforts on this module up to today. I will also be glad with a 40% if that's the case as the important bit for me is to achieve my BSc this December (almost only 4.5 months now for this to finish!!)
Based strictly on my own experience I would not recommend to anyone doing TM470 beside other modules at the same time as I think it's really hard to keep a good level on TM470 in such cases due to the extreme demand that this module is meaning (at least this year and at least for me) and also could affect your final results of the other modules.
At the same time I'm happy for my results I'm also sad to see the amount of people that have demonstrated that are very hardworking individuals during years and are now suffering a lot with this module according to the forum posts.
Some people is now considering to leave the module and re-take it next year, even when I know this happens every year as I know some of those pupils for having coincided with them in previous modules it makes me feel sad that knowing how hard they have worked to reach this point they are now feeling they don't have enough strength, time, etc. to cope with this module demands.
My support and encouragement to all of them in a situation like this. I honestly wish things go better for them in next TMA if they decide to stay.
I have now taken 2 weeks off to dedicate myself entirely to the programming part, (hopefully) being so able to manage all the demands on this TMA03 without needing to do the same prolonged effort I did for TMA02 where every day was a challenge trying to find as much time as possible to dedicate to the project.
I have already the 10% needed from TMAs to pass the module in case EMA result would be a clean 40% (40 x 75% = 30%), in fact I have already achieved a 13.7% of the total grade so now my TMA03 result will serve to put my gradings up assuming my EMA will be a 40% or more.
It's being a lot of work but I'm really enjoying this programming part as I'm learning CodeIgniter as part of the process and the feedback from my tutor is being extremely valuable for me to see my own mistakes and (hopefully) fix them.
It would be a sort of an irony if I finally have my only level 3 Distinction with this module but I would also be glad if that's the case as it will be a recognition to all my efforts on this module up to today. I will also be glad with a 40% if that's the case as the important bit for me is to achieve my BSc this December (almost only 4.5 months now for this to finish!!)
Based strictly on my own experience I would not recommend to anyone doing TM470 beside other modules at the same time as I think it's really hard to keep a good level on TM470 in such cases due to the extreme demand that this module is meaning (at least this year and at least for me) and also could affect your final results of the other modules.
At the same time I'm happy for my results I'm also sad to see the amount of people that have demonstrated that are very hardworking individuals during years and are now suffering a lot with this module according to the forum posts.
Some people is now considering to leave the module and re-take it next year, even when I know this happens every year as I know some of those pupils for having coincided with them in previous modules it makes me feel sad that knowing how hard they have worked to reach this point they are now feeling they don't have enough strength, time, etc. to cope with this module demands.
My support and encouragement to all of them in a situation like this. I honestly wish things go better for them in next TMA if they decide to stay.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Just 5 months now...and counting
In 5 months my route towards my BSc will have finished, hopefully everything will end up positively for me and I will be in the disposition to apply for my Masters some months later (after receiving my final grades).
TM470 is meaning a lot of work for me, a lot; everyday working on it up to 00:00 or 01:00 in the morning and the weekends being mainly "project weekends". When I uploaded the TMA02 three days ago, my body reacted like when someone reaches the goal in athleticism, I felt relief and suddenly I was exhausted. All the cumulative effort made itself so notorious that I needed to go to sleep.
My second TMA was 96 pages in total. Following advice from my tutor I'm heading through the EMA on every TMA. Hopefully the transition between TMA03 and EMA will be easier this way.
TM470 is meaning a lot of work for me, a lot; everyday working on it up to 00:00 or 01:00 in the morning and the weekends being mainly "project weekends". When I uploaded the TMA02 three days ago, my body reacted like when someone reaches the goal in athleticism, I felt relief and suddenly I was exhausted. All the cumulative effort made itself so notorious that I needed to go to sleep.
My second TMA was 96 pages in total. Following advice from my tutor I'm heading through the EMA on every TMA. Hopefully the transition between TMA03 and EMA will be easier this way.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
6 months left
Today I received my results from TMA01 and all the hard work has finally given its fruits: 92%
It's not a bad start at all, having read and highlighted the entire book "Projects in Computing and Information Systems. A Student's Guide" by Christian W. Dawson has helped but it also helps to read carefully what is expected to be present on the TMA.
So far I think this is the module that demands more time, effort and dedication in the entire BSc. Maybe it's because my idea is an original idea and I need to do a lot of work just to have it up and running but maybe not and all of us are exactly in the same situation. I cannot see why my case would be different from others, so I assume all of us are under pressure ;-).
As an advice for all those ones taking this module in a future: It's not easy to fit all the tasks in the allocated time, remember: "it implies hard work", a lot of it.
For some reason this year the forum moderator tended to show as "acceptable" mostly original ideas and not extensions or versions of something already existing. Some of the comments have been quite devastating and I have to recognise I felt relief when my second idea was well received. I would have expected that approach on original ideas to be present in the research module of a PhD but not exactly for a BSc.
After that I relaxed until the beginning of the project on 1st February as a way to avoid engaging into the preparation forum just for ending being told my idea wasn't good enough or similar...and haven't relaxed since the module started ;-).
My tutor is very kind and encouraging, I hope the allocated time it's enough for me to finish the project and learn a lot of new things. It looks that I lost my 8% because I did not reflect on my process at the level I could have done.
I had this same issue in BU130 where I passed from a 69% (OCAS) to a 44% (OES), that have been my lowest grade with The OU (by difference) and believe it or not it happened because I'm a very reflective person (maybe too much) and when I need to talk about something in a module that expects you to make a new reflective process for it, as I do it as normal and it's not new for me at all I cannot find what is the thing that is so different to what I do every day for me to add it to the TMA. On the other hand if I add all the things that I reflect on it would be a book instead of a TMA.
I will need to find the equilibrium on this.
It's being engaging and also interesting, on the other side of things I do not have free time at all, my weekends are "project weekends" and my life can be summarised as "house work - project work - job work".
Only 6 months and it will be over, hopefully with a BSc (Hons) Computing under my belt a few months later.
I contacted the Uni in Sweden and they have just told me that I cannot apply this year because my BSc results are released in December and the Masters degree starts in August, so it will be a 2015 start for me if they accept me next year.
It's not a bad start at all, having read and highlighted the entire book "Projects in Computing and Information Systems. A Student's Guide" by Christian W. Dawson has helped but it also helps to read carefully what is expected to be present on the TMA.
So far I think this is the module that demands more time, effort and dedication in the entire BSc. Maybe it's because my idea is an original idea and I need to do a lot of work just to have it up and running but maybe not and all of us are exactly in the same situation. I cannot see why my case would be different from others, so I assume all of us are under pressure ;-).
As an advice for all those ones taking this module in a future: It's not easy to fit all the tasks in the allocated time, remember: "it implies hard work", a lot of it.
For some reason this year the forum moderator tended to show as "acceptable" mostly original ideas and not extensions or versions of something already existing. Some of the comments have been quite devastating and I have to recognise I felt relief when my second idea was well received. I would have expected that approach on original ideas to be present in the research module of a PhD but not exactly for a BSc.
After that I relaxed until the beginning of the project on 1st February as a way to avoid engaging into the preparation forum just for ending being told my idea wasn't good enough or similar...and haven't relaxed since the module started ;-).
My tutor is very kind and encouraging, I hope the allocated time it's enough for me to finish the project and learn a lot of new things. It looks that I lost my 8% because I did not reflect on my process at the level I could have done.
I had this same issue in BU130 where I passed from a 69% (OCAS) to a 44% (OES), that have been my lowest grade with The OU (by difference) and believe it or not it happened because I'm a very reflective person (maybe too much) and when I need to talk about something in a module that expects you to make a new reflective process for it, as I do it as normal and it's not new for me at all I cannot find what is the thing that is so different to what I do every day for me to add it to the TMA. On the other hand if I add all the things that I reflect on it would be a book instead of a TMA.
I will need to find the equilibrium on this.
It's being engaging and also interesting, on the other side of things I do not have free time at all, my weekends are "project weekends" and my life can be summarised as "house work - project work - job work".
Only 6 months and it will be over, hopefully with a BSc (Hons) Computing under my belt a few months later.
I contacted the Uni in Sweden and they have just told me that I cannot apply this year because my BSc results are released in December and the Masters degree starts in August, so it will be a 2015 start for me if they accept me next year.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The horse is outside
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 :-)
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 :-)
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? :-)
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.
Monday, August 20, 2012
3, 2, 1...blog
I'm studying for a BSc (Honours) Computing with The Open University that I hope (pray, count the minutes) to have asap.
My intention doing this blog is to be used to write regularly (at least when something I find interesting for me happens).
Ideally that will help me to get used to be ready for the mandatory blog in TM470 (a module I will start in Feb. 2013 or Feb. 2014).
I'm the kind of person that writes lots of text when I start to write a post or email, explaining everything in detail so I need to practice writing short comments as a way to train me for the (ideally) daily posts that the project will demand.
Let's see how it goes.
My intention doing this blog is to be used to write regularly (at least when something I find interesting for me happens).
Ideally that will help me to get used to be ready for the mandatory blog in TM470 (a module I will start in Feb. 2013 or Feb. 2014).
I'm the kind of person that writes lots of text when I start to write a post or email, explaining everything in detail so I need to practice writing short comments as a way to train me for the (ideally) daily posts that the project will demand.
Let's see how it goes.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)