tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80631660925032023392024-02-19T16:12:00.017-08:00My Q62 BSc (Honours) Computing and IT JourneyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-68455106211575364312015-10-06T11:51:00.003-07:002015-10-06T11:51:42.766-07:00Well that M362 over with M362 seem to be a longer module than most, even though it the same length as others, but it did at time feel like a really grind.<br />
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Sat the Exam for it on Monday 5th October 2015, I think I did ok with it, but still int he back of my head is this little niggle off whether I put enough of a effort in or not to the revision, I guess only the result can let me know that so will have to wait several weeks till it arrives.<br /><br /><br />T320 official commence on the 3rd October 2015. It looks a interesting module, but I am struggling with all this business gobbledegook, hope it doe not impact my ability to do the first TMA. But jeez its a biggy 1800 words might have to do some elasticizing of my writing to hit that!. Pity this module is all online though I do like the smell of fresh module books(bit weird I know). Any way suppose I should get back to studying and try and hammer(this might be literally true watch this space) some of this info into the old grey matter.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-29443099732231789442015-08-06T02:44:00.001-07:002015-08-06T02:44:16.305-07:00OUCafe launchedI have been for a while a admin in several Unofficial OU groups on face book and recently have been working to develop a website for the group outside of the usual social media channels and am glad to say on Wednesday I put the website up live. Hoping many people connected with the OU will find it useful to find information, groups and new that will be of use to them.<br />
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here a few snapshot of the site if you want to check out more we are at - <a href="http://oucafe.uk/" target="_blank">OU cafe</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlevYj-CNXlQiSy0jLzpPBbUMqm-r0SBm2ZKi_vB0NRPZXwSxg_EHWDIR1rolLHP39-2dNRtehPGEnR5XeWvZVuzGSlS_vdrsBm2bt5TiZZ4oBBbOqN2n9CcEKAEFV5NeXbRMkRXQMio/s1600/look.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlevYj-CNXlQiSy0jLzpPBbUMqm-r0SBm2ZKi_vB0NRPZXwSxg_EHWDIR1rolLHP39-2dNRtehPGEnR5XeWvZVuzGSlS_vdrsBm2bt5TiZZ4oBBbOqN2n9CcEKAEFV5NeXbRMkRXQMio/s400/look.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-74758854535189007492015-07-01T06:10:00.000-07:002015-07-01T06:12:45.526-07:00So looking ahead at what degree classification I am on target for am what I need to get result wise to to get the classification . this is how it stands at the moment :-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBVEc00PKLdogKXYizUA9ckdTspNKxvgBgTAZXDw6dwabKO79uFLKQn-ak9PQOPNUnu5g9QWgGc1AtG4Nv9S0ZJBwRR7TeohlcCgMrCcheaAdsA08Nubn2JGF8rxMWVEuFbBeyZCC4PE/s1600/need.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="a image showing the what results I already have and what I need to attain the degree classification I am after" border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBVEc00PKLdogKXYizUA9ckdTspNKxvgBgTAZXDw6dwabKO79uFLKQn-ak9PQOPNUnu5g9QWgGc1AtG4Nv9S0ZJBwRR7TeohlcCgMrCcheaAdsA08Nubn2JGF8rxMWVEuFbBeyZCC4PE/s640/need.PNG" title="degree classification requirements" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-47250006606808706712015-07-01T05:31:00.000-07:002015-07-01T05:31:20.560-07:00Its the start of July and am sat here waiting for the results of the TM354 Software engineering exam. As far as exams go this was probably the one that felt the simplest, but i may have completely misunderstood it, will have to wait and see. TMA02 result for M362 Developing concurrent distributed systems is looming as well so double waiting gloom but think I did OK in it and in the mean time, I am decided to push on with the module material(arg formula's in unit 9 and 10) and am around halfway through writing TMA03. <br /> T320 Ebusiness technologies: foundations and practice booked and register fro October start, heard its a lot of work but that's good will keep me from playing games :).<br />TM470 The computing and IT project registered for end of January start from what information I have found a lot of writing to this one to be done. Am mulling over some project ideas but with out any real information available at the moment about what projects are acceptable its hard to make a decision and start looking up and deciding on how to progress.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-11993034221357833952015-02-09T07:51:00.001-08:002015-02-09T15:53:08.074-08:00To Level 3 we goSo new study year started in October 2014 and so to my first level 3 module <a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/tm354" target="_blank">TM354 Software engineering</a> being my first level 3 I was some what nervous about this tier of work and how much is involved, So far the it going well I got 86% in my first TMA and have not long submitted TMA 02 fingers crossed for a good result. As of writing this my Second Level 3 module has just began <i><u>M362 Developing concurrent distributed systems</u> (last presentation of this module), </i>I have shall we say been a little eager to start this one and am well a little ahead......... ok and am pretty far ahead 3 units read and 3/4 of the first TMA done even before the official start, suppose it's better to be ahead than behind. although i must admit i am only ahead as I don't work and have a more time than most to study.<br />
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With the open of registration for October 2015 around the corner I am also twiddling my thumbs trying to decide on what my final optional module will be, doesn't help that some of the module s i have to choose from are lacking description at the moment. will also need to register for the TM470 project as well if I want to do it in January 2016, at present the TM470 project is likely to be base on th a M362 module. I have to say i am very nervous about the project and hope I can do it and close out my degree well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-87134733063949791542015-02-08T16:18:00.000-08:002015-02-09T16:19:09.596-08:00Study Zone<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqSB8VG0pU5NkOAEKB_feYirIpMKoOhWwXsD9o5EozU_P9n3klXTM_DTgFfnKBHL-3Cgmhd3lgMX-DSpXD2QUghKB7ER4nlBzVX7LcUeWl9g2Sh_7f6lPbr09kzVf280lhWe5Tvlsw3k/s1600/WP_20150205_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqSB8VG0pU5NkOAEKB_feYirIpMKoOhWwXsD9o5EozU_P9n3klXTM_DTgFfnKBHL-3Cgmhd3lgMX-DSpXD2QUghKB7ER4nlBzVX7LcUeWl9g2Sh_7f6lPbr09kzVf280lhWe5Tvlsw3k/s1600/WP_20150205_001.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Usual state of affairs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbjG-ZeMKNMCoj48rpx5SM_yug1upNbO2VshlOavhKMXUlTeASRlWIwtzfvs-kuDOyktVSajrT0UlySVvcL0ZwD15x42QjQNtm3K8jfmaYXnLWYSHwYpcdu1lmdxaaLk92QLqRSRlqBI/s1600/WP_20150106_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbjG-ZeMKNMCoj48rpx5SM_yug1upNbO2VshlOavhKMXUlTeASRlWIwtzfvs-kuDOyktVSajrT0UlySVvcL0ZwD15x42QjQNtm3K8jfmaYXnLWYSHwYpcdu1lmdxaaLk92QLqRSRlqBI/s1600/WP_20150106_004.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I need to study but need a little exercise</td></tr>
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This is the main work are of my studies, White board behind the computer is for when you just got to get it out off you nogging and wrote down so you can play around with it<br />
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I try to do at least a hour a day 5 days a week, sometime I put a PDF of my study material into <a href="http://www.ivona.com/" target="_blank">Ivona </a>TTS (Text-to-Speech reader) and listen to it as I work out<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-72762542604195808242014-11-01T16:11:00.000-07:002015-02-09T16:12:31.983-08:00My Study Buddies<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMA1VQ1OoVyeVRReiiA_chTMo9_TkPNLyfSbg67g0Q18I3z964L5YGRyUaiMSX1LliopOwXZwYfDLeT1iVmxRZ0h8XNDZ65Z1BReEWs-5SbyXvXVZ2eJwBXuQx_elCp-HQBFDnh5ggzE/s1600/WP_20141212_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMA1VQ1OoVyeVRReiiA_chTMo9_TkPNLyfSbg67g0Q18I3z964L5YGRyUaiMSX1LliopOwXZwYfDLeT1iVmxRZ0h8XNDZ65Z1BReEWs-5SbyXvXVZ2eJwBXuQx_elCp-HQBFDnh5ggzE/s1600/WP_20141212_001.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bess(Small dog) &<br /> Reef (Big dog)</span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-49325853336196568122014-11-01T07:40:00.000-07:002015-02-09T15:57:29.681-08:00Learning is a bugMost people who knew me in my early adult years when I was well lets say a little rawkus, would never think I would be one for learning but the OU has bitten me and given me the learning bug. I find myself wanting to Learn more and more and as a result have become a avid viewer of the talks on <a href="http://www.ted.com/" target="_blank">Ted.com</a> as well as under taking several MOOCs (Massive Online Open Course) I complete 2 of these in 2014 the first I completed was with the MOOC listings on <a href="https://www.coursera.org/" target="_blank">Coursera</a> which was<br />
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<a href="https://www.coursera.org/course/webapplications" target="_blank">Web Application Architectures</a> Distinction(99.9%)<br />
The course involved - the development of web application architectures from an engineering perspective<br />
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I also did another MOOC with the provider - <a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/" target="_blank">Futurelearn</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/introduction-to-cyber-security" target="_blank">Introduction to Cyber Security</a> Distinction(92.75%)<br />
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This course looked at - understand online security and start to protect your digital life<br />
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I thoroughly enjoy these MOOC's and recommend people if the y have a little bit of spare time to do it. I ma even doing another one with <a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/" target="_blank">Futurelearn</a> which is due to star on the 16th February 2015 the MOOC is <a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/begin-programming" target="_blank">Begin Programming: Build Your First Mobile Game</a> watch this space for how I do.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-42023210009632119222014-04-01T07:24:00.000-07:002015-02-09T15:56:12.286-08:00Why do I botherAt this point of of the journey, I had several people asking why I am even bothering to do a degree, most of the comment were around the point of "It's not like you're going to get a job with your health problems" or "A OU degree really aint a proper degree". Now this did get me down a little but I manage to pull my head out and respond with this<br />
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"The purpose of me doing the degree is for me to build up my confidence and knowledge, I am endeavouring to by the end of the degree to be at a point where I am able to work, whether this is in a standard work environment for the sector I am studying, or if there is a smart enough employer willing to take me on remote working."<br />
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I followed it up with<br />
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"Even if at the end of it I do not end up in a job atleast I have not spent the last several years sat on my arse doing nothing, but whining about thing. I will feel a little satisfaction that I put the effort in to improve my life ".Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-87433686034648781812013-10-01T07:13:00.000-07:002015-02-09T15:55:23.489-08:00Degree journey continuesOctober 2013 The Journey continues<br />
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After finishing all my module's for the previous year in June I decided that even though I wanted to do another full credit year, it was bit too much to do all the modules at the same start date so this year I decided to start of 3 of the module's in October 2013 and start 1 in February 2014, I found this to be a much better was to do it as is spread the module out's. With the previous year module finishing in June and the next module starting in October there were several months of waiting and it was long long wait. after the enjoyment of the first year I Was eager to get going again. October finally arrived and off i went like a bat out of hell with the first 3 modules<br />
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<a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/tm129" target="_blank">TM129 Technologies in practice</a> Pass<br />
Looking how technology worked<br />
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<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall examinable score (OES) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>78</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall continuous assessment score (OCAS) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>81<br /></strong></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/tt284" target="_blank">TT284 Web technologies</a> Grade 2 Pass<br />
A look at architectures, protocols, standards, languages, tools and techniques; an understanding of approaches to more dynamic and mobile content<br />
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<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall examinable score (OES) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>76</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall continuous assessment score (OCAS) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>87</strong></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/m250" target="_blank">M250 Object-oriented Java programming</a> Grade 2 pass</div>
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Looked at object-oriented approach to programming through the widely-used Java programming language</div>
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<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall examinable score (OES) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>72</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall continuous assessment score (OCAS) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>92</strong></td></tr>
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These were very interesting module's and come February 2014 the 4th of this years module began</div>
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<a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/m256" target="_blank">M256 Software development with Java </a> Grade 3 pass</div>
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A look into fundamentals of an object-oriented approach to software development, including analysis of requirements,analytical techniques and processes essential for specifying, designing and implementing a software system</div>
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<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall examinable score (OES) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>57</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall continuous assessment score (OCAS) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>84</strong></td></tr>
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This was tough year but it seen the end of all mu Level 1 and Level 2 modules.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063166092503202339.post-27645941781762635712012-10-01T06:55:00.000-07:002015-02-09T16:20:36.982-08:00Start of my OU degree<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">October 2012 start of my Open University degree journey<br /><br />The first year I was very apprehensive about studying. It had been a while since did any kind of study of this format, I had a few years before done some courses with Home Learning College on Java and VB.net programming but it was not completed due to health problems. So deciding to try again was a big step for me. So in april 2012 I had to decide which module I wanted to study so I decided to jump in wholeheartedly and when for maximum study credit for the year so in choose to do -</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/tu100" target="_blank">TU100 My digital life</a> Pass</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A look at the digital world we live in a concepts</span></div>
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Overall examinable score (OES) :<strong>74</strong></div>
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Overall continuous assessment score (OCAS) :<strong>89</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.openuniversity.edu/courses/mathematics-and-statistics/using-mathematics" target="_blank">MST121 Using mathematics</a> Pass</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looked at range of fundamental techniques, including calculus, recurrence relations, matrices and vectors and statistics, and use integrated specialist mathematical software to solve problems.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall examinable score (OES) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>49</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall continuous assessment score (OCAS) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>86</strong></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="text-decoration: underline;">MT264 Designing applications with Visual Basic</i> Grade 2 Pass (discontinued module)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">object-oriented programming using Vb.net language</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall examinable score (OES) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>75</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: top;">Overall continuous assessment score (OCAS) :</td><td class="freer" style="padding: 3px 0px 3px 2em; vertical-align: top;"><strong>93</strong></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">Mst121 was a bit of a Nightmare to start with it had been 16 years since I had done any sort of Mathematics but I managed to get through it </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0