[tomtaylor43]

So I started this course with no computing epxeriance before and I am finding it really hard to keep awake in leactures and revise, furthermore I dont understand anything they are saying. Is this normal for first year beginners? Is there any advice you can give? Its not like i did bad in a levels I got ok grades of AAA so I dont knw what it is!

[Arialaxe]

(Original post by tomtaylor43)
So I started this course with no computing epxeriance before and I am finding it really hard to keep awake in leactures and revise, furthermore I dont understand anything they are saying. Is this normal for first year beginners? Is there any advice you can give? Its not like i did bad in a levels I got ok grades of AAA so I dont knw what it is!

How on earth did you get in if you didn't want to be there?

[LStudent]

Maybe computing is not for you? Sometimes you can like something to a certain level but beyond that you just lose interest. Could this be your case?

[easyman123]

(Original post by tomtaylor43)
So I started this course with no computing epxeriance before and I am finding it really hard to keep awake in leactures and revise, furthermore I dont understand anything they are saying. Is this normal for first year beginners? Is there any advice you can give? Its not like i did bad in a levels I got ok grades of AAA so I dont knw what it is!

Maybe computer is for you, but you had the incorrect preparation to pursue a computer science degree. I know from my experience that good preparation for computer science degrees are HNC or HND in computer etc. Then after successfully completion, proceed to BSc Computer Science. I also know some people also get 1st class bsc computer degree, all because they had the right preparation.

[newDana]

Can you give specific examples of what you don't understand? I think you should make an appointment with your academic supervisor quickly to discuss the problems you are having. There is a big jump from A levels to degree in most subjects, but as many students come into CS without prior knowledge (except for using technology) I think often the jump is larger than some expect.

It might be that CS is not for you... but also, it might simply be that you need a little extra help at the start - for example, if you've got no experience of programming then it's hard enough to get the syntax right never mind figuring out the design of programs. Extra help should be available, don't struggle by yourself and getting stressed about not understanding things - please ask for help.

Even if the lecturers can't give you time, there must be some demonstrators or assistants for your practical classes that can help you?

For me, as a demonstrator, it's really frustrating to find students that clearly don't understand the topic but also don't want to ask for help. But i understand why - when i was an undergrad i was sooo wary of looking thick that i never asked for help even when i really did need it. But that is not the right attitude. I really struggled with programming (in particular) at first, but eventually something clicked and i get it now, but these things take time.

Good luck. Please don't be too disheartened - uni work is HARD and you do need to put effort in. But hopefully with some help you will be able to get there eventually.

[easyman123]

(Original post by newDana)
Can you give specific examples of what you don't understand? I think you should make an appointment with your academic supervisor quickly to discuss the problems you are having. There is a big jump from A levels to degree in most subjects, but as many students come into CS without prior knowledge (except for using technology) I think often the jump is larger than some expect.

It might be that CS is not for you... but also, it might simply be that you need a little extra help at the start - for example, if you've got no experience of programming then it's hard enough to get the syntax right never mind figuring out the design of programs. Extra help should be available, don't struggle by yourself and getting stressed about not understanding things - please ask for help.

Even if the lecturers can't give you time, there must be some demonstrators or assistants for your practical classes that can help you?

For me, as a demonstrator, it's really frustrating to find students that clearly don't understand the topic but also don't want to ask for help. But i understand why - when i was an undergrad i was sooo wary of looking thick that i never asked for help even when i really did need it. But that is not the right attitude. I really struggled with programming (in particular) at first, but eventually something clicked and i get it now, but these things take time.

Good luck. Please don't be too disheartened - uni work is HARD and you do need to put effort in. But hopefully with some help you will be able to get there eventually.

I agree there is a big jump from Alevels to Degree. That is why I think it is better for the student to complete each stage in this order Alevels, HNC/HND and then degree. Having foundation knowledge in computer science is very important if one wants to proceed to BSc Computer Science degree and understand and pass the degree. It is obvious the alevels the student studied, did not provide enough knowledge for a computer science degree. Alevels is not everything, because I have seen this similar pattern before.

[ifstatement]

(Original post by tomtaylor43)
So I started this course with no computing epxeriance before and I am finding it really hard to keep awake in leactures and revise, furthermore I dont understand anything they are saying. Is this normal for first year beginners? Is there any advice you can give? Its not like i did bad in a levels I got ok grades of AAA so I dont knw what it is!

In year 2 onwards you should be able to choose modules you are interested in. I think all the modules in the first year for CS are compulsory and everybody has to do them like it or not.

[newDana]

(Original post by easyman123)
I agree there is a big jump from Alevels to Degree. That is why I think it is better for the student to complete each stage in this order Alevels, HNC/HND and then degree. Having foundation knowledge in computer science is very important if one wants to proceed to BSc Computer Science degree and understand and pass the degree. It is obvious the alevels the student studied, did not provide enough knowledge for a computer science degree. Alevels is not everything, because I have seen this similar pattern before.

It might be better for some students to take this route, but i don't believe you can make such a blanket statement implying it's better for all. Plenty of students, and i include myself in this - someone who is now doing a PhD in Computer Science, come from a non-cs background and struggle a bit in first year but then go on to get good results. It's a steep learning curve, but an HNC/HND isn't necessary for all, probably not even for most. What is necessary is that students know who to ask for help and have the confidence to ask for that help early enough that they can be supported through their learning.

For example, if i am demonstrating on a practical class (which i often do in my role as a postgraduate) and a student asks me to help them then I will make every effort to ensure they understand the material. If they need a lot of help i may suggest we meet up outside of the class, as obviously i can't dedicate all my time in one session to a single student. I know that most postgraduate student demonstrators (and lecturers for that matter) will offer help in this manner if a student needs it - i think sometimes students prefer to get help from the postgrads as we can be less intimidating - i hope :-)

Although I don't completely disagree with what you are saying - for some an HNC/HND first could be a good option. But i don't actually think it's necessary as the support is out there to help students improve and overcome the hurdles. And i also i don't feel that your comments have been particularly helpful to the OP who is in a position where they are struggling. Advising them they should have done an HNC first is not helpful to them really, and possibly only adds to their feelings of inadequacy and stress.

[easyman123]

(Original post by newDana)
It might be better for some students to take this route, but i don't believe you can make such a blanket statement implying it's better for all. Plenty of students, and i include myself in this - someone who is now doing a PhD in Computer Science, come from a non-cs background and struggle a bit in first year but then go on to get good results. It's a steep learning curve, but an HNC/HND isn't necessary for all, probably not even for most. What is necessary is that students know who to ask for help and have the confidence to ask for that help early enough that they can be supported through their learning.

For example, if i am demonstrating on a practical class (which i often do in my role as a postgraduate) and a student asks me to help them then I will make every effort to ensure they understand the material. If they need a lot of help i may suggest we meet up outside of the class, as obviously i can't dedicate all my time in one session to a single student. I know that most postgraduate student demonstrators (and lecturers for that matter) will offer help in this manner if a student needs it - i think sometimes students prefer to get help from the postgrads as we can be less intimidating - i hope :-)

Although I don't completely disagree with what you are saying - for some an HNC/HND first could be a good option. But i don't actually think it's necessary as the support is out there to help students improve and overcome the hurdles. And i also i don't feel that your comments have been particularly helpful to the OP who is in a position where they are struggling. Advising them they should have done an HNC first is not helpful to them really, and possibly only adds to their feelings of inadequacy and stress.

Many reasons why I think it is better for students since it makes the course easier for them. As you stated from your previous post a few days ago “There is a big jump from A levels to degree in most subjects, but as many students come into CS without prior knowledge.” HNC will give students knowledge and practical experience and exclude any academic jumps once they have at least one alevel or Btec National or equivalent etc . The knowledge can be used to help them learn computer science at degree level. If the student has seen what has been posted then at least the student can then contact the college or university and ask them about HNC/D courses in computing and start this week for example. Instead of finding the current course very difficult. I understand students can ask for help within the university, but when a student finds a subject very hard it will create a stressful learning experience for them and at the same time asking teaching staff all the time for help is inappropriate especially when a student finds the subject as difficult the mention student, “tomtaylor43 “. AS the student stated, “So I started this course with no computing epxeriance before and I am finding it really hard to keep awake in leactures and revise, furthermore I dont understand anything they are saying. Is this normal for first year beginners? Is there any advice you can give? Its not like i did bad in a levels I got ok grades of AAA so I dont knw what it is!”