Problem with my course/university

OP

Original post by crocker710

Surely university isn't about spoon feeding you information or holding your hand learning, it's about independent research. If you want to spend more time doing work, go to the university library, look in the Forensic Computing & Digital Forensics section, find the specific area relating to the weeks work and do some additional reading. It's not going to have a detrimental affect. (This is what I imagine your tutor to say when you speak to them).

This being said, I rarely do this, and the occasions where I do (not out of personal interest btw, I like reading history-related books if it's on topics I enjoy) this is when I've got an essay due, or manic revision time. Enjoy your free time, it's 1st year, go out and be a fresher.

I'm not expecting to be spoon fed, I was simply expecting to have a bit more than three lectures a week. I've spent quite a bit of time reading books from the library and research papers from different institutions.
Maybe it is to early to tell or perhaps I'm doing something wrong, I have no idea

Reply 4

theuniversityblog

Not everyone will have experienced the same learning as you did at college. The first year will bring people up to speed and you'll find greater challenges further down the line. I can't comment on how appealing the modules look, but if they are at least acceptable to you, it's probably worth riding out and making the most of it.

My first year at uni wasn't particularly challenging because I did a lot of reading up in advance. For me, this was an advantage and let me get on with all the other things on offer. That's why I did it. If you're finding study a smooth ride at the moment, that's mostly a good thing!

But if you're still itching for a bigger challenge, sink your teeth into some of the reading and research for your future modules. Check out reading lists if they're available, speak to some of the second year students, and try to find areas that you're not so confident in yet. Just try not to get too carried away yet; it's still early days and you're bound to find more to push you in due course.

Reply 5

Strandza

3

Hey there,

It depends what you study at the moment at your current University (Mudule wise), since, at the moment I am doing Digital Forensics, and myself, the Computer/Computing Science; Forensic Computing students are ALL studying the same stuf (The comp Science students have an Option to take Forensics).

In the 1st year we do a unit "Introducation to Security Technologies, basically to really get information into you, where you may not have a clue what the unit is about or even where to star (They go over the basics).

I would imagine, that to be sucesfully transferred in your second year, you will need to have a nowledge of Java programming (we use NetBeans and the module is called "Introduction to Software Development).

Also, we study "Hardware Software Systems & Graphics" << Its as it says... its how a PC works, Binary/Hexadecimal multiplication/Addition etc, and then obviously on graphic cards etc (Just what we have started).

So basically, I would say its down to what you have currently started and what units you aim to do at Your University.

Hope this helps.

But yes, as a person above me has stated, a lot of University is self study, however, you should be having more than 9 hours a week XD I'm in University every single day and do a total of... 16 Hours a week. But even though University is about "Independancy" you still expect to be taught a decent amount (Else what the hell are you paying for?)

Reply 6

Wales? Staffordshire? Stop going to **** universities and you might find your course "challenging".

Reply 7

OP

Original post by A level Az

Wales? Staffordshire? Stop going to **** universities and you might find your course "challenging".

Hm. Good point oh mighty one, I shall bow to your superior wisdom

Reply 8

OP

Original post by Strandza

Hey there,

It depends what you study at the moment at your current University (Mudule wise), since, at the moment I am doing Digital Forensics, and myself, the Computer/Computing Science; Forensic Computing students are ALL studying the same stuf (The comp Science students have an Option to take Forensics).

In the 1st year we do a unit "Introducation to Security Technologies, basically to really get information into you, where you may not have a clue what the unit is about or even where to star (They go over the basics).

I would imagine, that to be sucesfully transferred in your second year, you will need to have a nowledge of Java programming (we use NetBeans and the module is called "Introduction to Software Development).

Also, we study "Hardware Software Systems & Graphics" << Its as it says... its how a PC works, Binary/Hexadecimal multiplication/Addition etc, and then obviously on graphic cards etc (Just what we have started).

So basically, I would say its down to what you have currently started and what units you aim to do at Your University.

Hope this helps.

But yes, as a person above me has stated, a lot of University is self study, however, you should be having more than 9 hours a week XD I'm in University every single day and do a total of... 16 Hours a week. But even though University is about "Independancy" you still expect to be taught a decent amount (Else what the hell are you paying for?)

I think its the modules that bug me the most. Our software development goes for one semester, and its visual basic. and very basic at that.

Reply 9

Original post by Kenny_uk

Hm. Good point oh mighty one, I shall bow to your superior wisdom

I'm not even joking. In school they don't keep you in the bottom set in mathematics if you can do all the questions with ease - they move you up. Similarly, if you're going to apply to lesser institutions, expect to be enrolled on easier courses. If you want to be challenged, apply to a decent Russell Group university or something.

Reply 10

OP

Original post by A level Az

I'm not even joking. In school they don't keep you in the bottom set in mathematics if you can do all the questions with ease - they move you up. Similarly, if you're going to apply to lesser institutions, expect to be enrolled on easier courses. If you want to be challenged, apply to a decent Russell Group university or something.

The problem I had was I messed up GCSE's, so I had a hunch the majority of higher ones would probably not have considered me. I am looking at some others anyway.

EDIT: I'm not making excuses, cause I know I messed them up myself through sheer laziness and lack of focus

Reply 11

Original post by Kenny_uk

The problem I had was I messed up GCSE's, so I had a hunch the majority of higher ones would probably not have considered me. I am looking at some others anyway.

EDIT: I'm not making excuses, cause I know I messed them up myself through sheer laziness and lack of focus

Strong A levels will make up for GCSES (as long as you've passed English and Mathematics), and you can redo A levels whenever you want.

Reply 12

Original post by Kenny_uk

( I will finish the year regardless) I was considering reapplying through ucas for a very similar subject except at Staffordshire instead, as the modules for the course are much more appealing than they are here. Or I can contact staffordshire and see if they'd take me as a transfer straight to the second year, however this may leave me at a bit of a disadvantage in comparison to the others on the course given that they may have covered different stuff entirely.

If you do get in to Staffordshire, you have to meet Rob Shaw. His students won things like an xbox, PS3, memory stick etc....

Technically he didn't lie as people won things like a stick with "remember" stuck on it. He also gave us the "answers" to the coming test (showing us a slide full of a's, b's, c's and d's); just not in the right order

Our first years are generally the same ie: this semester most computing students are doing as was said above. Next semester it's about algorithms and data structures in C, systems and database analysis, an optional module and a module directly relating to your course

See this for the timetable you'd be on:
http://www.fcet.staffs.ac.uk/timetable/forensic.htm

If you decide to come to Staffs, then be aware that
a) there are about five girls on campus
b) it's about half an hour in to town (though Asda do deliver)

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 13

Original post by Kenny_uk

I think its the modules that bug me the most. Our software development goes for one semester, and its visual basic. and very basic at that.

Our intro to software development is about java atm

Reply 14

Original post by A level Az

Wales? Staffordshire? Stop going to **** universities and you might find your course "challenging".

Screw you. You don't know that Stafford specialises in certain areas ie: my course has been recognised more than any other university in the UK by a major multinational who dominate the world's networks

Staffsuni

Cisco Systems have given Staffordshire University an Educational Achievement award, one of only six in Europe and the only one in the UK.

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/undergraduate_courses/subjects/computer_networks/

I consider that to be a massive achievement

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 15

Original post by de_monies

Screw you. You don't know that Stafford specialises in certain areas ie: my course has been recognised more than any other university in the UK by a major multinational who dominate the world's networks

That's nice...doesn't stop it from being an unrecognised university as a whole, and as OP has admitted, he was/is aiming for lesser universities, so shouldn't you have beef with him also?

Reply 16

Original post by A level Az

That's nice...doesn't stop it from being an unrecognised university as a whole, and as OP has admitted, he was/is aiming for lesser universities, so shouldn't you have beef with him also?

What the hell are you on about? The Cisco qualifications are well known and so are Cisco. Lots of students go to work for them after their graduation. I consider the university to be recognised when the largest multinational of networks (a san francisco based company) recognises a tiny university - about middle of the league tables)

Oh and the OP said himself that he was considering Staffordshire...

EDIT: Im guessing it's easier to neg than to argue

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 17

Original post by de_monies

What the hell are you on about? The Cisco qualifications are well known and so are Cisco. Lots of students go to work for them after their graduation. I consider the university to be recognised when the largest multinational of networks (a san francisco based company) recognises a tiny university - about middle of the league tables)

Oh and the OP said himself that he was considering Staffordshire...

EDIT: Im guessing it's easier to neg than to argue

Firstly, I didn't neg you, and to prove it, I've just negged you, making it -2. Clearly someone out there disagrees with your waffle :smile:

These Cisco qualifications you keep banging on about are just one part of a whole university which is made up of many different departments, and I'm talking about the university as a whole. Newcastle University for example (I don't go there by the way) is huge with it's work on genetics, but overall it's still in the same category as the other middle range Russell Group universities when really it should be higher, but anyway, Staffordshire is nowhere near that. Every university has it's strong departments, but that doesn't make it a great or recognisable university. Please stop trying to prove that Staffordshire is a great university when in reality, nobody has ever heard of it, apart from this one department, which you claim (as you would, as you're biased) is amazing.

And the OP said they were aiming for lower universities, which shows that they think Staffordshire is one :wink:

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 18

OP

Original post by A level Az

Firstly, I didn't neg you, and to prove it, I've just negged you, making it -2. Clearly someone out there disagrees with your waffle :smile:

These Cisco qualifications you keep banging on about are just one part of a whole university which is made up of many different departments, and I'm talking about the university as a whole. Newcastle University for example (I don't go there by the way) is huge with it's work on genetics, but overall it's still in the same category as the other middle range Russell Group universities when really it should be higher, but anyway, Staffordshire is nowhere near that. Every university has it's strong departments, but that doesn't make it a great or recognisable university. Please stop trying to prove that Staffordshire is a great university when in reality, nobody has ever heard of it, apart from this one department, which you claim (as you would, as you're biased) is amazing.

And the OP said they were aiming for lower universities, which shows that they think Staffordshire is one :wink:

Actually I aimed for low ones originally, because I had figured it would be more likely. I didnt even look at staffordshire till now, and frankly I think it looks quite good.
My main reason for aiming for "lower" ones originally was partially due to my GCSES and due to the fact that I know many higher ones still dont consider a BTEC on the same level as A levels.

Reply 19