Official Bitch about daily life in NUIG!

challengemaster · 14-12-2010 6:27pm

Padkir wrote: »

But this is IN the building, literally yards from a study area. If it was in the library there'd be uproar. And it echoes all over the building too! I'm not saying it's the construction company's fault, but the college should have extended the deadline to ensure they weren't doing it during exam week.

Ah, wasn't sure about exactly where it was - haven't been on that side of campus in a long time...

Yeah, i can see it being annoying alright, however it could be something necessary (work on pipes/etc? ) which if it wasn't done, could lead to bigger problems and the building being closed... just guessing here, that there might be some logical reasoning behind it.

Padkir · 14-12-2010 6:40pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Ah, wasn't sure about exactly where it was - haven't been on that side of campus in a long time...

Yeah, i can see it being annoying alright, however it could be something necessary (work on pipes/etc? ) which if it wasn't done, could lead to bigger problems and the building being closed... just guessing here, that there might be some logical reasoning behind it.

Perhaps, not sure though. there's been a bit of work going off just downstairs, you can still hear it, seem to be making some kind of reception thingy...not sure really. They have been at it the last week and to be fair, have been very quiet in general, but today it was very bad! And not sure what else they were doing upstairs, but had a bit of the floor up. I suppose it's possible it was urgent work, have to wait and see over the next day or two!

Fionn MacCool · 15-12-2010 3:03pm

What exactly are they doing in the Cairnes anyway? Looks like they're putting in a reception desk thing or something.

Padkir · 15-12-2010 6:43pm

Fionn MacCool wrote: »

What exactly are they doing in the Cairnes anyway? Looks like they're putting in a reception desk thing or something.

It does, no idea what for though, and what the need for it is.

dmcg90 · 15-12-2010 10:15pm

Fionn MacCool wrote: »

What exactly are they doing in the Cairnes anyway? Looks like they're putting in a reception desk thing or something.

I thought it was a coffee concession or a reception, a reception is much more needed imo.

Padkir · 15-12-2010 10:18pm

dmcg90 wrote: »

I thought it was a coffee concession or a reception, a reception is much more needed imo.

Why is a reception needed there?

dmcg90 · 15-12-2010 10:20pm

Padkir wrote: »

Why is a reception needed there?

Isn't the one in St Anthony's never manned? And its probably viewed by guests as the main building anyway.

Padkir · 15-12-2010 10:23pm

dmcg90 wrote: »

Isn't the one in St Anthony's never manned? And its probably viewed by guests as the main building anyway.

It probably is viewed as the main building alright, and probably the most main entrance. What goes on in receptions in buildings like that anyway?

Fionn MacCool · 16-12-2010 2:14am

Not really a 'daily life' complaint, but why are none of the exam pastpapers ever accompanied by a mark scheme?

Ficheall · 16-12-2010 4:38am

It's just college policy.
I'm not even sure giving out the previous year's exam papers is included in the policy.

And since, as far as I can tell, most exams are simply rehashings of the previous years' exams - one would think it more than enough to give students the questions that are coming up, without giving them the answers as well.

Not that I wouldn't agree with you that marking schemes would be very helpful for studying...

Fionn MacCool · 16-12-2010 2:30pm

Ficheall wrote: »

It's just college policy.
I'm not even sure giving out the previous year's exam papers is included in the policy.

And since, as far as I can tell, most exams are simply rehashings of the previous years' exams - one would think it more than enough to give students the questions that are coming up, without giving them the answers as well.

Not that I wouldn't agree with you that marking schemes would be very helpful for studying...

When I was in school they put massive emphasis on the mark scheme, too much in fact. But it did help to know how the marks per question were to be allocated to your answer.

I had an Economics test today, first ten questions were multiple choice and worth 2 marks each. Doesn't make any sense to me - usually when a question is worth 2 marks its because there is 1 mark available for working out, even if the answer is wrong.

MrSnuffleupagus · 16-12-2010 8:37pm

I'm in the reading room now, the guy sitting across from me has been stretching his legs over to my side (and leaving them there) for the past hour. I wouldn't mind so much if he didn't keep rubbing against my legs with his feet

Padkir · 16-12-2010 8:40pm

MrSnuffleupagus wrote: »

I'm in the reading room now, the guy sitting across from me has been stretching his legs over to my side (and leaving them there) for the past hour. I wouldn't mind so much if he didn't keep rubbing against my legs with his feet

Maybe he likes you...;)

Ah no in all seriousness that sounds fierce annoying!! Tell him to move his hooves!!

randylonghorn · 16-12-2010 8:52pm

Fionn MacCool wrote: »

I had an Economics test today, first ten questions were multiple choice and worth 2 marks each. Doesn't make any sense to me - usually when a question is worth 2 marks its because there is 1 mark available for working out, even if the answer is wrong.

Sometimes ... or sometimes the questions are just judged to be worth 2 marks each (or whatever proportion of the overall marks).

randylonghorn · 17-12-2010 1:28am

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

Put your hand on his leg. No more legs. In fact, probably no more guy.

Or ... :pac:

EDIT: huh?

MrSnuffleupagus · 17-12-2010 12:50pm

Padkir wrote: »

Maybe he likes you...;)

Ah no in all seriousness that sounds fierce annoying!! Tell him to move his hooves!!

I would have told him where to shove that foot, but I was almost done, didn't want to cause a scene! *shudders*

Thing that really annoyed me was that before he came and sat down I had my feet on his side (Long legs, had to stretch :cool: ), I moved back to my side when he sat down out of courtesy!

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 19-12-2010 10:49pm

I absolutely hate the way you cant leave in the last half hour of exams. All it does is encourage people to rush for fear of being left sitting in the exam hall for 25 minutes.

lukegjpotter · 19-12-2010 10:54pm

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

I absolutely hate the way you cant leave in the last half hour of exams. All it does is encourage people to rush for fear of being left sitting in the exam hall for 25 minutes.

Yes I agree

Squeeonline · 20-12-2010 2:43am

It's probably the only fair way to do it. Otherwise loads of people would be leaving in the last few minutes disturbing everyone else.

Ficheall · 20-12-2010 1:57pm

Exactly. It's not going to kill you to wait for an extra half an hour.

the keen edge · 20-12-2010 3:37pm

I totally agree with the no leaving during the last half hour.

It takes some of the pressure of you, if you are going to use the full amount of time to complete the exam.

Besides IMO good exam planning means utilising every given minute to achieve your best possible mark.

Any body leaving half an hour early in a 2 or 3 hour exam, has either left a lot of blank spaces on their exam answer book, or is a genius, and I've met only a handful of them in my time.

Fisher Calhoun · 21-12-2010 12:03pm

Agreed with the above three posts. If people were allowed to leave during the last half hour, the noise and disturbance would be unfair to those who weren't finished and were trying to get done in time.

I'm also surprised that given the level of giving out here at the moment that nobody's complained about the increase in the fine for forgetting your Student ID card at an exam. I just passed a PC Suite where exams had been going on and spotted that the notice referred to a €30 fine for forgetting your ID card! Dammit, that's €10 more than previously! Let the outrage commence!

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 21-12-2010 4:36pm

Squeeonline wrote: »

It's probably the only fair way to do it. Otherwise loads of people would be leaving in the last few minutes disturbing everyone else.

The way it is at the moment however there are one and half hour, two hour, and three hour exams all in the same hall meaning people are getting disturbed on a regular basis anyway.

Fisher Calhoun · 21-12-2010 7:17pm

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

The way it is at the moment however there are one and half hour, two hour, and three hour exams all in the same hall meaning people are getting disturbed on a regular basis anyway.

Maybe so, but none of those students are being disturbed in the last half hour of their exam, never mind being disturbed with 5-10 minutes to go while trying to frantically get a question finished off with people all around you are moving about... No, I think the current system is the fairest.

jefreywithonef · 24-12-2010 5:32pm

Is Blackboard down for anyone else? Haven't been able to access it in a few days now.

RolandIRL · 24-12-2010 5:36pm

http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/blackboard.nuigalway.ie

Mikey23 · 24-12-2010 7:29pm

Blackboard servers were being attacked yesterday, according to an email circulated by ISS. Won't be back online until Jan 3rd at the earliest I was told, tho most staff are back on the 5th so it could be then.

Bit bummed myself as I'm teaching distance learners on the 8th, so that eats into prep time.

Fionn MacCool · 26-12-2010 1:15am

Did they not say Blackboard would be down for maintenance for a while, in an email before the holidays?

That's pretty poor if it's to be down til Jan 3rd, I seem to remember seeing one or two assignments I have to hand in when we get back but didn't get a chance to download them yet.

Fisher Calhoun wrote: »

Agreed with the above three posts. If people were allowed to leave during the last half hour, the noise and disturbance would be unfair to those who weren't finished and were trying to get done in time.

The 'noise and disturbance' would be just as bad as it is 31mins before the end when loads of people leave at once (due to this rule). In fact it would spread out people's exits a bit more so less noise. It's not that bad anyway really - if you're getting thrown off track that badly by a few people leaving then you're going to do terrible in many work environments (but hey, exams are a crap way of assessing how you'd get on in a work environment anyway).

I'm also surprised that given the level of giving out here at the moment that nobody's complained about the increase in the fine for forgetting your Student ID card at an exam. I just passed a PC Suite where exams had been going on and spotted that the notice referred to a €30 fine for forgetting your ID card! Dammit, that's €10 more than previously! Let the outrage commence!

It's just another arbitrary charge the uni has decided to force on it's students. It could be €60 and we still wouldn't have much of a choice to pay it (or fail exams).

the keen edge · 26-12-2010 1:22pm

Fionn MacCool wrote: »

The 'noise and disturbance' would be just as bad as it is 31mins before the end when loads of people leave at once (due to this rule). In fact it would spread out people's exits a bit more so less noise.

Well I can't see how allowing people to leave anytime they want would mean less noise.

If no one taking the same exam as you can leave in the last half an hour, then there is no noise from people taking the same exam as you, leaving in the last half an hour.

And I don't see student's, bar a couple, rushing their exam to finish it at 31 minutes before so they can leave 15 minutes early, rather than 15 minutes later.

Fionn MacCool wrote: »

It's not that bad anyway really - if you're getting thrown off track that badly by a few people leaving then you're going to do terrible in many work environments (but hey, exams are a crap way of assessing how you'd get on in a work environment anyway).

Stress at exam time, specifically whist sitting an exam, can be immense for some student.
Its ridiculous to say that if a student feels under pressure at this time they will do terrible in many work environments, that is simply not true.

I agree with you about exams being a poor way of assessing students.
I wonder, say in 10 years time, what direction assessing students will have gone?

TheCosmicFrog · 26-12-2010 5:05pm

Can't agree with this at all. Making it so students can't leave in the last 30 minutes is an absolute must. The last 30 minutes (for me at least) are by far the most hectic. It's where you start to realise, "Oh crap - I don't have much time left.", and is usually where you get a lot of work done. At the same time, there would be many students finishing early on purpose to avoid the end-of-exam crush, so there would be people getting up every few seconds and disturbing everyone.

This way, if students want to leave early, they leave before the last vital 30 minutes. You can then work away knowing you won't be disturbed. Yes, there's still the end-of-exam crush for those who wait, but it's a necessary evil.

Fionn MacCool · 26-12-2010 8:58pm

the keen edge wrote: »

Well I can't see how allowing people to leave anytime they want would mean less noise.

If no one taking the same exam as you can leave in the last half an hour, then there is no noise from people taking the same exam as you, leaving in the last half an hour.

And I don't see student's, bar a couple, rushing their exam to finish it at 31 minutes before so they can leave 15 minutes early, rather than 15 minutes later.

Stress at exam time, specifically whist sitting an exam, can be immense for some student.
Its ridiculous to say that if a student feels under pressure at this time they will do terrible in many work environments, that is simply not true.

I agree with you about exams being a poor way of assessing students.
I wonder, say in 10 years time, what direction assessing students will have gone?

Eh what are you on about? I said 31 minutes before the end, as you see a lot of people leaving just before the 'cut off' time.

And I didn't mention being under pressure, I said if you're gettin that badly distracted by 30 or so people walking out of an exam hall you're going to have a nightmare in a hectic work environment. The noise isn't that bad, it's not like they're coming over ruffling you hair and trying to bum you (maybe that's just me)

QueenOfLeon · 30-12-2010 11:39am

I wish Christmas exam results didn't take so long coming back. I just want to have them completely over and done with and not have to think about them when I get back. We were told by 1 lecturer that it might be February when we have his module's one back. We already got 1 full result, just give us the rest! :mad:

ZRelation · 30-12-2010 12:46pm

Trust me, marking a big dirty pile of barely legible exam scripts does not make for a fun Christmas!! Although it does beat some of the fine Christmas TV!

Fionn MacCool · 30-12-2010 6:56pm

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

I wish Christmas exam results didn't take so long coming back. I just want to have them completely over and done with and not have to think about them when I get back. We were told by 1 lecturer that it might be February when we have his module's one back. We already got 1 full result, just give us the rest! :mad:

I did 3 essays and 2 IT assignments back before mid-November and haven't received a single mark back. €6000 well spent

Not really bothered about exam results, you usually know coming out of them if you've done well or not. That said, the fact we are never told about mark schemes make it a bit harder to gauge how well you might have done.

Raging_Ninja · 03-01-2011 6:25pm

IT building was supposed to be open since the 1st but hasn't meaning I have to use the stupid computer suites on the concourse which are absolutely freezing and are so limited. Blackboard is down, and my supervisor hasn't responded to my emails which makes me think either he can't get access to the internet or my studentmail is on the fritz.

Maigh Eo · 12-01-2011 3:57pm

Recently I have started taking in packets of "cup of soups" as I over spent during the Christmas season. So finding out that I had to pay 25 cent for a cup of hot water in the bialann is a JOKE. The following day the lady in Starbucks was really afraid to give me a cup of hot water and told me off! Its hot water for flips sake!:cool:

snubbleste · 12-01-2011 4:02pm

Maigh Eo wrote: »

Recently I have started taking in packets of "cup of soups" as I over spent during the Christmas season. So finding out that I had to pay 25 cent for a cup of hot water in the bialann is a JOKE. The following day the lady in Starbucks was really afraid to give me a cup of hot water and told me off! Its hot water for flips sake!:cool:

Hot water is not free and neither is the cup!

Maigh Eo · 12-01-2011 4:23pm

snubbleste wrote: »

Hot water is not free and neither is the cup!

Not even a paper one???:eek:

benjamin d · 12-01-2011 4:49pm

Maigh Eo wrote: »

Not even a paper one???:eek:

They work out around 10c each believe it or not!

snubbleste · 12-01-2011 4:49pm

Maigh Eo wrote: »

Not even a paper one???:eek:

No.

TheCosmicFrog · 12-01-2011 7:06pm

Maigh Eo wrote: »

So finding out that I had to pay 25 cent for a cup of hot water in the bialann is a JOKE

You're actually paying for the paper cup. I noticed this for the first time this morning when getting a cup of tea. There was a sign that said, "Disposable Cups: 25c".

Remember, those cups and the cost of constantly boiling water can get pretty high. You could reach a compromise by bringing in cuppa soups and a flask of hot water?

ct89 · 13-01-2011 9:51pm

1. Bialann too small especially at 1-3pm
2. Lack of pc suite space
3. Ditto for library
4. SU are self-serving politicians, make no mistake
5. G4 fúckers, the cp going type
6. Paying for a gym we cant use unless we pay a bit more

muselover · 14-01-2011 4:28pm

Anyone else feel like they're being watched when eating in the Bialann?

Ficheall · 14-01-2011 8:00pm

Are you hot?

HotDogger · 14-01-2011 10:36pm

I think everyone should boycott all of the stores and restaurants on campus until they:

1) get rid of the student levy.

2) get rid of the student union.

3) let people use the gym.

Or everyone could bus over to Dublin again. I'm sure a second round would get 'er done.

Raging_Ninja · 15-01-2011 12:47am

Need for more and bigger lecture rooms.

TheCosmicFrog · 15-01-2011 3:08am

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

Need for more and bigger lecture rooms.

Arts student? I saw pictures of a lecture in AM250 and couldn't believe how packed it was. People sitting on the stairs all the way from the top to the bottom. Serious violation of the fire code as well, but I suppose the "sure it'll be grand" mentality applies...

HotDogger · 15-01-2011 3:19pm

In all fairness, those rooms will be half empty by mid-semester. Still, it's amazing how much of the AM building is a big waste of space.

Zillah · 15-01-2011 3:56pm

muselover wrote: »

Anyone else feel like they're being watched when eating in the Bialann?

Are you a person of generous girth? In my experience it is only ever such individuals that have issues with being seen while eating.

TheCosmicFrog · 16-01-2011 1:47am

HotDogger wrote: »

Still, it's amazing how much of the AM building is a big waste of space.

Care to elaborate?

Official Bitch about daily life in NUIG!

Comments