Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Computing Students

  • 27-10-2011 7:23pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭


    Just wondering if there are any first year computing students out there (multimedia, it support etc) if so, how ye finding the course so far?


«13456738

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 15,127 ✭✭✭✭kerry4sam


    what would be studied in this course, out of interest?


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    At the moment, Just Basic for programming, XHTML for web design, Maths (statistics, ratios) and donkey stuff which is using word and powerpoint and writing reports correctly, we also have a class drawing images on Illustrator which is pretty cool but we haven't done much. Tough enough course in all honesty, have to constantly study outside of class or you will fall miles behind with the programming and web design.


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,127 ✭✭✭✭kerry4sam


    would their be many during this course this year?

    It sounds like something that'd just go over my head tbh, fair play to you for having a aptitude for something like this :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    80 something at the moment, but the drop out rate would be fairly steady throughout I'd imagine. Biggest problem with a course like this is that if you fail to grasp one aspect of say programming earlier on, you'll really struggle as the course goes on as everything is connected.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 816 ✭✭✭Opinicus


    3rd year Software dev student here.

    There is a fairly atrocious dropout rate alright. Started off with over 100 in first year between MM, SD, GD etc. About twenty five left excluding Erasmus students. Only seven regular students left in SD this year plus 6 Erasmus students.

    If you follow the Software Dev or Games Dev course you'll end up taking modules in Computer Architecture, Database Design, Database Programming, Algorithms, Networking, Routing, Lan Switching & Wireless, Object Oriented Analysis & Design and 4 Object Oriented Programming modules. (Plus a few more that I can't think of off the top of my head.)

    Plus a dedicated module for a big project in semester 2 of 2nd and 3rd year. Each group i.e. MM, SD etc have their own different types of projects. There will also be one or two specialised modules for each path. e.g. SD had algorithms and Software Testing whereas GD and MM had different modules.

    Mostly you'll be working with Java, SQL and some C#.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    Opinicus wrote: »
    3rd year Software dev student here.

    There is a fairly atrocious dropout rate alright. Started off with over 100 in first year between MM, SD, GD etc. About twenty five left excluding Erasmus students. Only seven regular students left in SD this year plus 6 Erasmus students.

    If you follow the Software Dev or Games Dev course you'll end up taking modules in Computer Architecture, Database Design, Database Programming, Algorithms, Networking, Routing, Lan Switching & Wireless, Object Oriented Analysis & Design and 4 Object Oriented Programming modules. (Plus a few more that I can't think of off the top of my head.)

    Plus a dedicated module for a big project in semester 2 of 2nd and 3rd year. Each group i.e. MM, SD etc have their own different types of projects. There will also be one or two specialised modules for each path. e.g. SD had algorithms and Software Testing whereas GD and MM had different modules.

    Mostly you'll be working with Java, SQL and some C#.
    Do the groups split in 2nd year? Like at the moment the groups are based on your surname and not what course you are in, so there's a mix of all different courses in my group, or in 2nd year will Games Dev students only be with other Games Dev students etc?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 816 ✭✭✭Opinicus


    When I started we had common lectures, but for the labs you were split into your courses i.e. GD or SD for labs as each lab only has ~24 PCs. There were three groups of Games Dev in First year when I started and they were split up within themselves again based on surname.


  • Registered Users Posts: 41 Lynk


    Yeah I'm doing first year Multimedia, finding the course to be interesting so far. Generally well paced. Thought the visual assignment looked a nightmare when I received it but when I actually did it, it didn't take that long to complete. Did alright in the programming test aswell, considering I was on a mystery tour the night before. Worried about the feedback I'm getting about the long term, I've heard multimedia is generally easier than games development but I don't know.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    Lynk wrote: »
    Yeah I'm doing first year Multimedia, finding the course to be interesting so far. Generally well paced. Thought the visual assignment looked a nightmare when I received it but when I actually did it, it didn't take that long to complete. Did alright in the programming test aswell, considering I was on a mystery tour the night before. Worried about the feedback I'm getting about the long term, I've heard multimedia is generally easier than games development but I don't know.

    I found that assigment a bit of a nightmare, each caption took me about 3 hours alone on brainstorming, then printing off images and pasting them in the scrapbook was a task in itself, I spent so long doing the brainstorming I neglected the actual photographs and found myself having to take some at like 2 am the night before it was due.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,139 ✭✭✭-Trek-


    All I can remember of visual comms is this ...

    27531_125175210833643_3622_n.jpg

    and if you think you have it bad now with brainstorming wait till digital imaging next semester.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 752 ✭✭✭JFlah


    Just switched to the MultiMedia program from ItSupport , 1st semester is a bit tougher than i imagined lots of time consuming stuff especially Vis Comm assignment and a ridiculously harshly marked IT Apps assignment/presentation , interersting stuff in general though especially Programming and Web Design which u definitely need to keep up with or I think everything following on will be a struggle, just hoping to get final assignments asap so as not to end up trying to do everything in a rush . Maths a pleasant surprise too , gentle enough pace so far


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    JFlah wrote: »
    Just switched to the MultiMedia program from ItSupport , 1st semester is a bit tougher than i imagined lots of time consuming stuff especially Vis Comm assignment and a ridiculously harshly marked IT Apps assignment/presentation , interersting stuff in general though especially Programming and Web Design which u definitely need to keep up with or I think everything following on will be a struggle, just hoping to get final assignments asap so as not to end up trying to do everything in a rush . Maths a pleasant surprise too , gentle enough pace so far
    IT Apps was a joke, nearly everyone seemed to be in mid 50s, least its an easy enough module so its not the end of the world getting marked harshly.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,139 ✭✭✭-Trek-


    I think the problem with that was they were marking more for tools used in word (bullet points, tables and all that other crap) more than the actual content of the project. Got caught there as well myself with "appropriate" use of tables, because I didn't think it was appropriate to use it anywhere in my project :D . Ah well I passed in the end so who cares, just let it be a warning for next years crew.


  • Registered Users Posts: 752 ✭✭✭JFlah


    -Trek- wrote: »
    I think the problem with that was they were marking more for tools used in word (bullet points, tables and all that other crap) more than the actual content of the project. Got caught there as well myself with "appropriate" use of tables, because I didn't think it was appropriate to use it anywhere in my project :D . Ah well I passed in the end so who cares, just let it be a warning for next years crew.
    Yeah anyone doing it next year don,t over think it keep it simple and will be a breeze


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    I put a tonne of effort into my actual content, I also included tables, charts, indentation etc and still done quite badly. Bah


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    Trying to find out now if I can get any exemptions, hopefully I can get it for Learning At 3rd Level, our 2nd assigment seems like an absolute nightmare, all the worse seen as I already have 40% but still have to do it :rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,139 ✭✭✭-Trek-


    The group project is it? was dreading that one too, turned out to be a bit of fun in the end and not as bad as expected, this coming from someone who hates public speaking with a passion.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    Yeah that's the one, I really don't see the purpose in that subject, had a 2 hour lab class today and all we did was do a survey and a IQ test, Paul Collins is dead on and he makes the lab classes fairly fun, just annoying putting time into that project when I could be putting it into the god awful visual communications project and the other major subjects. Gonna be fun desiging a website going on the whole 3 lab classes we've had in Illustrator.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,139 ✭✭✭-Trek-


    siblers wrote: »
    Yeah that's the one, I really don't see the purpose in that subject, had a 2 hour lab class today and all we did was do a survey and a IQ test, Paul Collins is dead on and he makes the lab classes fairly fun, just annoying putting time into that project when I could be putting it into the god awful visual communications project and the other major subjects. Gonna be fun desiging a website going on the whole 3 lab classes we've had in Illustrator.

    I had the same feelings about LTL, the only thing is its a good intro to report writing and presentations as it will be used later in the course, there is no escaping it really.

    Illustrator, I hated that program, absolutely hated it, my only advice is Google and YouTube.

    EDIT: that IQ test ... actually I don't want to talk about it :o


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    Dreading that project, I wouldn't mind if we could just go on and just design the damn website, but all this researching is god damn annoying. Visual Comm is an absolute mess the way its designed. Having to do those 2 projects with such little information/advice and almost no practical experience to go on isn't exactly fair.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 752 ✭✭✭JFlah


    siblers wrote: »
    Dreading that project, I wouldn't mind if we could just go on and just design the damn website, but all this researching is god damn annoying. Visual Comm is an absolute mess the way its designed. Having to do those 2 projects with such little information/advice and almost no practical experience to go on isn't exactly fair.
    Don,t actually mind vis comm but what we,ve actually learned is virtually non existent and at the end of the day it,s all about interpretation and my view might be my view it does,nt mean it,s right or wrong imo.

    the pointless L3rdL and it apps simply eating up too much time really , programming after taking a fair leap too!!!

    Going back to Vis Comm , it,s obvious that a certain few have used illustrator and photoshop extensively previously and are very proficient , it just seems a little unfair that complete novices are marked/graded the same as these folk


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 816 ✭✭✭Opinicus


    I thought that the vis comm and digital imaging modules were too heavily weighted towards the creative side of things and not the technical aspects. That's good for the MM students, bad for everyone else. Barely passed both of them, flying for the programming though.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    JFlah wrote: »
    Don,t actually mind vis comm but what we,ve actually learned is virtually non existent and at the end of the day it,s all about interpretation and my view might be my view it does,nt mean it,s right or wrong imo.

    the pointless L3rdL and it apps simply eating up too much time really , programming after taking a fair leap too!!!

    Going back to Vis Comm , it,s obvious that a certain few have used illustrator and photoshop extensively previously and are very proficient , it just seems a little unfair that complete novices are marked/graded the same as these folk
    Im starting to struggle with the programming, can't get to grasp with the loops at all, although from what I can gather, the way John marks his exams you can still do reasonbly well even if you dont fully come to grasp with it. Our Vis Comm class was cancelled on friday because the Adobe software was uninstalled from the machines in the labs, I don't even know where to begin trying to make a start on that project. Did start my web design though, seems fairly easy so far, think once you get the first page done and validated you're half way there.


  • Registered Users Posts: 752 ✭✭✭JFlah


    siblers wrote: »
    Im starting to struggle with the programming, can't get to grasp with the loops at all, although from what I can gather, the way John marks his exams you can still do reasonbly well even if you dont fully come to grasp with it. Our Vis Comm class was cancelled on friday because the Adobe software was uninstalled from the machines in the labs, I don't even know where to begin trying to make a start on that project. Did start my web design though, seems fairly easy so far, think once you get the first page done and validated you're half way there.
    Definitely find a theme for the page and stick with it same them every page and half the work is done , also from what i gather flashy classy looking sites won,t nessecarily do better , include all features and marks will be high..
    Loops are tricky but i think i,m beginning to grasp them lot of problem solving involved I,d say some lads are screwed to be honest!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,244 ✭✭✭AntiRip


    In first year myself. Finding it a lot tougher than I thought, the content is ok but the amount of hours outside of class is ridiculous.

    I suppose time is very short in the semesters compared to full years which they had before.

    Don't worry siblers, I think all of us are struggling with loops, even the guys that scored well on the first CA. I guess we just keep typing out the code until it burns into the brain :)

    The thing I really don't like but there's no other way I guess, is that all the projects come together. Then you're trying to prioritise them all and still try and keep on top of all the other subjects.

    Two subjects that I'm really not enjoying is LA3L and VC. How are we expected to design an app or website on AI with one lab of AI? That's bugging me abit alright.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,139 ✭✭✭-Trek-


    The outside of hours extra work is the sad reality of semesterisation I feel. And it going to get worse before it gets better (i hope, it gets better that is). In second year at the moment and I feel like I'm going to pop any second if they don't quit with the flippin assignments and mini projects. I mean I leave the college, come home and its in front of the pc for another 3 - 4 hours. It can get so bad at times, you begin to neglect other subjects due to the amount of work a in single subject (Yes, Structured analysis and Design, I'm looking at you :mad: ) ARGGGHHH!

    Sorry for the mini rant, not meaning to put anyone off, I just had to let it out :o

    Anyway, a decent enough link for all things illustrator tutorials related click here http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Illustrator/1 you might get some hints and tips from it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    -Trek- wrote: »
    The outside of hours extra work is the sad reality of semesterisation I feel. And it going to get worse before it gets better (i hope, it gets better that is). In second year at the moment and I feel like I'm going to pop any second if they don't quit with the flippin assignments and mini projects. I mean I leave the college, come home and its in front of the pc for another 3 - 4 hours. It can get so bad at times, you begin to neglect other subjects due to the amount of work a in single subject (Yes, Structured analysis and Design, I'm looking at you :mad: ) ARGGGHHH!

    Sorry for the mini rant, not meaning to put anyone off, I just had to let it out :o

    Anyway, a decent enough link for all things illustrator tutorials related click here http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Illustrator/1 you might get some hints and tips from it.
    No worries with the rant, it feels nice to vent. Glad to see I'm not the only one frustrated with the layout of the course.
    Definitely find a theme for the page and stick with it same them every page and half the work is done , also from what i gather flashy classy looking sites won,t nessecarily do better , include all features and marks will be high..
    Loops are tricky but i think i,m beginning to grasp them lot of problem solving involved I,d say some lads are screwed to be honest!!!
    I was in college from half 11 to 5 on Friday working on my home page for the web design, I can relax a small bit on that project now as I have the foundation in place. I've totally neglected my programming recently, with web design project and the ca, plus maths CA on thursday it's starting to pile up.
    Don't worry siblers, I think all of us are struggling with loops, even the guys that scored well on the first CA. I guess we just keep typing out the code until it burns into the brain

    The thing I really don't like but there's no other way I guess, is that all the projects come together. Then you're trying to prioritise them all and still try and keep on top of all the other subjects.

    Two subjects that I'm really not enjoying is LA3L and VC. How are we expected to design an app or website on AI with one lab of AI? That's bugging me abit alright.
    I found Just Basic fairly hand up until loops, I'd have gotten 100 in the first CA only I couldn't remember how to do the Trim feature properly but the loops was a complete shock to me. I'd rather scrape by in the likes of LATL and IT APPS and do well in programming as that's what will count in the long run.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,244 ✭✭✭AntiRip


    -Trek- wrote: »
    The outside of hours extra work is the sad reality of semesterisation I feel. And it going to get worse before it gets better (i hope, it gets better that is). In second year at the moment and I feel like I'm going to pop any second if they don't quit with the flippin assignments and mini projects. I mean I leave the college, come home and its in front of the pc for another 3 - 4 hours.

    That's what I'm afraid of. Imagine having two young children at home looking for constant attention!

    I'm finding the balance tough as I'm on the pc full time. Even if you were working you'd get to relax when you get home for a few hours.

    Even if I can do the course well, I'm not sure if I can keep up with the pace now never mind 2nd and 3rd year without a divorce and paying maintenance at the end of it.. :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭✭siblers


    Was surprised by our Web Design CA, was expecting it to be a lot more complicated.


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,244 ✭✭✭AntiRip


    siblers wrote: »
    Was surprised by our Web Design CA, was expecting it to be a lot more complicated.

    The CA in class or the webpage project?


Advertisement