Computing Students

siblers · 27-10-2011 8:23pm #1

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?

kerry4sam · 27-10-2011 8:32pm

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

siblers · 27-10-2011 9:23pm

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.

kerry4sam · 27-10-2011 10:33pm

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

siblers · 27-10-2011 10:36pm

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.

Opinicus · 27-10-2011 11:54pm

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#.

siblers · 28-10-2011 12:20am

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?

Opinicus · 28-10-2011 1:04am

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.

Lynk · 31-10-2011 7:55pm

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.

siblers · 31-10-2011 9:50pm

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.

-Trek- · 31-10-2011 10:34pm

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

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

JFlah · 02-11-2011 6:10pm

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

siblers · 02-11-2011 8:48pm

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.

-Trek- · 02-11-2011 8:59pm

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

. Ah well I passed in the end so who cares, just let it be a warning for next years crew.

JFlah · 02-11-2011 9:35pm

-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 . 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

siblers · 02-11-2011 9:43pm

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

siblers · 10-11-2011 8:16pm

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:

-Trek- · 10-11-2011 10:51pm

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.

siblers · 11-11-2011 12:13am

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.

-Trek- · 11-11-2011 12:23am

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

siblers · 11-11-2011 1:10am

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.

JFlah · 11-11-2011 10:44pm

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

Opinicus · 12-11-2011 6:49am

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.

siblers · 12-11-2011 8:07pm

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.

JFlah · 13-11-2011 5:13pm

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!!!

AntiRip · 13-11-2011 7:38pm

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.

-Trek- · 13-11-2011 8:10pm

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

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.

siblers · 13-11-2011 9:10pm

-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

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.

AntiRip · 13-11-2011 9:38pm

-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..

siblers · 15-11-2011 3:59pm

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

AntiRip · 16-11-2011 8:17am

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?

siblers · 16-11-2011 8:30pm

<mod snip> Very simple stuff. I hope anyways, otherwise I failed miserably.

mod edit: please don't disclose exam details,
Thanks,
kerry4sam

AntiRip · 17-11-2011 4:42pm

The exams for the different groups can be seen in a lab folder for everyone kerry4sam so no great biggy.

Exam was a pleasant surprise alright, definitely not as difficult as I thought it would be

JFlah · 17-11-2011 10:20pm

AntiRip wrote: »

The exams for the different groups can be seen in a lab folder for everyone kerry4sam so no great biggy.

Exam was a pleasant surprise alright, definitely not as difficult as I thought it would be

Yeah Web Design was pretty good , I had a complete and utter blank in Maths though

if I had been asked to count to 10 I,d have failed, pretty gutted as I had the work done .......AAAAAArrrrghh

kerry4sam · 17-11-2011 10:21pm

JFlah wrote: »

Yeah Web Design was pretty good , I had a complete and utter blank in Maths though if I had been asked to count to 10 I,d have failed, pretty gutted as I had the work done .......AAAAAArrrrghh

when do you get your results?

kerry4sam · 17-11-2011 10:22pm

siblers wrote: »

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

many more exams left before Christmas?

AntiRip · 17-11-2011 10:36pm

kerry4sam wrote: »

many more exams left before Christmas?

Programming next exam in two weeks. While loops, etc. Big big step up from CA 1.. Not looking forward to it

AntiRip · 17-11-2011 10:41pm

Actually we may have 2 programming exams before xmas and maths after xmas or it could be visa versa. IT apps first week of Dec in excel and access.

We only have 2 exams for xmas, all others are CAs.

siblers · 17-11-2011 11:04pm

JFlah wrote: »

Yeah Web Design was pretty good , I had a complete and utter blank in Maths though if I had been asked to count to 10 I,d have failed, pretty gutted as I had the work done .......AAAAAArrrrghh

I've absolutley no idea how I did in the maths exam, hadn't a clue how to mathematicaly calculate percentiles or that one where 1:x and 3:y. Im terrible at maths so I'd gladly take a 40% pass at this stage.

As for programming, I'm gonna have to crawl through labsheet 6 and hope I can pick it up, as it stands I wont even be able to attempt a question.

JFlah · 17-11-2011 11:58pm

kerry4sam wrote: »

when do you get your results?

not sure next week sometime

JFlah · 18-11-2011 12:00am

AntiRip wrote: »

Programming next exam in two weeks. While loops, etc. Big big step up from CA 1.. Not looking forward to it

just do as much of CA as you can as well as possible 1st 2 questions on Final Exam are only up to lab sheet 5 so more than do able. plenty to pass without knowing any loops !

siblers · 18-11-2011 12:07am

JFlah wrote: »

just do as much of CA as you can as well as possible 1st 2 questions on Final Exam are only up to lab sheet 5 so more than do able. plenty to pass without knowing any loops !

Need to look over the end of semester exam questions, see if ti will give me a bit of hope. The worry is that even if I do scrape a pass, when we go onto Java ill be totally lost.

JFlah · 18-11-2011 12:53am

siblers wrote: »

Need to look over the end of semester exam questions, see if ti will give me a bit of hope. The worry is that even if I do scrape a pass, when we go onto Java ill be totally lost.

don,t panic cross that bridge next semester , look at past papers on library site you,ll feel much happier

AntiRip · 19-11-2011 8:02am

JFlah wrote: »

Yeah Web Design was pretty good , I had a complete and utter blank in Maths though if I had been asked to count to 10 I,d have failed, pretty gutted as I had the work done .......AAAAAArrrrghh

The thing I found difficult for maths was time. We really didn't get enough time in 1 hour to complete it. The exam should have been in the 2 hour class

siblers · 19-11-2011 9:36pm

Aye, I didn't have enough time to double check any of my calculations, and for the standard deviation stuff, you need to double check it as its so easy to make a mistake. I was really surprised by the marking in Visual Comms, has really taken the pressure off the final project.

JFlah · 21-11-2011 7:41pm

siblers wrote: »

Aye, I didn't have enough time to double check any of my calculations, and for the standard deviation stuff, you need to double check it as its so easy to make a mistake. I was really surprised by the marking in Visual Comms, has really taken the pressure off the final project.

I made a complete ****S of the maths Vis Comm i was thrilled with very fairly marked takes a load of pressure off next one is true

siblers · 21-11-2011 8:07pm

JFlah wrote: »

I made a complete ****S of the maths Vis Comm i was thrilled with very fairly marked takes a load of pressure off next one is true

Yeah, when she was giving them back she was saying to some people how they did really well buyt didn't say anything to me, so I was naturally expecting to have done crap. Was stunned to get the mark I did. Having looked over the solutions for the web design CA, I'm slightly annoyed with the bit where they asked you to link your page to other folders, but because the folders didn't actually exist I didn't know whether to use the "../" or not, I left it out but because there was no way to actually check, so I ended up guessing it. Not a huge deal but kinda frustrating all the same.

starlit · 21-11-2011 10:21pm

OP, I didn't do CS or any of those courses but did a course that included multimedia module and programming. SQL was one the main programming languages in the course I did in ITT. I loved it, very easy to learn. Straight forward when learning databases too. Assignments can be difficult but for the most part I found it very interesting and a very good module. Learnt a fair bit from it. VB, HTML and action script were the other languages as part of my course. I found HTML very easy to learn. One of the easiest programming languages to learn and practice the code. VB isn't too bad if you understand it. Can get hard sometimes but it be easier than Java but the rules of programming for VB and Java are almost the same. I learnt Java in another college course.

Multimedia module in my degree wasn't too bad. I enjoyed it but hard work. Action script was the main language learnt but might not sure how much different it be if doing it as a degree course. The degree be more advanced and you be doing more than just adobe suite. And be learning other applications too.

I liked multimedia, wasn't easy but I enjoyed it. Assignments you have to keep up with them as best you can otherwise you might fall behind. Module was fairly structured. Final project was hard work, had to keep tipping away at it regularly to get the work done on time before the deadline. Design was more important than just functionality.

In your case the code be more important if doing CS if doing MM you be expected to do well on both areas of code and design. Interactivity be very important. Tasks be simple enough and you either like MM or you don't. If you can be creative and imaginative you be grand you don't necessary have to be an artist but an eye for design and or spacial relations helps greatly. Keeping things simple when designing for assignments/projects/CA's, but having a wow or elegant factor is good too.

Visual Communications, have an idea what you be trying to work on and stick with it. If you have an idea and understand how you want it to turn out you do great. Brainstorming is very helpful for this module.

Maths/Statistics isn't too bad. If learning a statistical software package/application its very important you understand how to use it when creating your statistics. Maths is straight forward business maths mainly but CS have slightly more advanced maths I say. It be about Ordinary Leaving Certs Maths level/standard I say.

Thing about Java it be worth getting grinds in it if you have difficulty in it. I found it quiet a difficult language to learn compared to others. I was fine with all the other programming languages I have learnt, was quiet good at the majority of them just Java was my pet hate. Just couldn't get my head around it to be honest. Wished I got the grinds in it to be honest but thought I be ok with the CA results alone. Passed the module anyway at least.

Web design is grand though, if you understand CSS/PHP/HTML/Databases you'll fly it. PHP easier to learn than Java though. Similar rules though but PHP wouldn't be as difficult a language to learn, step my step layout of code is not as strict as Java.

IT/Computer Apps isn't too bad though straight forward for the most part both the practical and theory parts. The practical part is fairly hands on and straight forward.

Keep up to date with documenting your projects though especially in MM. You might forget what you did and so on. Take note what you have done and what you need to do.

Looking back on past exam papers is probably one of the best ways to prepare for exams. Good luck with that OP.

Keeping on top of things will greatly help what ever IT/CS/MM course you decide on.

Opinicus · 26-11-2011 8:10pm

Only two weeks left til Christmas break. Can't believe it. Semester one flew.

How are ye all fixed for CA and exams? I only have four final exams. One before Christmas (OOP4) and three after. I do also have two practical final exams and a project to submit so I still have plenty of work left to do. I have avoided buying Skyrim because if I get it I know that I will neglect everything else

@Doovdela: If you don't mind me asking, do you work in IT now?

-Trek- · 26-11-2011 8:26pm

Opinicus wrote: »

Only two weeks left til Christmas break. Can't believe it. Semester one flew.

:eek::eek::eek:

How are ye all fixed for CA and exams? I only have four final exams. One before Christmas (OOP4) and three after. I do also have two practical final exams and a project to submit so I still have plenty of work left to do.

I'm

screwed

and that's putting it mildly.

I have avoided buying Skyrim because if I get it I know that I will neglect everything else

I knew it would be the end of me but I bought it anyway

Opinicus · 26-11-2011 9:28pm

-Trek- wrote: »

I'm
screwed
and that's putting it mildly.

I used to always think that as well but you'll surprise yourself when you sit down in the exam and start regurgitating stuff.

Computing Students

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