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
Oscail - Exemptions
Options
-
26-02-2008 9:41pm#1
Comments
-
-
-
The thing about an IT degree from Oscail is that you have to be interested in more in business and management rather than the technology side of things.
The Oscail IT degree should really be called Oscail Business Studies, electronics, mathematics with a smattering of IT Degree.
Computer science is a very very very small part of the course as such and is covered in rushed wikipedia style definitions. It does not really cover any developments in IT over the last 10 years - it will pretend to by mentioning them in introductions to modules.
The C2 programming module is an example of how the difference between what you think you will learn on the course and what actually happens -the module is largely wasted as everyone starts enthusiastically thinking they will be a programmer by the end - but you never get to the point of actually creating a program with a graphical interface- just crude hello world variants in black dos interfaces. By the end everyone is just glad to have the module over and because of the way it is taught you will be in no rush to do any further learning about programming again.
No disk is given with this module and you end up having to type tedious amounts of code with extreme accuracy into a compiler not really knowing what it is supposed to represent. For some reason they have stuck with the C programming language when Java would is more English-like and intuitive.
The CA at the degree level of computing cover databases and is necessary.
The HS modules are interesting if you have an interest in psychology. HS1 is identical to the psychology section of a business studies course/certificate... Corporate culture, group motivation, stress etc. HS2 is more of the same with a greater emphasis on ergonomics -though the course writer does not come across as having a background in computers or interface design and stretches to make any links between computers and ergonomics at all. There is a bizarre tangent for 4 chapters into safety in the work place-not safety legislation or current legal requirements just stuff about how we must all think about safety to avoid accidents.
HSA initially looks good as there is no exam -but you quickly learn that it is the most hated of modules. You will be marked on assignments and on contribution to online discussions-- all of which concern themselves with the theology and navel gazing philosophy of IT...you will spend hours and hours contributing to discussions on the VLE trying to gain points from a tutor. You will spend further hours and hours having to read the tedious contributions of 30 other students and faming interest in them to gain points from your tutor.
In essence all discussion will hinge on one thing………. what it will be like when everyone has a computer and what effect it will have on society? You and everyone else doing the HSA module will know that this is a discussion that is being held 10 years too late -as everyone already has a computer, but you cannot say this. This module has a very high attrition rate and this may affect you as you have to work in groups of 4 or 5 and when someone drops out of the course everyone else is left to carry the can and the workload. It is also very time consuming an in all cases guarantees that it take 3 years to complete the 6 degree modules.
It is a fact that you can only complete the 6 degree modules in 2 years if you work for example as a security guard doing night shift in a library and can study at work
……….ALSO it would help if you live at home with your mother and have no family commitments.
MS1 is the basic quantitative maths module found in all IT courses and as such is necessary.
MS2 is accountancy maths - things like simulating stock levels and managing them and matrices. It may of interest to people working in logistics or delivery management for a large courier or distributor- it is not an easy module and is not made easier by the fact that it fails to show where you might use alot of the maths.
MSA is all about being a CIO with no technical knowledge, how to get the position and what to say to hold onto it as long as possible without being found out. Assignment 1 is an extremely tedious affair which takes weeks and weeks -where you have to Google 40(yes 40!!!) companies’ websites on a given list and write 200 words describing each what each of them does there is also two essay on CIO's to research and write. However there are two good assignments: 1 all about ERP and the other about doing a business plan... which may be on interest if you want set up your own business (and which is apparently compulsory HEA content for all degrees in Ireland now). However ERP is not covered in the module and you are left to your own devices to research the topic so as to complete the assignment
The CT modules cover all the basics. CT1 and CT2 physics and electrical science. These can be a struggle for most people without an electronics background -with topics such as phase delay of sine waves in radians, Fourier analysis, time domain analysis. While this can be a bit of pain it is necessary for a good first principle understanding of networks.
There is however sometimes a tendency to overstep the mark on occasion and go into pure electronic engineering and an obvious lack of focus in determining the difference between what an IT person does and what a electronic engineer does.
For instance there is an assumption that in all IT departments there is a pot of molten sand always on the boil so that you can make your own IT equipment with a very tiny solder iron rather buy anything in. One example of this is you will spend a week of your life studying how a JK flip-flop circuit is built and works. Such diversions to what most people consider to be off topic is likely the result of the smaller financial resources available to Oscail as opposed to say the OU and the resultant lack of drive to be cutting edge in the topics covered.
CTA is well written but has an over emphasis on sub layer 1 topics to the detriment of layer 2 protocols which are only briefly covered along with a rushed treatment of networking.
In this module you learn that there are what I can only describe as are tiny blue Smurfs sitting up on top of electrons in all network cables and that they wave flags at each other using sublayer 1 coding techniques – you will then learn to use probability mathematics to work out how reliable their flag waving is. You will have to mathematically work out how to code the flag waving into the most efficient way to save the arms of the poor little Smurfs .
By the end of the module you will have realised that it may be difficult to actually apply any of what you have spent months learning- if you would like to change the coding at sublayer 1 -you woulld have to fly out to China with your newly acquired knowledge and have a chat with who ever made your networking equipment and argue your case
In general about the Oscail IT degree -You may have seen reference to problems with administration in Oscail on other posts on Boards.ie – these have now being largely solved. There is now better people skills and administration skills apparent and less complaints from students- for a while it really a bad joke version of the OU-which lost them some or perhaps a lot of students.
The course is not that innovative or update when compared with the OU offerings and still hangers towards its 1980's roots where civil servants would use it to get a degree to manage tenders for IT tenders/contracts rather have to train to be the tech resources for their departments themselves.
The programme also suffers from a excessively large programme board - the result is a dilution of responsibly and a lack of any major leadership and innovation when compared to a zealous veal that would be more present if the board all consisted of a smaller group more focused group of academics with some experience of what it is like to work in the IT department since windows 95 or the NT server was introduced.
If I were to put an analogy on the signing up for the Oscail Degree – it is like signing up for a degree in journalism only to discover that you spend 4 years solely studying the latin orgin of all English words. For a while you will congratulate yourself on you increased vocabulary.
After you complete it though you will then spend the rest of your life wondering “surely there must have been more stuff we should have covered… I know nothing about computers????”
0 -
-
Vcom,
Cheers for taking the time to write that out in so much detail.
I will go over it fully later.
In all honestly, like most IT degrees out there I wasnt expecting it to be of much help to me in a practical way. Luckily the cert I did coupled with a few professional qualifications and a good few years work experience have given me a lot of practical knowledge. This, as the say, is just a piece of paper, but one which may be of beneifit to me financially at some stage.
Kippy
It great that you have experience in IT already-as to be honest there is no way you could ever talk your way into a graduate position in IT with the Oscail Degree. You would simply make a fool out of yourself at the interview stage.
The problem is that you don't actually learn anything in detail but spend your time getting sidetracked into allsorts of irrelevant tangents:
AFTER THE COURSE- you cannot apply for software engineering jobs because you do not have the programming skills-you will not even have seen what a modern software complier suite look like. In the modern sense of the word (aka the last 15 years) you CANNOT call yourself a "programmer".
Again because computer systems or architecture are not covered in the course you will CANNOT get work in the system administration or support areas of IT- You will not (for example) even know what a Unix box is- not to mind how you would start supporting it!!!
Perhaps one thing the course is suitable for is; if you happen to be an Electronic engineer involved in the manufacture of networking hardware and want to brush up on how to binary 1 and 0 onto a layer 1 electrical signal.
However again in terms of getting work as an actual Network infrastructure support engineer the course only pays lip service to the skills needed to work in supporting Ethernet or any layer 2.3,4 technology- and you are far more likely to learn a lot more from a quick read of wikipedia.
If you work in an IT department that does not have any computers then this course is suitable for you.
Otherwise you should seriously consider the OU. I know they are more expensive but it is far more flexible in terms of choice. Choice in what area you study -and when you study. The ou are trying out sequential rather than simultaneous modules during the year so that you could do 10 hours study per week for the entire year rather than 20 hours for 26 weeks of it like Oscail.
Also to get an honours degree from Oscail you need to take a minimum of 2 modules a year at degree stage. Initially this sounds straight forward but if you move job, house or have child during a degree level year you will have a major problem getting the time to do the 2 modules at the same time- you could easily fall behind and end up with a pass 3rd Degree.
The OU has a straight policy of 8 years to complete your degree. At 360 points -60 points a year means that if you are doing a 60 point module you don’t have your attention split onto 2 unrelated modules. To clarify this point – if you sit down at your desk and reach to select the stuff you are going to study – in Oscail you will reach in a fire brigade way to study the module you are most behind with whereas in the OU you will be doing just the one module and can continue from where you last left off.
Also you should consider the fact that Oscail have dramatically reduced the number of support centres in the last 7 years due to declining student numbers. Support centres are now only in Cork and Dublin. Completion of any assignment without attending a tutorial is next to impossible and is therefore compulsory if you wish to get your degree. The timetable for these tutorials will vary randomly during the year and can be changed at the drop of a hat - so don’t make any plans to attend Six Nations matches etc.
Finally if you don’t like the areas you are studying with the OU –you can switch possibly avoiding being divorced by your long suffering spouse - whereas the Oscail degree you have to take what you are given. If you are not extremely interested in what you are doing your degree in you will be like a bear with a sore head for 7 years and not easy to live with. Choose your degree AND WHERE YOU GET IT carefully !!!!!
0 -
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
I realise i'm a little late to this thread but it certainly gives me some food for thought.
I'd just finished my 1st year with Oscail IT and always started with allowing myself the consideration of jumping ship at the diploma level.
I did the 4 1st level modules in the diploma section this year and got between a 2-2 and 1st in all subjects. I could have done better but didnt attend the tutorials for the most part(Yes silly i know). I have a full time job and my sanity was possibly called into question
The only subject which i really wanted to tear my hair out and shove it down who ever wrote the material throat was HS1 which i felt was nothing more then self referencial wishy-washy BS.
I plan to finish out the diploma level and at current speed i should be finished next year and then review my options.
I guess im looking to know what the difficulty curve is from the 2nd level diploma stuff onwards. I have a bit of background in IT stuff hence having a bit of a grounding for it. In other words if i can handle 4 modules at level one and do pretty ok out of it, how long can i keep that up before hit a change in the difficultly curve?0 -
I realise i'm a little late to this thread but it certainly gives me some food for thought.
I'd just finished my 1st year with Oscail IT and always started with allowing myself the consideration of jumping ship at the diploma level.
I did the 4 1st level modules in the diploma section this year and got between a 2-2 and 1st in all subjects. I could have done better but didnt attend the tutorials for the most part(Yes silly i know). I have a full time job and my sanity was possibly called into question
The only subject which i really wanted to tear my hair out and shove it down who ever wrote the material throat was HS1 which i felt was nothing more then self referencial wishy-washy BS.
I plan to finish out the diploma level and at current speed i should be finished next year and then review my options.
I guess im looking to know what the difficulty curve is from the 2nd level diploma stuff onwards. I have a bit of background in IT stuff hence having a bit of a grounding for it. In other words if i can handle 4 modules at level one and do pretty ok out of it, how long can i keep that up before hit a change in the difficultly curve?
Hey Agent J,
Well done with your results, thats excellent for four modules. I did two and found it tough enough, that said I didnt put a huge amount of effort in and just managed the pass.
Cant help you with your query but agree 100% on HS1. Nonsense.
I amnt looking forward to HS2 but apparently its not as obscure. Time will tell. I have that and MS2 this year.
Best of luck0 -
-
Advertisement