Mature, distance student needs Maths grinds

Teamhar

Hey folks,

My partner is driving me insane whining about how he's got so much on his plate between his job and college assignments. Every single day he says he's wrecked and his health is suffering... and I could go on. It's getting hard for me to listen to him and be sympathetic but that's not really here nor there or relevent to this particular forum!

Basically, he's doing the Oscail course in Computer Science run by DCU and being so long out of school, he's finding the maths module particularly hard going. He's managed fine up 'til now on his own, but without instruction and help, he's going to crack.

Could anyone advise where he could get a few hours of grinds to help him with his final assignment? We're in North Wicklow but I'll gladly drive him to somewhere in Dublin with a fistful of cash if it gives me some peace.

Thanks guys,
T.

Grudaire

The maths Learning centre on campus might be enough?

Teamhar

No, he's going to need one-to-one guidance on this particular assignment, someone's house or our home would be best. He's never even been out to DCU and as the course is so shoddily put together and despite paying over a grand, he has no idea who or where he can turn for assistance.

Cheers,
T.

Teamhar

Hi,

Also, had a look at the times that centre is open from and its only Monday to Friday and mostly office hours. No good for someone who's working full time unfortunately. Thanks anyway.

T.

dory

How about pop over to the Leaving Cert board and look up the maths grinds section. Some of those people are very qualified and could handle much more than leaving cert maths. Some are only asking 20 an hour which is damn good for grinds. You could email them on some examples and ask if they'd be able to teach those.
Best of luck!

Teamhar

Thanks, I'll do that and see what's what. He's taking the day off tomorrow so I'm going to run him out to DCU and check out that centre. He should really have been told about that and any other supports when the course started. Anyhoo, hopefully that will help.

As an aside, I was checking out UCD's grinds file and got a number of contacts for people who supposedly did grinds- people with MSc's and PhD's in maths, or related subjects along the lines of actuarial or physics. Every single one of them said no. Either they were too busy or else said, on hearing what he needed, "Sorry, no, can't help- ages since I've done that and can't remember". Ha ha!

Thanks again,
T.

LeixlipRed

I gave someone grinds in oscail maths last year. Anyone who has a degree in maths should be able to help. If they're not I'd be worried about their competence tbh.

Teamhar

My sentiments exactly.

We went to the Maths support centre in DCU on Friday and there were a couple of people who supposedly worked there. One guy was useless, had never heard of the Oscail course and couldn't help him with his material. Another chap there, an older guy started to give him a hand then had to leave all of a sudden.

He's pretty downhearted about the whole thing and particularly disappointed with the lack of support. I'd be very surprised if he continues with it. He's a skilled IT engineer, who looks after and supports the infrastructure of a large company with offices nationwide and in his point of view, the Computer Science degree has absolutely no relevence to his day to day work. Having seen the course content and as an engineer myself, I'm inclinded to agree. The poor guy just wants a degree to have on his CV but there doesn't seem to be a lot of choice in this country when it comes to studying by distance or part-time. We're heading to Canada in September, my home country, and there at least he'll be able to study something that's of interest and applicable to his career.

Thanks.

LeixlipRed

The Maths Support Centre in DCU is fairly useless. It's mostly manned by staff who have to work there due to obligations in their Phd/Masters funding contract. Where do you live? If you're anywhere near Maynooth/Leixlip or willing to travel I'd be willing to take a few hours to go through some of it with him.

Fuhrer

Pm me a copy of his assignment and ill see if I know how to do it.

Teamhar

Hiya,

I've attached the wayward maths assignment here. If anyone has some very clear pointers or tips on how he can proceed, we'd be grateful. Please bear in mind that this guy is 34 years old and hasn't had much exposure to maths since ordinary level leaving cert. He has managed fine until now howerver, so he's not stupid!

Even better, if someone is in a position to meet up and offer practical assistance for a couple of hours either at or near our home in Bray, we could pay a small fee.

Thanks,
Tara

Teamhar

Uh, thanks, but its not Leaving Cert maths- its a university course and even the people at this so-called university don't seem to be able or willing to help him.

Teamhar

He doesn't want to do well, he just wants to pass and stats is only a small part of it. Like the rest of the maths course, completely useless and non-relevent to his subject matter. He has the leaving cert text book but its not particularly useful. Nor is his brother, who's a maths teacher.

Ah well, he'll struggle on. Its due next week so he's going to give it a last bash this weekend.

LeixlipRed

The OP's husband does not need a crash course in stats. There is absolutely no reason why the Maths Learning Centre in DCU cannot help you OP. This is elementary statistics and they must have people who know this stuff.

loctite

LeixlipRed wrote: »

The OP's husband does not need a crash course in stats. There is absolutely no reason why the Maths Learning Centre in DCU cannot help you OP. This is elementary statistics and they must have people who know this stuff.

Don't know about this... I'm a mature student finishing full time undergrad in Accounting & Finance. Had module (Quanitative methods) which was all statistics and there was no support for this module in the MLC.

I did go there looking for help, in fairness they did try but it was ultimately useless.

To be honest. The Lecturers and Tutors I had for this module were even worse... They may know their stuff but they sure as hell can't teach.

Teamhar

We visited the maths support centre last week and he spent over an hour there. Three seperate people attempted to help him- one old guy looked like he was going to be good but then he had to leave. The other two didn't have a clue and made no effort to help.

Absolutely useless service. In fact, it's a useless course that exists no doubt as a money spinner. I'd say very few people who sign on as mature students make it yet they pocket the extortionate fees that cover a handful of books and the "Moodle".

Continuing to rant, why do mature students have to pay fees? Are our taxes that subsidise all these useless Arts brats no good for us? Can't wait 'til they have to start paying fees: it might actually mean some parking spaces in UCD when the vacuous, fluffy-haired blondes have to give up their Mini Coopers. Daddy will put his foot down- fees or flashy car but not both. Get a travel pass like the rest of had to.

carlowboy

Teamhar wrote: »

We visited the maths support centre last week and he spent over an hour there. Three seperate people attempted to help him- one old guy looked like he was going to be good but then he had to leave. The other two didn't have a clue and made no effort to help.

Absolutely useless service. In fact, it's a useless course that exists no doubt as a money spinner. I'd say very few people who sign on as mature students make it yet they pocket the extortionate fees that cover a handful of books and the "Moodle".

Continuing to rant, why do mature students have to pay fees? Are our taxes that subsidise all these useless Arts brats no good for us? Can't wait 'til they have to start paying fees: it might actually mean some parking spaces in UCD when the vacuous, fluffy-haired blondes have to give up their Mini Coopers. Daddy will put his foot down- fees or flashy car but not both. Get a travel pass like the rest of had to.

I'm guessing he'd have to go full time if he wants free fees. That's assuming he's never done a third level course?

That looks simple enough stats alright. I'm really puzzled and sad to hear that no one could help you in the MLC

LeixlipRed

Is there a lecturer or tutor in charge of this course? Maybe contact them and arrange a meeting to go through the material.

Teamhar

Unfortunately the tutor won't engage with students via email, and he has tried. He really is on his own and the assignment is due on Wednesday. He's upstairs now tearing his hair out, god love him.

Thanks for trying guys, any input was appreciated.

T.

LeixlipRed

How does the tutor "engage" so? Their must be someone he can go see that can help. I know a number of lectures in the Maths Dept. out in DCU but I'm not sure who's in charge of these modules. May not be Maths Dept. at all.

Ace2007

loctite wrote: »

To be honest. The Lecturers and Tutors I had for this module were even worse... They may know their stuff but they sure as hell can't teach.

who was ur lecturer...gk?

loctite

Ace2007 wrote: »

who was ur lecturer...gk?

Wouldn't like to name names....

dsedeath

Bit late to reply now, I know, but I am a qualified statistician, ex part time lecturer too and recently made redundant, so starting to do university grinds, if you are interested I can be contacted on verano23@hotmail.com