Any other 1st year DKIT'ers out there?

Atomic Pineapple · 30-08-2007 11:33PM

maybe there was more than 56 but there definately wouldnt have been anywhere near 120

i'm the same, completely unorganised, i hated the subject but trust me its harder to fail it than it is to pass it, if you have any motivation to pass at all then you will

smemon · 31-08-2007 12:45AM

yeah according to the dkit website, there's still spaces available on the computing course.. (open up the pdf).

not surprising tbh as like you said, most are into multimedia, plus they're put off by all the media jibberish about job losses/lack of stability etc.. in the tech industry here.

i'd be very surprised if all 120 spaces were filled. I'd be expecting maybe 70/80 at the start max, then a few drop outs as the year goes on..

annex · 31-08-2007 02:28AM

smemon wrote:

i'd be very surprised if all 120 spaces were filled. I'd be expecting maybe 70/80 at the start max, then a few drop outs as the year goes on..

70/80 is being very generous.

experiMental · 31-08-2007 10:38AM

smemon wrote:

not surprising tbh as like you said, most are into multimedia, plus they're put off by all the media jibberish about job losses/lack of stability etc.. in the tech industry here.

It's even harder to find a job in the media than the tech industry, and in all honesty, the standard of DKIT multimedia exhibitions isn't as high as NCAD or DCU. Most graduates of multimedia course are having a really hard time right now trying to find work.

Splat75 · 31-08-2007 01:19PM

annex wrote:

There is more than one of us, I know another mature student that is doing the same class.
When I was interviewed in early June there were a lot of applications on the desk and I was the first interviewed that day. My thinking is that there will be quite a few MS, I was offered a place the day after the interview and to me that tells me the number of school leavers going on the course is down. At the open night in January there was only two people interested in computers, everybody seemed to want onto multimedia.
I was told that the amount of people that will drop out of this course by Christmas is fairly high. Either its too hard or too easy/boring.

There are a certain number of places put aside for mature/non-traditional applicants; not really anything to do with popularity etc

annex · 31-08-2007 02:50PM

Draffodx
Can you remember how much books cost for the first year?

Atomic Pineapple · 31-08-2007 07:54PM

annex wrote:

Draffodx
Can you remember how much books cost for the first year?

not a thing, there were reccommended books you could read and most were available from the library but no books that you had to purchase compulsary, its all photocpied and handed out, not exatly rain forest friendly but much handier for notes.

you may have to buy some books now though as i heard the course has changed such as programming is done in alice as opposed to vb so you may be asked to get a book for this.

a large memory stick/key is handy, about 3 or 4 refill pads, a folder to keep the notes from all the modules separate, lots of pens, a ruler and a really good calculator, if you've got a good calulator your allowed to use it to do some of the equations/calculations.

i was gonna through in directions to the college bar in this post but i'm sure you will find it easily enough

annex · 01-09-2007 08:24PM

draffodx wrote:

not a thing, there were reccommended books you could read and most were available from the library but no books that you had to purchase compulsary, its all photocpied and handed out, not exatly rain forest friendly but much handier for notes.

you may have to buy some books now though as i heard the course has changed such as programming is done in alice as opposed to vb so you may be asked to get a book for this.

a large memory stick/key is handy, about 3 or 4 refill pads, a folder to keep the notes from all the modules separate, lots of pens, a ruler and a really good calculator, if you've got a good calulator your allowed to use it to do some of the equations/calculations.

i was gonna through in directions to the college bar in this post but i'm sure you will find it easily enough

Nice one, more money for me lol.

I won't need directions to the bar, I don't drink

smemon · 02-09-2007 03:55PM

annex wrote:

Nice one, more money for me lol.

I won't need directions to the bar, I don't drink

yeah, no books wohoo

on the downside, that means we must attend all classes then if they hand out photocopies..

also, the bar won't see much of me either, i don't drink.. (well, rarely..)

Atomic Pineapple · 02-09-2007 05:04PM

yeh if you miss notes make sure you get them in the next class, there can be alot of stuff covered in some of the lectures.

ah such unsocial creatures, ya dont have to drink to go to the bar

do either of you know which branch you plan to take after first year or are you waiting to see which aspects of it you enjoy in first year?

smemon · 02-09-2007 09:37PM

draffodx wrote:

do either of you know which branch you plan to take after first year or are you waiting to see which aspects of it you enjoy in first year?

initially, i had applied last year to do applications & support.

i decided to take a year out so this year the new system came in and you have to do general computing for the one year (which is probably better imo)..

so i'll probably go on to applications & support in year 2.. then hopefully onto IT management

annex · 03-09-2007 12:12AM

I am thinking about applications and support too.

annex · 03-09-2007 02:03PM

I still don't know when classes start, the place was so disorganised. There wasn't a soul in the admissions office.

Splat75 · 03-09-2007 02:25PM

annex wrote:

I still don't know when classes start, the place was so disorganised. There wasn't a soul in the admissions office.

All classes start on the 11th and maybe there was no-one in the admissions office because they were doing the registration??

annex · 03-09-2007 02:49PM

Splat75 wrote:

All classes start on the 11th and maybe there was no-one in the admissions office because they were doing the registration??

Get out of bed the wrong side?

That's all well and good but it was chaos, I asked about getting a letter from admissions and I got a brush off answer, ie I have no idea and I don't really care enough to check for you.

elderlymidwife · 03-09-2007 02:57PM

wahoo
i thought we started on Monday so I'll get a lie in on Monday !!!
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr8888888888888

annex · 03-09-2007 03:00PM

elderlymidwife wrote:

wahoo
i thought we started on Monday so I'll get a lie in on Monday !!!
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr8888888888888

I was under the impression we start at the end of the month.

elderlymidwife · 03-09-2007 03:10PM

oh don't tell me that ! Thats way too tempting!!
No according to the academic calendar it is deffo next week !!
Did you not get some sort of timetable for next week ??
How are you supposed to know where and when to show up??

smemon · 03-09-2007 04:01PM

annex, just back from dundalk myself.. was stuck in a queue for about an hour or more :rolleyes: it was down past the atm when i joined :mad:

i got a sheet handed to me (don't remember by who or where) but it gives our class course and what room to go to, plus the start time/date.

room S217, 9am monday the 10th. i'll scan and upload it if you want

annex · 03-09-2007 04:12PM

Yeah same here, finally left the registration hall at 12.15

Don't remember that sheet, maybe I got it and didn't take in what it was, I am a bit scatty at times lol. No need for a scan, at least I know when classes start.
Ok well then i'll see you Monday morning, thanks for the heads up.

smemon · 03-09-2007 04:35PM

annex wrote:

Yeah same here, finally left the registration hall at 12.15

Don't remember that sheet, maybe I got it and didn't take in what it was, I am a bit scatty at times lol. No need for a scan, at least I know when classes start.
Ok well then i'll see you Monday morning, thanks for the heads up.

no problem, see you there..

most of the people i met were doing multimedia, so i'm not quite sure what to expect for our class in terms of numbers..

annex · 03-09-2007 05:16PM

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, everybody seemed to be doing level 8

embee · 03-09-2007 09:24PM

I went to an open day for mature students last week and we were told that classes start on the 10th.

Slashman X · 06-09-2007 06:11PM

Is anyone here doing the "Computing in Internet Technologies"? I'm considering doing it and wanted to know if it was worthwhile

MDTyKe · 07-09-2007 11:41AM

Im doing it Slash (starting 3rd year). I think it's best to ask you; what do you expect its like? It's tied with Games Development for Year 1 and most of Year 2, except for about 1 and eventually up to around 3 classes by the end of Year 2.

In first year you'll do extremely basic stuff, but you have to do it on all courses. That'll include an introduction to programming (Java), Media (web design/graphics), how to type your name in Word, and things like Networks. You also do a stupid course on writing papers etc, bibliographies and what-not which seems useless, but it'll be useless once you come to do your thesis etc in a few years.

Second and third (1st in 2nd year) semester you'll advance on the last, doing Java, Javascript, networks etc. We also start to take on some business electives; management, eBusiness etc which are quite good. As for third year, not sure yet. To note though, our class went from 18-20 to almost 4 from 1st to 2nd year. People "think" its easier than it is; you will need to work!

Any other questions just PM me.

Matt

Slashman X · 07-09-2007 05:46PM

MDTyKe wrote:

Im doing it Slash (starting 3rd year). I think it's best to ask you; what do you expect its like? It's tied with Games Development for Year 1 and most of Year 2, except for about 1 and eventually up to around 3 classes by the end of Year 2.

In first year you'll do extremely basic stuff, but you have to do it on all courses. That'll include an introduction to programming (Java), Media (web design/graphics), how to type your name in Word, and things like Networks. You also do a stupid course on writing papers etc, bibliographies and what-not which seems useless, but it'll be useless once you come to do your thesis etc in a few years.

Second and third (1st in 2nd year) semester you'll advance on the last, doing Java, Javascript, networks etc. We also start to take on some business electives; management, eBusiness etc which are quite good. As for third year, not sure yet. To note though, our class went from 18-20 to almost 4 from 1st to 2nd year. People "think" its easier than it is; you will need to work!

Any other questions just PM me.

Matt

Cheers Matt,

I was looking for a "Web Programming" type course, and that was the best one i could find, I'm pretty intermediate at Server Side as it is, so I should enjoy it.

Is it hard/worthwhile etc?

MDTyKe · 07-09-2007 09:06PM

Hey,

I had PM'd you, but then realized what you mentioned here. I actually "thought" it was more aimed at Web Development to be honest. It's not.

It does 'some' things, for example we start off with HTML, CSS, Javascript, then we go into JSP and Databases with JSP, SQL etc.

I'd say Im probably at your level too; Im starting up a business in web and graphic design. To be honest, if I was going by what the college taught me, I'd be nowhere. After 2 years, you'd be lucky to know CSS and how to open a database.

Web design though, is actually something one learns mostly themselves; so whether or not that's an aspect, I dont know. Ive seen other students doing ASP though, so maybe it does get more 'advanced'. Ask me in a year

To be honest though, I dont think you can take a degree in 'web programming' as such - you need to learn it yourself. Im planning on getting some books out of the library this year on PHP and MySQL which I know, but I wouldn't know enough to make a web application!

Matt

annex · 11-09-2007 07:03PM

OK so how is everyone getting on with classes?
Any regrets?

annex · 26-09-2007 08:13AM

A quick question oh wise one.
I wanted to know what year 2 was like, yeah i know only week 3 and I am thinking about next year. Reason I ask is I would like to do networking but HATE programming, can I just do enough this year to pass programming and know I won't have to touch it next year or will it be part of all 3 years?

draffodx wrote:

i'm goin into the third year of that course lads, first year is fairly easy and is a really gentle start to things, you get abit of everything in the first two semesters, i say its easy as in if you concentrate and do your work you wont find it to be overly stressfull or hard.

computer architecture is one of the most technical subjects make sure you attend these classes especially the labs as if you fall behind at all it will get confusing

Programming Principles is an introduction to basic programming, i think its changed since i done it but again you need to attend class and make sure you keep up with all the questions you'll be given as well as puting work into projects

Interactive Multimedia i enjoyed this alot, you get to use photoshop as well as other editing software and do grpahics and website type stuff, its fairly simple and enjoyable

Maths for Computing 1 ah the dreaded maths, always was my week point but was very easy i thought, the lecturers were very good and the content is actually easy enough and mostly leaving cert stuff repeated, we even got to bring in sheets with solutions to the tests during the semester

Computer Applications this is just using the basic pc programs like word, excel, powerpoint, really easy and shouldn't be a problem

Study & Learning Skills an easy enough part of the course, its more annoying than anything, you wont see the point in it, but it has to be done, we got a end of year bowling trip that was great craic through this though

any help you need with the course or anything just let me know

Atomic Pineapple · 26-09-2007 09:39AM

annex wrote:

A quick question oh wise one.
I wanted to know what year 2 was like, yeah i know only week 3 and I am thinking about next year. Reason I ask is I would like to do networking but HATE programming, can I just do enough this year to pass programming and know I won't have to touch it next year or will it be part of all 3 years?

you can pick software development, applications and support or networking at the end of first year so you can, if you choose networking I believe you miss most of the programming but you will still need to do some visual basic.net, its more web based programming, this is in second year but once you get to third year then networking people have no programming classes

applications and support is the same in second year, you have to do the visual basic.net but you also have to do it in third year as well, you have to create a web application using it like a shopping cart in semester 6.

and well software development is completely programming based so dont go near that, everyone hates programming when they start off so I wouldnt worry about it too much, but if you continue to hate it and like the networking then you should go for the networking route

hope this helps

Any other 1st year DKIT'ers out there?

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