Semesterisation?

IHeartChemistry · 03-03-2013 08:14PM #1

Been told by two separate lecturers and between all the rumours flying about, we're getting semesterised? Does anybody know anything more about it because I've been wondering, does it mean study month will be axed, will we start back later after Christmas, will we have exams before or after Christmas?

It's March now and we're only being informed (slyly through lecturers, no official announcement from UCC), so I'm very curious about all of this now.

JeremyH · 03-03-2013 10:11PM

IHeartChemistry wrote: »

Been told by two separate lecturers and between all the rumours flying about, we're getting semesterised? Does anybody know anything more about it because I've been wondering, does it mean study month will be axed, will we start back later after Christmas, will we have exams before or after Christmas?

It's March now and we're only being informed (slyly through lecturers, no official announcement from UCC), so I'm very curious about all of this now.

All good questions! I don't think anybody knows the full details yet (I'm on the academic staff in UCC).

This won't happen until the 2014/5 academic year at the earliest (or so I have been told).

IHeartChemistry · 03-03-2013 10:28PM

JeremyH wrote: »

All good questions! I don't think anybody knows the full details yet (I'm on the academic staff in UCC).

This won't happen until the 2014/5 academic year at the earliest (or so I have been told).

Quote me if I'm wrong, but I heard its being implemented for the next academic year. Hence the panic :P

JeremyH · 03-03-2013 10:29PM

I was told the year after but anything can happen. I don't think the system is ready to make such a radical change by September.

IHeartChemistry · 03-03-2013 11:07PM

The first I heard of it was last week. Both lecturers convinced it's being implemented for the next academic year. I know it's not something you can gradually introduce, but I think that students need to be advised and asked about this before it is implemented. It's just come very out of the blue, and we'd all love clarification on it asap :P

moleary20 · 04-03-2013 12:13AM

IHeartChemistry wrote: »

The first I heard of it was last week. Both lecturers convinced it's being implemented for the next academic year. I know it's not something you can gradually introduce, but I think that students need to be advised and asked about this before it is implemented. It's just come very out of the blue, and we'd all love clarification on it asap :P

Was told at a staff student forum last week that it begins in academic year 14/15 with exams before christmas.

upstairs for coffee · 04-03-2013 12:58AM

Aren't we already semsertised? 12 weeks before Christmas and 12 weeks after.

What are the pros and cons of it?

Steve456 · 04-03-2013 08:52AM

It's definitely not happening before 14/15 (I'm also on the staff at UCC). Lecturers who want to split modules in advance, so that they get it over with and have it in place for 13/14, will be getting their module changes in around now - maybe that's what the panic is. But nobody's panicking in my neck of the woods.

Salty · 04-03-2013 02:47PM

upstairs for coffee wrote: »

Aren't we already semsertised? 12 weeks before Christmas and 12 weeks after.

What are the pros and cons of it?

We're not semesterised the way other colleges are.

We would probably start a little earlier in September and have exams before Christmas. We'd start later in January, and they would probably axe study month.
Friends I have who attend other colleges might only have a week off before summer exams and have to fit their study in with their lectures.

I'm not sure, but there could be an even greater emphasis placed on continuous assessment, especially in courses where it's not really relied upon.

Tbh, I'd really hate for the format to change before finishing my degree. Kinda settled in to the way it is at the moment, with all the cramming in May.:p

IHeartChemistry · 04-03-2013 03:05PM

_meehan_ wrote: »

We're not semesterised the way other colleges are.

We would probably start a little earlier in September and have exams before Christmas. We'd start later in January, and they would probably axe study month.
Friends I have who attend other colleges might only have a week off before summer exams and have to fit their study in with their lectures.

I'm not sure, but there could be an even greater emphasis placed on continuous assessment, especially in courses where it's not really relied upon.

Tbh, I'd really hate for the format to change before finishing my degree. Kinda settled in to the way it is at the moment, with all the cramming in May.:p

From what I know, half your modules would be covered in semester one, the other half in semester two. Exams at the end of semester one, either before or after Christmas. Earlier start in September possibly, back way later after Christmas, and study month would be axed. SO everything to do with semester one modules, will be completed at the end of semester one.

One lecturer told me that it was to cut down the lack of attendance in semester two due to assignments

Once semester one exams are done, its over with and you dont ever need to think or worry about it again. From the sounds of it, it means your straight into it though from the get go with work.

I'm just now grateful that it wont be implemented before I graduate

upstairs for coffee · 04-03-2013 06:23PM

I'll be going into third year BA if it is implemented in '13/'14

keepkeyyellow · 05-03-2013 12:01AM

Disaster. Absolute Disaster.

Semesterisation is an absolute pain, honestly, coming from UCD which was fully semesterised to UCC I can say that UCC's system is so much better.

If you fail an exam in semester 1 in UCC you can repeat it for free in semester 2 and head into the summer exams without any panic. In UCD if you fail an exam in semester 1 you repeat it in semester 2 for €250 and just so on.

Salty · 06-03-2013 01:39PM

keepkeyyellow wrote: »

Disaster. Absolute Disaster.

Semesterisation is an absolute pain, honestly, coming from UCD which was fully semesterised to UCC I can say that UCC's system is so much better.

If you fail an exam in semester 1 in UCC you can repeat it for free in semester 2 and head into the summer exams without any panic. In UCD if you fail an exam in semester 1 you repeat it in semester 2 for €250 and just so on.

Would semesterisation mean having to start charging for repeats? I would have thought that was at the discretion of the university and not something only associated with semesterisation!

Cian92 · 06-03-2013 11:10PM

I *think* I heard somewhere that all Universities will be forced to bring it in as part of the Bologna Process.

I would hate semesterisation, I much prefer our system of having 5 weeks off to study before the exams in May.

I don't understand why they would want us to start back later in January though, who wants a few weeks off in January, the most dreary month going.

Why has the Students Union not held information sessions on this, or the very least sent a mass email out. Why weren't students consulted?

I also don't like the idea of putting more of an emphasis on continuous assessment, for my course most of the exams are in May and it is fine that way, with very little projects during term etc.

shane9689 · 11-03-2013 03:55AM

if it was being introduced so soon, then wouldnt the su find out? and wouldnt they make sure everyone was informed?

Salty · 11-03-2013 02:48PM

Cian92 wrote: »

I *think* I heard somewhere that all Universities will be forced to bring it in as part of the Bologna Process.

I would hate semesterisation, I much prefer our system of having 5 weeks off to study before the exams in May.

I don't understand why they would want us to start back later in January though, who wants a few weeks off in January, the most dreary month going.

Why has the Students Union not held information sessions on this, or the very least sent a mass email out. Why weren't students consulted?

I also don't like the idea of putting more of an emphasis on continuous assessment, for my course most of the exams are in May and it is fine that way, with very little projects during term etc.

January has to be the most useless month to have off. Nothing to study because you haven't started any new coursework, those who have jobs won't have a whole lot of hours to keep them busy because trade is generally poor. Having the 5 weeks off before the exam is the best use of the time, you actually get a lot done rather than just sitting on your hands waiting for a new term to start.

shane9689 · 11-03-2013 08:12PM

_meehan_ wrote: »

January has to be the most useless month to have off. Nothing to study because you haven't started any new coursework, those who have jobs won't have a whole lot of hours to keep them busy because trade is generally poor. Having the 5 weeks off before the exam is the best use of the time, you actually get a lot done rather than just sitting on your hands waiting for a new term to start.

thats what makes it perfect!!! nice solid break of doing nothing while its freezing outside. its hard to be constantly working and studying all year round, not all of us are up to/want that kind of challenge

Salty · 12-03-2013 08:09PM

shane9689 wrote: »

thats what makes it perfect!!! nice solid break of doing nothing while its freezing outside. its hard to be constantly working and studying all year round, not all of us are up to/want that kind of challenge

I'd much rather have the 5 weeks to study before the exams, rather than lazing around in January, and then panicking before the exams themselves when I have to juggle lectures/work/study. If anything, semesterisation would make college more stressful because we would have two lots of intense exams, and no dedicated time to study. At the moment there's a balance.

shane9689 · 12-03-2013 11:20PM

_meehan_ wrote: »

I'd much rather have the 5 weeks to study before the exams, rather than lazing around in January, and then panicking before the exams themselves when I have to juggle lectures/work/study. If anything, semesterisation would make college more stressful because we would have two lots of intense exams, and no dedicated time to study. At the moment there's a balance.

ohh wait, sorry, i thought you were in support of semesters... i agree with you, i dont want semesterisation either

tammyme · 13-03-2013 01:13AM

Last years SU were involved in figuring out the plans for semesterisation so this years lot def know about it! I'm pretty sure it's a forgone conclusion that its going ahead

Palytoxin · 13-03-2013 01:39AM

I really don't want anything changed, current system suits me down to the ground.

IHeartChemistry · 13-03-2013 04:51PM

Spoke to a senior lecturer today. They said that some lecturers are semesterising next year. So some of us will have December exams. Depends on the Department and the lecturer, but its definately starting to take place during the next academic year. Wont be fully university wide till the following academic year, but yea. Warning ahead, its definately starting next year.

Palytoxin · 13-03-2013 08:42PM

IHeartChemistry wrote: »

Spoke to a senior lecturer today. They said that some lecturers are semesterising next year. So some of us will have December exams. Depends on the Department and the lecturer, but its definately starting to take place during the next academic year. Wont be fully university wide till the following academic year, but yea. Warning ahead, its definately starting next year.

That's disappointing, it's a pity we couldn't vote to choose, were any students consulted or asked their opinions?

IHeartChemistry · 13-03-2013 09:59PM

Palytoxin wrote: »

That's disappointing, it's a pity we couldn't vote to choose, were any students consulted or asked their opinions?

I have no idea, but its some pain. Especially for us heading into (fingers crossed!!!) final year. Last thing we need... We should have been notified and allowed to air our opinions, and it's just bad form we know nothing about it

upstairs for coffee · 15-03-2013 08:50PM

Funny how all the annoying muppets campaigning for the student union failed to mention this. Most of their slogans and "ideologies" contained:

"More condoms!"
"More drink!"

Yet the Union never ever campaigns to switch internet browser in the Library, I mean having to use Internet Explorer is crazy! Internet explorer, come on! Firefox or Chrome.

And now they push through semesterisation without so much as a peep. All week they were telling me "it's your union", sure it is. The only reason they are running is so they can put it on the cv!

Palytoxin · 15-03-2013 10:38PM

Changing the default browser is actually a great idea, IE is brutal altogether. My only demand will be "A water fountain for the pharmacy building".

Both the candidates for education officer were actually looking to introduce semesterisation, or at least "abolish 1 day in May" exams, according to their manifestos beforehand.

lemon_remon · 16-03-2013 06:35PM

Changing the default browser is pointless and I'd hate for the SU to waste time on the "IE sucks" meme. What is your problem with IE? It's standard compliant and benchmarks as fast as Firefox. The disadvantage of IE is that its release is tied to Windows versions but that hardly matters in the library.

What is awful is that the first I heard about this "semesterisation" is on boards.

calnand · 16-03-2013 07:19PM

lemon_remon wrote: »

Changing the default browser is pointless and I'd hate for the SU to waste time on the "IE sucks" meme. What is your problem with IE? It's standard compliant and benchmarks as fast as Firefox. The disadvantage of IE is that its release is tied to Windows versions but that hardly matters in the library.

What is awful is that the first I heard about this "semesterisation" is on boards.

Well the fact when you log on to umail through ie it's telling you that it's bot fully compatible with the version of ie. ucc is extremely bad when it comes to anything computer related. We're using cs2 version of Photoshop our sketchup pro and Autodesk licences have expired, despite numerous emails to the it department. It's ridiculous to think that a department that nearly completely relies on computers for the course they're ignoring us.

Salty · 16-03-2013 08:20PM

Palytoxin wrote: »

Changing the default browser is actually a great idea, IE is brutal altogether. My only demand will be "A water fountain for the pharmacy building".

Both the candidates for education officer were actually looking to introduce semesterisation, or at least "abolish 1 day in May" exams, according to their manifestos beforehand.

Thick question, but what do they mean by "1 day in May" exams? Do they mean that there would be more continuous assessment during the semester?

lemon_remon · 16-03-2013 11:10PM

calnand wrote: »

Well the fact when you log on to umail through ie it's telling you that it's bot fully compatible with the version of ie. ucc is extremely bad when it comes to anything computer related. We're using cs2 version of Photoshop our sketchup pro and Autodesk licences have expired, despite numerous emails to the it department. It's ridiculous to think that a department that nearly completely relies on computers for the course they're ignoring us.

Well if IE is out of date it generally means that Windows is out of date (and thus vulnerable to exploits), so I agree, the problem is much deeper rooted than outdated browsers.

Palytoxin · 17-03-2013 02:49AM

_meehan_ wrote: »

Thick question, but what do they mean by "1 day in May" exams? Do they mean that there would be more continuous assessment during the semester?

I can only assume that it'd be either more continuous assessment, or else a change in the format of the exams, which could be more towards semesterisation, but I can only speculate really, they could have no intentions of doing anything about it!

Semesterisation?

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