How the course is taught

This week I'm delving into the details of my course specifically, as well as an overview of the majority of computing courses. I'm going to talk about the make-up of the course, choices and the lecturers themselves.

All computing courses (apart from a couple specialized like maths) have the exact same first year. You all do the same 4 units, all taught at the same time, together. This means that everyone gets the same level of teaching as a basis to move forward next year. It also means that if during the year you decide that you want to change course because something else looks better than what you were planning on doing, you can. As I'm talking about first year, I would like to clarify something regarding the mythology around the whole "first year doesn't count". Your right, it doesn't count towards your final degree grade. HOWEVER, you must still PASS the year otherwise, congratulations on wasting £9000+ to sit around and do nothing all year. I can't stress enough, make use of your first year, make your mistakes here, ask questions, get to know your lecturers, get to know where help is and how you get it and most importantly, learn how to use BREO (the online course/University management tool).

On the course that I am studying, Computer Security and Forensics, you do not get a choice of modules. I know that on other computing courses this is the same. Do the research, find out what your course is structured like. Not having to choose, at least based on my experience with my brother who had to choose at his university, is actually quite relieving. Yes, you might end up doing a unit you dislike. However, if you had to choose and you wanted to do one unit, then got rejected and had to do a unit you disliked, then it would feel worse. in my experience so far, the units themselves are selected for a reason whether you feel they are relevant or not. My advice, roll with it and if you have any problems bring it up with your course representative, or the lecturer.

On the subject of lecturers, lets talk about them next. In my experience so far, they are all very approachable and willing to listen to your opinions, no matter what they are. If you dont like the unit, what is being taught, you don't understand, whatever the issue is, they are willing to listen. As an example, we had a major issue with one of our units this year, we were expected to have A-level maths knowledge in order to build upon it with engineering based maths. Now, I was the only person in the class who had touched A-level maths, and I failed it. After a couple of lectures of this going completely over our heads, I was asked to go to the head of unit to get it sorted. After several meetings/conversations, we came to the conclusion that the teaching syllabus would change to incorporate some maths lessons, and that subject matter would be adapted to less intense maths. Also for next year, the entire unit would be re-structured to prevent this from happening again. So through talking and conversation with the lecturers, we took what was clearly a problem and turned it into a positive outcome.

I know this weeks blog was longer than normal, so if you stayed till the end then thanks. Next week I'll be talking about open days and how important it is to go armed with certain things.