INF3705 Advanced Systems Development :: I’m starting exam prep now

This module is about software engineering, so if I go into the recesses of my mind (or pick up my old textbook), the concepts from Information System 3 back in 2010 are still buried there somewhere. It also helps that I have developers around me, so I’m always exposed to the terms (the different type of software dev models, user requirements spec etc).

What worries me about this module is that the lecturer has created a study guide to go along with it. In my first year Geo-environmental Science module back in 2007 (!), the lecturer gave us a study guide which she had written, which was much thicker than the actual textbook. I don’t think I even opened the textbook that semester.

My concern now is that this lecturer has stated which chapters should be read alongside the study guide units for a “complete mastering of the work”. It’s going to be hard for me to ignore the textbook, or to ignore the study guide. What’s probably going to happen is that I’m going to attempt to study the entire text book and study guide. That’s impossible.

What it does seem like is that the study guide contains all the core concepts, and leaves out all the waffling from the textbook. I detest writing my own notes – I prefer to do the red underline/green underline/highlight method. I know if I try to make my own notes, I’ll just ending up studying the study guide, the textbook and my notes.

Also, out of 50 questions in Assignment 1, 6 of them are incorrectly phrased. It also doesn’t count for any marks, only for exam admission. I’m worried.

I’m going back to school!

Fry back to school

Since I am apparently not a young whippersnapper anymore (which I guess I just proved with the use of the word “whippersnapper”), I have now registered at Unisa to complete three Information Systems modules so that I can apply for BscHons Computing next year. I graduated 5 years ago (!!!), so I have to cover the content in these modules before they will let me in (I covered this content in my second year Computer Science modules, as well as my third year Information Science modules).

That means I will have to put my MOOCs on the backburner for a while, but they were really were just satisfying my need for more knowledge until I could start studying again. I’m excited.

welcerm berk ter scherl