Abt Uni

“Where are the solutions for the past year papers?” hear the perpetual cries of the undergrads down threads after threads in the ivle forums. We need those answers so that we can confirm that our methods of solving the problems are correct. But, no, we are not getting those. Most of the lecturers refuse to provide us with the answers we sought so fervently for. This highlighted the high demand of self-learning in the university unlike the old learning mode where we were more or less spoon-fed by our teachers, a shift that all must adapt to, sooner or later. Many were unable to hide their frustrations and worries resulting from this shift, crushed by the culture shock as we unveiled a series of surprises and uncertainty in our first few weeks. Most adapted while others were still unsure and lost.

“Do we need to memorize all the formulas? But we were given formula sheets in A levels!” Evidence that some just did not adapt well to the environment and were still stuck in the A levels days where they were most likely pampered. I just could not comprehend why must people kept comparing uni with jc, its not just one case, the above statement appeared a few times in the forums. Again, I would urge everyone to adapt to the environment rather than the other way round. Move with the cheese instead of expecting the cheese to come to you.

Another issue I want to dwell on is that thinking you knows everything when actually you don’t. This is worse than being stupid. Since at the point you have such a mindset, you stop learning. To illustrate this, I will cite an example of an acquaintance I met in school. I overheard him bragging on how useless the electrical engineering lecture (AC circuits) was and that whatever the lecturer was teaching was so easy. And he went on saying how he shouldn’t have come for the lecture so that he can play more games the previous night. Now, two things I would like to bring out here. One, if you think that the lecture is not going to be beneficial to you, you can jolly well get your ass out of the lecture room instead of disturbing others who are trying to get their most out of the lecture; no one is stopping you, the door is always there. Second, the fact is the he don’t really know his stuff. He walked out of the exam room last Friday with that “I am dead” look while shaking his head as he approaches me as though hoping I am in the same predicament as he was. Well, he did not finish the paper. And most will agree with me that the electrical engine paper was the easiest paper we had and most of us even had time to check our papers.

Dumbness. This is one word that one would not normally associate an undergrad with. Since we all studied all the way to uni, undergrad are perceived to be smart people who are able to think for themselves. However, on many occasions have I refrain myself from calling people dumb, especially in the ivle forums…

From: XXX (nickname) Date: 11/11/2005 08:20:00 PM

Heading: Default Heading

Topic: what will be covered in the final exam?

will the memory allocation and the dynamic data structures be covered ?

or we just go through all the topics in the lecture notes ?

Those two topics were not covered in the lectures and of course they are not in the lecture notes. No lecturers made any announcements on what topic to study for the exams. I took it as common sense – study those covered in the lectures. But some people just don’t get it and refuse to think before they post. So I just could not resist by replying the following:

From: currytan (nickname) Date: 11/11/2005 08:33:00 PM

Heading: Default Heading

Topic: Re: what will be covered in the final exam?

What do u think?

If memory allocation and the dynamic data structures are going to be in the exam, why do you think the lecturers did not include them in our lectures? They are not sadistic ppl.

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After the practical exam:

From: (nickname) Date: 10/11/2005 11:44:00 PM

Heading: Default Heading

Topic: Pascal Story: Hope the lab marker reads this.. =p

*...

*(He went on saying how he should have go about solving the problem and that he did not have enough time to complete it)

Tell me, is this person really expecting the marker to read this and give him some sympathy marks or what?

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Less than a week before the mid term test:

From: (nickname) Date: 17/09/2005 03:28:00 PM

Heading: Default Heading

Topic: Is there a term/mid-semester test for CS1101C?

Just wondering if there's a term/mid-semester test for this module as I don't seem to be able to find any news(including seating arrangement/test date, etc) on it. That said, there seem to have been a mid-term test for this module in years gone by - can anyone clarify?

*After someone pointed out where to get the info:

Could you provide me with the URL where I could find details on this? Thanks for pointing out nonetheless. This is the most absurd module as far as those I take are concerned - no announcements in IVLE, no mention by tutor, etc...

Yes yes blame everyone except yourself for not taking the initiative to check up the module website, which is just a click away from the ivle site.

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From: XXX Date: 22/08/2005 12:25:00 AM

Heading: Lecture Matters

Topic: CAN'T WE HAVE A WEBCAST FOR THIS MODULE ?

AS THE TOPICS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF,

I AM REALLY DEJECTED OF NOT FINDING A MULTIMEDIA WEBCAST FOR THIS IMPORTANT MODULE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY FRIENDS, DO WE NEED IT OR NOT ?

From: (nickname) Date: 05/11/2005 07:18:00 PM

Heading: Default Heading

Topic: ARE COMMENTS NECCESSARY IN FINAL XAMS?

HI ALL,

I KNO THIS IS KINDA DUMB QUESTION TO ASK , BUT I AM DESPERATE TO KNO.

IN THE MAIN EXAM , WHILE WRITIN FUNCTIONS AND COMPLETE PROGRAMS , DO WE HAVE TO

WRITE COMMENTS?

WILL COMMENTS FETCH US MARKS

Shout shout shout. Rude. Demanding. Irritating to our eyes. No net etiquette. Enough said.

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From: (nickname) Date: 05/11/2005 01:42:00 PM

Heading: Default Heading

Topic: Dynamic Memory Allocation

I wonder if PE include this part. I have read qn1 of PE2004(sem1), i think we have to

use dynamic memmory for this question.

Can anyone answer for me?

From: XXX(nickname) Date: 08/11/2005 10:20:00 AM

Heading: Default Heading

Topic: Is dynamic memory allocation in!?

Hey... i was doing the past year paper and encountered the question which happen to

have

(node *)malloc(sizeof (node));

So is this in or...?

Just because its in the past year paper means they are going to come out for ours? Plain over-reliance on past year papers.

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A few hours before the cs1101c practical exam:

From: XXX (nickname) Date: 09/11/2005 01:11:00 AM

Heading: Default Heading

Topic: Dun understand...

I still cannot understand anything about C... If i fail this module, that means i

cannot graduate... Sigh... After so many years studying, ONE programming module will

be my downfall...

HELP!

Someone thinks he can master the C language in a matter of a few hours.

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After the physics term test:

From: XXX Date: 23/09/2005 09:33:00 PM

Heading: Lecture Matters

Topic: Re: mid term test 05!!

anyone can do any qns at all? or all wrong?

I'm looking for comrades =(

Haha I think sama sama! :)

If And I say IF i do get all the questions that i attempted right .... I would still fail ... haha ... Guys , we r not alone ....(hopefully )

if i noe, i dun go.then i take the make-up test

Ya man... at most can do wat 4 or 5 ar... the rest..? BOING!!! can pass like tt meh! Super maxed out....

Some people think its cool to whine their heads off in the forum, looking for people who suffered the same predicament as they are. Something one would not expect of undergrads.

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Want more proves of dumb people in the forums? Get them all at ChuWen's!