OU - M359 - A result, sort of.

Well, there we have it. The results for the first presentation of M359 are out. And they are disappointing as expected. TMA wise I was at distinction level although I knew that there was no way that I would achieve the marks needed in the exam to sustain that. However, as documented elsewhere, the exam was a real pigs-ear (and I speak as a vegetarian - I have nothing against pigs-ears per se). The questions were vague, three of the questions required constant referral to some tables that had been added as an appendix - which meant that it was not possible to read the questions and view the tables at the same time - the constant flapping of papers reminded me of a flock of seagulls alarmed by a marauding dog on the beach (but with out the piercing screech - which I tried to keep to a minimum so that I didn't disturb the MSc students in the next row).

All the course text need re-writing into English (I wonder it would score on the blog-readability test).

And I feel fed-up that I am forced into criticizing the OU - because I think that it is a fantastic institution.

Still, a pass is a pass is a pass. No resit required. Phew!

OU - M359 - One final errata

I didn't really expect to be commenting on an errata for M359 - mainly because the course finished back in October. But, as was the case many times during the course, an errata has been issued - and without explanation!

The website has been stating that the exam results will be available by 14th December. And now, on the 13th December, this has suddenly changed to 21st December! Okay, no big deal for me - its not as if they have told me that I have failed (for that will surely come later), but I know of one other student who needed to know the result on the 14th because it greatly influenced what they did next.

So one wonders why the M359 results have been delayed - many other courses have had their results released on time - you only have to look on the OUSA conferences to see and hear the hats being thrown into the air in delight, and all the whooping and hollering. So what has happened with M359?........I'm sure all will be revealed....

Readability - just how smart are you.

My friend, Ian Macey, has an interesting comment about 'blog readability'. This is something that I had not previously heard about or thought about. He came across a link, via John Naughton's blog, that referred to a website that will assess a blog in term of the level of education required by the reader (not the level of education required by the writer).

Intrigued by this idea, and wondering just how I measure up, I thought I'd give this a go. According to 'The Blog Readability Test' the required education level for my blog is "High School". Slightly disheartened by this (Ian's, by the way, is "Genius") I thought I would try this on a few other blogs.

So the first that I picked was the blog of Joel Spolsky . Joel is a very regular blog writer and book author, and is a key thinker and doer with the IT industry. His blog comes out as "Junior High School".

Okay - what about some politicians: Well, how about David Cameron - "Junior High School", Gordon Brown comes out as "Genius Level". Interesting.

I'll try one more: Boris Johnson - couldn't compute this one - Alright, only joking - his comes out as "College - Undergrad".

So what does all this mean? Well, probably not very much because we don't how the 'Readability Test' works. Is it looking at the structure of sentences, is it looking at the length of words (longer words score higher?), is it looking at the number of external references. The thing is, we don't know but it is a bit of fun - and it does make you think about what, and how, you write.

One thing that it has revealed to me is that many of the people that you think would have blogs, in fact don't have blogs - perhaps they are just too busy doing the things that make them (in)famous to actually have the time. Perhaps it is still a geeky thing to do (and that would certainly explain the high proportion of IT related blogs).

So thanks Ian, for putting that on your blog - I'm just off to check my readability score know that its got this one to do as well!

Here is the rating for this blog:

OU - Materials materialize

So here I am, ploughing through all my Java revision and new work with a SCJP firmly in my sights when a package arrives from the OU. Yes, MT262 has landed on the doormat. Now, a quandry, I'm inquisitive, I want to know what is in the package, I want to make a start. But I don't want to be distracted from my Java work. And anyway, MT262 doesn't kick off until late Jan - so I still have 6 weeks.

But its there on the shelf. Staring at me. Making odd sounds. I'm convinced that one side of the package says 'Eat Me'. I'm sure I wont sleep well tonight, I'll be restless and thinking about that damn package. I might have to sneak down in the early hours and take a peek and then, and then I'll feel that I have let my self down - just like I do when have that bar of Cadbury's chocolate when I know I shouldn't. And of course by then its too late, the deed will be done.

I should, I shouldn't, I should, I shouldn't. Of course there is the packing list - I really ought to check that the package contains what it ought. I should, I shouldn't. Oh hell.

See, already this has distracted me. Time for a cup of tea....now where did I put that chocolate bar...