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MT1003 and the unhelpfulness of the Maths department.

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Re:

Postby C. on Sun May 23, 2004 11:50 am

You said that you saw Dr Grundy at the begining of term to ask for a copy of the notes. It was a bit naive of you to leave it at that... anytime I've needed notes or tutorial questions I've ended up seeing my lecturers two or three times a week until they come up with the notes I needed.

There really isn't much constructive advice you can expect for your MT1003, however most of the things mentioned on this thread would be useful to take heed of next year. As someone mentioned you only need 40% so don't panic over it, but also make sure you don't end up in this situation again.
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Re:

Postby flash99 on Sun May 23, 2004 11:54 am

[s]Bryn wrote on 12:24, 23rd May 2004:
I'd like to point out that I haven't "started complaining 2 days before the exam". I asked Dr Grundy for the lecture notes way back at the beginning of term, and he said he would put them in the library 2 weeks before the exam. However, he hasn't.


It does sound a little unfair (as perhaps my earlier post did), but take this as an opportunity to learn from experience.

It's pretty mean of you all to be saying "You should have gone to the lectures."...baa baa... "So I think you should all stop lecturing me."

It just sounded like you needed it.


I do agree that everybody should go to the lectures, however I think provisions should be made for those that get behind (and I mean seriously behind, not just one or two lectures).

I wholeheartedly agree. There is a lot done in this university to keep students who are failing outright on courses and for those who are passing with flying colours. If you do start actually failing modules then there's the whole Dave Roverts thing etc. The system to catch students as they are beginning to 'fall' is hard to find (i think student support) and isn't specific enough (esp for subjects like maths). Perhaps the Maths dept and/or Chaosoc (who appear to organise nothing but social events - it's a maths society for god's sake) should work a bit more to let students help themselves esp as some of the posters here don't seem to have as much idea of what's expected of them.

It wasn't so long ago that there was a lot of fuss about opening the main library for 24 hours, but there wasn't even the suggestion of the Maths/Phys/Compsci one even getting weekend opening - despite this being obviously more useful than having the arts library open at 3-5 in the morning...elections anyone?

Urgh, how rude.

Welcome to the internet...

Flash!

(now I really should get back to studying)
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Re:

Postby The Kinky Monkey on Sun May 23, 2004 12:06 pm

[s]flash99 wrote on 12:32, 23rd May 2004:
[s]The Kinky Monkey wrote on 11:28, 23rd May 2004:[i]If you think elitist means most able, then most able in what means exactly?


That's the tricky bit. I think it all comes down to context. Most would consider a university professor to belong to an elite. I would say a master builder, successful (obviously this is subjective) artist or war hero all belong to elites. The problem is that the word doesn't comfortably sit in the plural (at least in my mind).

Then again according to one dictionary:

"Elite
n sociology, an elite comprises a relatively small group within a larger one. The elite (the word comes from the French and suggests the chosen or the elect) may mark itself out on grounds of social class, access to power, education, money, prestigious genes, race, culture, etc. Elites may press "rights" to influence or even aspire to leadership.

Aristocracy forms one traditional form of an elite, oligarchy another."

My thought is that universities don't do enough (or aren't allowed) to define the kind of elite they wish to embody and nurture and this doesn't exactly help such to exist.

Flash!
[/i]

The problem is that most of society see the elite as those with the 'rich daddys' who don't do an ounce of work and reap the benefits of their fathers.
This is getting off the point though, so im gonna go. Bye


[hr]
Thou who hast stolen my cheese, wouldst thou kindly return it or risk a severe buggering.
Do good to all men, but at the end remember to collect your fee.
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Re:

Postby OffHeGoes on Sun May 23, 2004 4:40 pm

shouldn't you all be busy tracking down someone with the notes you need, or checking out that site with number theory notes or something?

surely that beats arguing about it?
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Re:

Postby EviLTwiN on Sun May 23, 2004 4:43 pm

the problem is solved if people specify what they are saying in more detail.
Don't say elite... say academically elite. Then there is no misunderstanding.


The systems for people getting behind are already in place, but they require the student to be proactive, and they require something to be done when you start getting behind, not when you are miles behind.

Yes, they could introduce formal ways of having notes available, and exact instructions on what to do if things go wrong... but as someone said, part of what a degree represents is that the individual is capable of learning themselves and being proactive... not just a piece of paper to say you're good at maths.

If you're working for a (say) consultancy in the city in london, and you get behind with your work and dont sort it early before it becomes a big problem, you're likely to end up getting fired.

Why take your own education any less seriously?

We're not lecturing anyone, we're trying to give advice for the future, given the benefit of having gone through most of university.

The best thing you can do is make the best of it and make sure in future you keep on top of things... once you start getting behind its hard to catch up unless you react straight away. Never rely on other people (ie dr grundy) when its your education thats in question.

and good luck :)
EviLTwiN
 

Re:

Postby deary me on Mon May 24, 2004 12:37 pm

[s]FieryFairy wrote on 09:59, 23rd May 2004:
It seems that some people are not taking much responsibility for their own learning... I know this might cause some friction with people, but oh well.
.....
You have to take responsibility for your own learning now - you are no longer going to be spoonfed. If you are unsure of things ask lecturers at the time, and look up things either on the web (not neccesarily from their notes. Often just typing the subject into google gives you good material) or in books. I'm afraid I cannot see how you can be complaining now (is it just 2 days before your exam). You have to be more prepared, and I suppose you will learn this as you get further into your course. I am in the maths department, and although some lecturers are easier to learn from than others, they are always willing to help me through things I don't understand, as long as I ask well enough in advance of exams.

I know what it's like to fall behind in a course, and feel helpless as if you are never going to learn enough. I have to say, this was not the fault of the lecturers though...

Having said all of this, I hope you find some sort of information on the course, and do well in your exam! I would lend you my notes, but I don't have them with me just now. As I said, sometimes you can find the information you need just by searching in google.


Well said. I can't believe people are being so childish! If you are behind or not doing well it is YOUR fault, no one else's. At least be man enough to take responsibilty rather than trying to blame other people - and that goes to all those complaining. Next people will be complaining about exams that cover your whole module rather than a bit of it!

You didn't go to lectures and you wonder why you think the course is crap? And I'm sorry but not going to lectures for Maths is the main reason for failing, expecially if the notes are not online. Did you even bother to read the text books? Or do the past papers? Or copy someone else's notes? Or did you just sit on your bum moaning to yourself and now it's too late.

MT1003 is easy, ridiculously so. if you can't get a 5 in that then it is nothing to do with the department and everything to do with your lack of work.

This isn't school anymore, so why not try acting like adults. The worst that can happen is you learn your lesson for next time and perhaps have to part with �55 for the resit.
deary me
 

Re:

Postby le sigh on Mon May 24, 2004 12:37 pm

[s]The Kinky Monkey wrote on 11:28, 23rd May 2004:
[s]flash99 wrote on 11:13, 23rd May 2004:[i]
[s]The Kinky Monkey wrote on 10:46, 23rd May 2004:[i]
Thats incredibly elitist and its crap like you that make our country fall apart.


Thats a fair point, but i think my idea of elitist is probably a bit different.
The way it was phrased implied that university students are more valuble than others.
[/i]

No it didn't. It implied exatly what Flash said, that far too many people are being let into university in the first place. If you are not going to bother putting the effort in then why should you be wasting the universities time. I find it astounding that there are people here who aer indignant about having to do their own work. Lecturer's and tutors are there to guide you, not to make sure you do the work. And there is no requirement as someone said for notes to be online - it was your responsiblity to find this out.

To the others: To go on about the quality of the course when you haven't been to the lectures is laughable and very childish. It ouwld be better to admit you f*cked up and perhaps get some help from the depratment before your resit if it comes to that. This is a university, not a school, so you have to dso the work for yourself not rest on your laurels and complain about a department for not pandering to your every need when you eveidently couldn't be bothered.

Feel free to throw some more tantrums but you're fooling no one but yourselves. Students can pass or fail and either way it is completely down to themselves which one happens.
le sigh
 

Re:

Postby my gud on Mon May 24, 2004 12:37 pm

[s]Bryn wrote on 12:24, 23rd May 2004:
I'd like to point out that I haven't "started complaining 2 days before the exam". I asked Dr Grundy for the lecture notes way back at the beginning of term, and he said he would put them in the library 2 weeks before the exam. However, he hasn't.


Like someone said it was up to you to chase that up.

It's pretty mean of you all to be saying "You should have gone to the lectures." It's not like I don't know that, it's just that I've not managed to keep up very well this term. Telling me what I should have done isn't exactly going to help me now is it! It might help me for next term, but I already know that I need to sort my life out a bit more for next term.

People aren't just referring to you but also to the far ruder people with the same problem. Also if you want people to stop being "mean" - ie thinking that you are very silly and out of order to be complaining about staff not listening to you when it is obvious you made little attempt to listen to them at lectures, it's not on to complain about a course you have hardly attended, those that have attended can feel free of course - then perhaps you shouldn't come whining about it rather than accepting responsibilty for your actions yourself. A pass isn't handed to you on a plate unless you do IS1001.

So I think you should all stop lecturing me.

Sorry but in the context of this thread that was priceless!

I do agree that everybody should go to the lectures, however I think provisions should be made for those that get behind (and I mean seriously behind, not just one or two lectures). Also, even if I do get to lectures, I don't feel that I can always trust my own notes, and would always like a copy of the lecturer's notes to cross-check them with anyway.


Again the services are there if you go and look for them which isn't hard. Talking to your course co-ordinator or class rep could have sorted out the availability of notes issue - it certainly would have been a better plan than just asking once and complaining ever after. Your advisor is there for when you need advising, as is the course co-ordinator. They can put you in touch with student support if needed.

This is university people, you have to get off your bum and do stuff yourself. The services and people to help are all there but they can't help if you don't even send them an email or go and talk to them can they? Complaining on a message board won't help and given the number of older and same age but wiser students on these boards you won't get much sympathy either.
my gud
 

Re:

Postby Guest on Mon May 24, 2004 12:38 pm

[s]OffHeGoes wrote on 17:40, 23rd May 2004:
shouldn't you all be busy tracking down someone with the notes you need, or checking out that site with number theory notes or something?

surely that beats arguing about it?


Lol, an excellent point!
Guest
 

Re:

Postby FieryFairy on Mon May 24, 2004 12:52 pm

Having criticised the original poster, I think some of the points made by unregistered users are a bit harsh, and will not help people in their exams now.

I assume you have all had the MT1003 exam by now, but learn from this thread that you have to use other resources mentioned such as textbooks, and chase up lecturers to do things you have requested.

Hope you found the exam ok, and as has been said before, you only need a 5! Should be ok.
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Re:

Postby Bryn on Mon May 24, 2004 1:38 pm

[s]Unregisted User my gud wrote on 13:03, 23rd May 2004:
Again the services are there if you go and look for them which isn't hard. Talking to your course co-ordinator or class rep could have sorted out the availability of notes issue - it certainly would have been a better plan than just asking once and complaining ever after. Your advisor is there for when you need advising, as is the course co-ordinator. They can put you in touch with student support if needed.


Did you even read what I wrote? I did ask him multiple times. I also haven't been complaining about the quality of the course - simply the availability of notes and the fact that the lecturers were unhelpful and didn't do as they promised.

Well, anyway, I'm completely screwed. I went to get the tutorial answers today, and they are just that - answers! No explanations of how they actually got to the answers, so they are of no help at all. And I know nothing, and am almost completely certain that I'm going to fail tomorrow. Go me.
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Re:

Postby The Kinky Monkey on Mon May 24, 2004 1:59 pm

Just like to say that those who have, well, advised us peeps doing MT1003, to go and get notes and everything and have now been convinced and knew along you guys were always right.
HOWEVER- you've got to remember that we're first years and are used to people giving us notes from school days and we're not quite used to working on our own perogative (i think thats the right word), but thanks for the advice anyway- and Bryn, don't stress mate, you need a 5 man! Use the notes that are available online and whatever you have.

Good luck to all


[hr]Thou who hast stolen my cheese, wouldst thou kindly return it or risk a severe buggering.
Do good to all men, but at the end remember to collect your fee.
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Re:

Postby tintin on Mon May 24, 2004 3:14 pm

[s]The Kinky Monkey wrote on 14:17, 22nd May 2004:
Yeah i totally agree. They're the only module that hasn't posted many lecture notes online.
They could have done what Dr Olsen did last semester and make you pay a pound for each set of notes, which i thought was a good system.

[hr]Thou who hast stolen my cheese, wouldst thou kindly return it or risk a severe buggering.


So what were you doing in lecture time, then? That is the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard. And this is not a personal attack against you; it is a sigh of utter disbelief at the people in this University who claim they cannot function without online lecture notes. Why bother having lectures at all, if it's all going to be online?

Yet another instance of the way students are SPOONFED these days.

And slag me off all you want for saying this. I really don't care, as you know it's true!
tintin
 

Re:

Postby EviLTwiN on Mon May 24, 2004 3:54 pm

[s]The Kinky Monkey wrote on 14:59, 24th May 2004:
Just like to say that those who have, well, advised us peeps doing MT1003, to go and get notes and everything and have now been convinced and knew along you guys were always right.
HOWEVER- you've got to remember that we're first years and are used to people giving us notes from school days and we're not quite used to working on our own perogative (i think thats the right word), but thanks for the advice anyway- and Bryn, don't stress mate, you need a 5 man! Use the notes that are available online and whatever you have.


Most people arent used to it, most people take a while to pick up the habits. The more it's drilled into you by meanies like us the quicker you'll realise that its the only way to suceed in uni.
This is why your first year grades dont count towards your degree :)
EviLTwiN
 

Re:

Postby amac on Mon May 24, 2004 4:08 pm

[s]tintin wrote on 16:14, 24th May 2004:
[s]The Kinky Monkey wrote on 14:17, 22nd May 2004:[i]
Yeah i totally agree. They're the only module that hasn't posted many lecture notes online.
They could have done what Dr Olsen did last semester and make you pay a pound for each set of notes, which i thought was a good system.

[hr]Thou who hast stolen my cheese, wouldst thou kindly return it or risk a severe buggering.


So what were you doing in lecture time, then? That is the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard. And this is not a personal attack against you; it is a sigh of utter disbelief at the people in this University who claim they cannot function without online lecture notes. Why bother having lectures at all, if it's all going to be online?

Yet another instance of the way students are SPOONFED these days.

And slag me off all you want for saying this. I really don't care, as you know it's true!
[/i]
For once i actually agree with you. I don't like it when the notes aren't available online but its impossible to complain if you didn't go to lectures.
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Re:

Postby The Kinky Monkey on Mon May 24, 2004 4:20 pm

Woah there tintin and amac!


If you read my last post (just above tintins actuallty) I said that you people are probably right. You should read the whole thread and discussion- that's why it's a discussion- some people have to be proved wrong- in this case it was me- and i admitted it- so instead of jumping at the sight of one post on a thread you should maybe find the intelligence to read the whole thing thoroughly.

And don't give me that spoon fed bullshit- what did i come here to do exactly? Drink? Get Laid? No, muppet i came to do a degree as did most people.



[hr]Thou who hast stolen my cheese, wouldst thou kindly return it or risk a severe buggering.
Do good to all men, but at the end remember to collect your fee.
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Re:

Postby amac on Mon May 24, 2004 4:45 pm

[s]The Kinky Monkey wrote on 17:20, 24th May 2004:
Woah there tintin and amac!


If you read my last post (just above tintins actuallty) I said that you people are probably right. You should read the whole thread and discussion- that's why it's a discussion- some people have to be proved wrong- in this case it was me- and i admitted it- so instead of jumping at the sight of one post on a thread you should maybe find the intelligence to read the whole thing thoroughly.

And don't give me that spoon fed bullshit- what did i come here to do exactly? Drink? Get Laid? No, muppet i came to do a degree as did most people.


I have read most of the post, and i was one of the first people to post in it. It wasn't directed at you (at least i never intended it), and i didn't really say anything that extreme. I was just posting because i was amazed i agreed with what Tintin said!
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Re:

Postby The Kinky Monkey on Mon May 24, 2004 5:30 pm

[s]amac wrote on 17:45, 24th May 2004:
[s]The Kinky Monkey wrote on 17:20, 24th May 2004:[i]
Woah there tintin and amac!


If you read my last post (just above tintins actuallty) I said that you people are probably right. You should read the whole thread and discussion- that's why it's a discussion- some people have to be proved wrong- in this case it was me- and i admitted it- so instead of jumping at the sight of one post on a thread you should maybe find the intelligence to read the whole thing thoroughly.

And don't give me that spoon fed bullshit- what did i come here to do exactly? Drink? Get Laid? No, muppet i came to do a degree as did most people.


I have read most of the post, and i was one of the first people to post in it. It wasn't directed at you (at least i never intended it), and i didn't really say anything that extreme. I was just posting because i was amazed i agreed with what Tintin said!
[/i]


Sorry, that was really directed at tintin! I do apologise.
I just found it annoying how he said that he wasn't being personal, yet he quoted what i said. Crazy.
[hr]
Thou who hast stolen my cheese, wouldst thou kindly return it or risk a severe buggering.
Do good to all men, but at the end remember to collect your fee.
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Re:

Postby Bryn on Mon May 24, 2004 6:02 pm

I still would like to have a copy of the lecture notes even if I was at the lecture. It gives me something to check my own notes against, in case they are incomplete or incoherant.
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Re:

Postby Slash wannabe on Mon May 24, 2004 7:35 pm

Just for the record I would like to point out that I actually did attend almost all of the lectures. Any that I missed I caught up on. In addition my mate who went to every single lecture and tutorial isn't feeling too confident either and reckons he knows about the same amount as me. I just think the module was crap - boring and poorly organised.

However I'd like to wish everyone good luck in tomorrows exam. I for one know I'm gonna need it....

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