Wednesday 28 November 2012
Wikipedia Project
The Wikipedia project (in my mind) was an overall success. I not only learnt how to edit and make changes to Wikipedia, but I also picked up some extra knowledge while researching my article topics. It was satisfying to see that I contributed to an internationally and popularly used website, and that my contribution could make a difference to somebody, no matter how small it is. The biggest challenge for this project was finding the correct information, since my articles were not exactly the most discussed area of subject matter. The general editing was straight forward for me once I had fully read the help page and seen other examples. I probably won't make any significant changes to Wikipedia in the near future (unless I feel an imminent need to), but it feels fulfilling to have learnt this skill.
Term Test
Term Test: Week 10
This test was a relief and a hassle, because it was shorter in length yet more extensive in material covered. The written questions were fairly simple; the only challenge for me on the first portion was the question asking about "the illusion of multi-tasking in operating systems". This can easily be solved by reviewing the lecture slides and paying more attention during the lectures. However, the biggest issue for me on this test was the last question regarding the Racket commands. The "palindrome" function confused me to no end, mainly because I couldn't try and look past the commands and guess what the function meant. One thing I definitely need to concentrate on studying more is the "substring" and "cond" commands, both of which I have very little confidence in executing. I hope to fix this fear by either discussing with my classmates who did well on the question or by making a appointment with my TA.
This test was a relief and a hassle, because it was shorter in length yet more extensive in material covered. The written questions were fairly simple; the only challenge for me on the first portion was the question asking about "the illusion of multi-tasking in operating systems". This can easily be solved by reviewing the lecture slides and paying more attention during the lectures. However, the biggest issue for me on this test was the last question regarding the Racket commands. The "palindrome" function confused me to no end, mainly because I couldn't try and look past the commands and guess what the function meant. One thing I definitely need to concentrate on studying more is the "substring" and "cond" commands, both of which I have very little confidence in executing. I hope to fix this fear by either discussing with my classmates who did well on the question or by making a appointment with my TA.
Monday 29 October 2012
Seventh Week
Week 7: Getting Tougher
Since completing the midterm, the material being learned has picked up at a rapid speed. I still have many pages to review in the Picturing Programs text, as I seem to be misunderstanding the basic concepts of the check-expect function and how to differentiate when to use the handlers for big-bang. This week we learned more about computer architecture and how memory space is constructed and utilized. I have a basic understanding of the parts of a computer so this lecture was a little simpler to comprehend. I will definitely make sure to read the lecture notes and focus on completing chapters of Picturing Programs before next class.
Since completing the midterm, the material being learned has picked up at a rapid speed. I still have many pages to review in the Picturing Programs text, as I seem to be misunderstanding the basic concepts of the check-expect function and how to differentiate when to use the handlers for big-bang. This week we learned more about computer architecture and how memory space is constructed and utilized. I have a basic understanding of the parts of a computer so this lecture was a little simpler to comprehend. I will definitely make sure to read the lecture notes and focus on completing chapters of Picturing Programs before next class.
Wednesday 10 October 2012
Fifth Week
Fifth Week: Midterm!
What I learned from today's midterm, like every other class, is that I need to pay more attention to the notes discussed in class. The test today consisted of computer history, binary, Dr.Racket codes, and more. I have a strong understanding of binary thank to last year's physics, but the computer history and codes turned out to be a bigger issue than I thought. Unfortunately, the previous quizzes were nothing like the midterm, and the codes I was tested on were not ones I had full confidence in. The computer history was a little easier to get through without familiarity, but still gave me some difficulty. Out of the 10 marks on the Dr.Racket question, I predict very minimal points received. Fortunately, the rest of the test was alright. After the tests were returned, I learnt about the concept of algorithms, or "how to give instructions on building a PB&J sandwich". Once that discussion ended, the prof continued his lesson on colours in computer code, and how to make an image have different colour schemes. With the lecture having concluded, I plan on doing two things: working on my Wikipedia articles and watching more Youtube videos elaborating on the Dr.Racket codes!
What I learned from today's midterm, like every other class, is that I need to pay more attention to the notes discussed in class. The test today consisted of computer history, binary, Dr.Racket codes, and more. I have a strong understanding of binary thank to last year's physics, but the computer history and codes turned out to be a bigger issue than I thought. Unfortunately, the previous quizzes were nothing like the midterm, and the codes I was tested on were not ones I had full confidence in. The computer history was a little easier to get through without familiarity, but still gave me some difficulty. Out of the 10 marks on the Dr.Racket question, I predict very minimal points received. Fortunately, the rest of the test was alright. After the tests were returned, I learnt about the concept of algorithms, or "how to give instructions on building a PB&J sandwich". Once that discussion ended, the prof continued his lesson on colours in computer code, and how to make an image have different colour schemes. With the lecture having concluded, I plan on doing two things: working on my Wikipedia articles and watching more Youtube videos elaborating on the Dr.Racket codes!
Wednesday 3 October 2012
Fourth Week
Week 4: Mid-Term Next Week?!
After a hectic week of assignments and reading, I barely had time to practice using the Dr.Racket codes before class. After another easier-then-I-thought quiz, the prof talked about the binary theories (which I half understood). It was this class when he mentioned that mid-terms were next week, which is when I decided to start paying attention to the notes he posted online. With Dr.Racket, this class was seemingly more difficult than the others, because the "list" function was introduced. I had followed the instructions up until one command when he defined a "c-list", when things starting falling apart. I missed one of the codes because I was busy typing the previous codes, and suddenly a jumble of commands that wouldn't work without the missing piece began appearing on the projector. At this point, I knew that I needed to pay attention to the online postings. I know that they won't be, but I'm hoping that the mid-term will be similar to the quizzes in difficulty...
After a hectic week of assignments and reading, I barely had time to practice using the Dr.Racket codes before class. After another easier-then-I-thought quiz, the prof talked about the binary theories (which I half understood). It was this class when he mentioned that mid-terms were next week, which is when I decided to start paying attention to the notes he posted online. With Dr.Racket, this class was seemingly more difficult than the others, because the "list" function was introduced. I had followed the instructions up until one command when he defined a "c-list", when things starting falling apart. I missed one of the codes because I was busy typing the previous codes, and suddenly a jumble of commands that wouldn't work without the missing piece began appearing on the projector. At this point, I knew that I needed to pay attention to the online postings. I know that they won't be, but I'm hoping that the mid-term will be similar to the quizzes in difficulty...
Third Week
Week Three: Difficulty Rises
This was the first week which I made an effort to attend tutorials. Unfortunately, what I had hoped to learn from tutorials and what I actually learnt from tutorials was not what I had expected, as I ended up toying around with Dr.Racket's simplest commands and discussing with a neighbour how confusing the new material was. Finally, after the TA had answered my burning question in the final minutes of the tutorial, I had low expectations for the quiz. Judging from what I had watched in the videos prior to class, the quiz material seemed too much to handle. But when the quiz was placed in front of me, I had to laugh. The video exercises were not what we were being tested on; instead, the questions consisted of the previous week's simple problems. I was starting to discover that the quizzes were not as bad as I had mentally made them out to be. This class was when we discussed the command "big-bang", where I copied the codes from the prof into my computer, only to get an error. A little practice at home couldn't hurt.
This was the first week which I made an effort to attend tutorials. Unfortunately, what I had hoped to learn from tutorials and what I actually learnt from tutorials was not what I had expected, as I ended up toying around with Dr.Racket's simplest commands and discussing with a neighbour how confusing the new material was. Finally, after the TA had answered my burning question in the final minutes of the tutorial, I had low expectations for the quiz. Judging from what I had watched in the videos prior to class, the quiz material seemed too much to handle. But when the quiz was placed in front of me, I had to laugh. The video exercises were not what we were being tested on; instead, the questions consisted of the previous week's simple problems. I was starting to discover that the quizzes were not as bad as I had mentally made them out to be. This class was when we discussed the command "big-bang", where I copied the codes from the prof into my computer, only to get an error. A little practice at home couldn't hurt.
Second Week
Week Two: 1st Quiz
When I heard quiz during the first lesson, I assumed a set of problems which would challenge my knowledge of computer programming and the basics of Dr.Racket. However, what I got from the first quiz was a five question breeze which everyone (who can count to seven and knows basic directions) was guaranteed to pass. I was relieved that the first quiz was much simpler than I expected; this meant that I had actually retained some knowledge from the first class and was happy to have realized so. After a few laughs about how easy the quiz had been, I learnt more about computer history (not all of which I can recite). It was starting to seem as though this class would begin with a debriefing on the history of programming, then continue into actual computer application. Don't quite remember what I learnt about Dr.Racket in this class, but after watching the Youtube videos I thought the following quiz would be of high difficulty.
When I heard quiz during the first lesson, I assumed a set of problems which would challenge my knowledge of computer programming and the basics of Dr.Racket. However, what I got from the first quiz was a five question breeze which everyone (who can count to seven and knows basic directions) was guaranteed to pass. I was relieved that the first quiz was much simpler than I expected; this meant that I had actually retained some knowledge from the first class and was happy to have realized so. After a few laughs about how easy the quiz had been, I learnt more about computer history (not all of which I can recite). It was starting to seem as though this class would begin with a debriefing on the history of programming, then continue into actual computer application. Don't quite remember what I learnt about Dr.Racket in this class, but after watching the Youtube videos I thought the following quiz would be of high difficulty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)