It's official: I scored all my ECTS (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

The above image is part of the official school papers that I managed to lay my hands on. The above info proves that I managed to score a full 100% on the required ECTS (European standard credits) to pass my first year.

In the Netherlands this first year's scoring is a rather big deal, which is called the propedeuse. If you manage to get your prop a number of doors open for you, including a leg up to a university degree. Also, getting all 60 ECTS in your first year shows that your dedicated to your education and that you're willing to put in the time.

Anywho... It's official: I got my prop :)

Posted in: college , ects , final score , study

Boning up on virtualization (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

This week I'll be boning up on "virtualization", in the computing sense. I have a few very interesting prospects on the horizon, one of which includes this particular field in IT.

As part of the application process for this opportunity, I've been asked to prepare a short, technical presentation on any part of virtualization. Because I do not have that much experience with it yet, I reckoned I might as well make it a learning experience for myself as well :) Today and tomorrow will be spent reading dozens of documents and sifting the useful material. The rest of the week, I'll prepare for the presentation, which'll happen on Friday.

Exciting! ^_^



Posted in: study , virtualization , vmware

Goodbye Hogeschool Utrecht (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

Today I got the results of the exams I took on Monday. Geometry 1 came back as an 80%, which is much higher than I'd expected. History 2 came in lower though, at 60%. Ah, I don't care that much since the other grades I got for the course means that I'm still at a solid 70%.

So... There's only one grade that I still need to wait for, the didactical part of Geometry 1. I'm sure that'll come in at 70% or higher, so I reckon it's safe to assume that I've successfully finished my first year in college. These grades will remain valid for seven years, so I can start my second year at any time I'd like.

*sigh* So that's it... :)



Posted in: college , goodbye , hogeschool utrecht , sniff , study

School is coming along nicely (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

I've been in college for over half a year now and I'm about 3/4s through the first year. I've been enjoying the heck out of school and I'm glad I decided to make the step to getting a second college degree. Just think, in less than two years I'll be teaching math to a bunch of teenagers ^_^

In the meantime I'm going to make the best out of my studies. I'm not claiming their easy by a long shot, as I've spent many a night studying until midnight. X_x The encouragement of my friends and family helps a lot though and I'm really happy that they're keeping me motivated :)

So... That's almost three semesters down and one to go. Why don't we take a look at the score so far?



Statistics 1 - Didactics = 80%
Statistics 1 - Math = 80%
Didactics 2 - Project = 80%
Didactics 2 - Test = 80%
Analysis 1 - Didactics = To be determined
Analysis 1 - Math = Pass by default
Identity Development 1 - Project = 70%
Identity Development 1 - Test = 80%
Student counseling 1 - Project = To be determined
(WER) Traineeship Prep 1 = To be determined
SLB (my own counseling) = To be determined 80%

Well hot damn! It seems I'm doing pretty well! I also expect to get between 70% and 80% on the three courses that still need to be scored, so that's good news too.

Now, next semester we're up for Geometry 1 (didactics and math) and History of Math 2. Sounds like a fun semester!

Posted in: college , nice , results , school , study

A day off? Schoolwork it is! (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

I'd taken the day off from work today, in order to work on a school project. This project has each group looking into the so-called New Learning (which really isn't new, but just different), in hopes that we learn something about recent education reforms.

You see, over the past few years the Netherlands have seen quite a few changes to their educational system. One of the big-ass ones, is the move from class-based education, towards a more individual approach. If you're interested, we're discussing the matter over here, at Ars Technica.

Among other tasks, each group member is expected to pay a visit to a New Learning school. I decided to be a little off-beat and opted for a democratic school (which are actually quite rare in the NL): De Kampanje.

The talk I had with one of their staff members was rather educational. I will probably never see eye to eye with them on schooling, but it -is- always interesting to hear new ideas. Such talks allow me to take a step back and take another look at the work I'm doing myself.

De Kampanje bases most of their work on steps that have already been taken by the Sudbury Valley School in the US. Most of their ideas really are quite daring and I'm sure that 95% of today's educators would be infuriated even thinking of them.

For now I will refrain from fully forming an opinion on their methods. I still have to write an objective paper in the issue ~_^

Posted in: college , day off , de kampanje , schoolwork , study

My strategy for this semester and the next (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

I'm going to have to fit in various "unwieldy" tasks, that will not fit properly into my normal agenda. Among others, I'm expected to make multiple visits to schools: to talk to students, to teach classes, etc. Given my normal day job this is simply impossible. I've also fallen slightly behind in a few areas, so I'm going to have to shuffle things around to make it all work.

This semester:
* I have to finish last semester's General didactics, or I'm going to fail it completely. That would mean I'd have to completely redo the course next year.
* I've already dropped the maths part of Analysis 1 in order to make room for other stuff.
* I'm going to postpone my work for SLB and WER, after conferring with my teacher. She understood my need to make room in my schedule.
* I will finish both Kijk op leerlingen and Analysis 1 - Didactics on time.

Next semester:
* I'll drop the second year's Counseling and mentoring project, so I can take it next year. That ought to free up enough time to finish this semester's SLB and WER and to tie up any loose ends.

Posted in: college , semester , strategy , study

My Friday night (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

My Friday night: about two hundred pages of governmental writing on education, a report due on Monday and a bottle of Baileys.

Posted in: alcohol , college , friday night , study

Emo-whiny-pussy week (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

From hence forth, the fourth week of a semester shall be known as Emo-whiny-pussy week. In this week I shall partake in much sulking, moping and hiding away, thus ensuring that no homework gets done. And there was much rejoicing. (Yay...)

But seriously, this is a trend I've noticed with myself: the first three weeks of a semester I steam through like a train on nitro. Then, all of a sudden I'm completely out of steam and no work gets done. I also usually feel drowned by the amount of work that's still left. Then, in the fifth week I seem to pick up pace again.

Hooray for self reflection :)

Posted in: college , emo , pussy , study , whiny

It's all becoming a bit too much (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

Damn. I hate doing this, but I'm skipping out on Analysis 1 - Maths. That's the course I wrote about earlier, with all the long calculations to prove that math works bitches.

The course is on my list of "free" courses: I already received all the ECTS beforehand, because I have already studied this stuff before. In essence this means that I didn't have to take the test to begin with. I was just taking this class to freshen up my maths.

Thing is: I wasn't just visiting lectures, I was also doing all of the homework, which eats up a tremendous amount of time. Also, making all my notes look good using LaTex takes up about an hour each week as well. I could spend all of that time on work that actually earns me more ECTS.

I'll still be visiting each lecture, because A) the subject matter is cool and challenging, and B) I enjoy spending time with my classmates. I just won't be partaking in the homework, nor in the exam.

Posted in: college , homework , maths , study , too much

Yay, for more results (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

Yay for more test results :)

Remember that one report that had me worried so much? Well, it came back a 70% so it wasn't all bad :)

Also, that one test I was waiting for (on General didactics) came back a whopping 80%! Awesome!

Posted in: college , report , result , study , test

More test results have come in (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

Hooray for more good results!

It's been confirmed that the first result that I got back (see a few days ago) was actually an 8,3! /o/ That's the equivalent of an 83%. Nice!

And the reports I'd turned in for Statistics 1 (all of which can be found over here) were also good for a G (and hence an 8, or 80%). Fsckin' A!

Posted in: college , study , test , test result

Here I go: my first exams in college (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

So... Exciting day! Today's the first time I'm taking exams for my new college education. Of course I've done all of this before, but that was years ago!

I've got two tests scheduled for today:
* 1200 - 1400 = Statistics 1.
* 1800 - 2000 = Didactics 2.

So yeah, I've got four hours of wasted time in between my tests. I'll use that to go through the summaries some more and to relax a little.

Well, here I go ^_^ Faito!



Posted in: college , exam , hogeschool utrecht , study

W00t! New books have arrived. (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

This year's second semester will start in about a week. In preparation for my new courses I've been ordering books left and right. Luckily I already own the most expensive book on the list, so I won't have to get that one.

On the pile on the left you see:
* Identity development and student counseling
* Maths for students between 12 and 16
* Teaching effectively: learning maths
* A pamphlet entitled Don't touch me!

The last two items weren't on the official book list, but I decided to get them anyway. Learning maths because it will make a nice addition to my current library. Don't touch me! because I am very curious how one would handle a situation where kids are harassed by others.

This leaves two syllabi that I should buy at school. After that I'm all set.

Posted in: books , college , new books , study , teaching

Time to get my ass in gear again (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

Well...

I slept in 'till eight.

I've watched The guns of Navarone (great movie!) to relax a little.

I've had breakfast.

I've read part of John Siracusa's in-depth review of Leopard.

Now it's time to stop slacking and get my ass into gear again!

UP AND AT'EM, ATOM ANT!



Posted in: college , schedule , study , work

I'm falling behind, but I have to keep going (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

*yaaaawn* So, it's about two AM now and I'm still up, hacking at a report. Lemme tell you, that's one F-ing big assingment.

The course in question is Didactics in maths 2, a second-year class. Sweet Jeebus, do they pile on the work! Dossier report 6 (out of 12) alone is at least twelve hours of work. For this assignment I'm given a maths test and the answer sheets for five students.

I'm expected to:
1. Take the test myself, to find out the correct answers.
2. Define an initial scoring sheet for the test.
3. Score each of the students' results against my sheet.
4. Analyse the crap out of my scoring method.
5. Adjust my scoring to suit the best practices seen in high school.
6. Re-score the students' results.
7. Re-analyse my scoring, to see what has changed.
8. If need be, re-re-adjust everything.
9. Go over the test itself to see if it follows the best practices.
10. Write an analysis of the test and its shortcomings.
11. Determine how I would discuss the test's results in class.
12. Draw conclusions from the test's outcome. Have we reached all of our goals?

Good grief! Don't get me wrong: I'm loving every minute of this. It's just that this assignment is H.U.G.E.! More like sixteen hours, than the twelve I mentioned earlier.

Ah, fuggit... I'm going to bed. I've reached a point at which it is alright to save my work and close up show for the night. I'll work a bit longer tomorrow.

Posted in: college , falling behind , reports , schedule , study

w00t! Passed my LPIC-102! (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

Yay! There wasn't much reason for my doubting :) I passed with a 690 score (on a 200-930 scale), which boils down to 87% of 73 questions answered correctly. Not bad... Not bad at all...

Next up: ITIL Foundations!

Posted in: lpi , lpic-102 , study , sysadmin , work

LPIC-102 summary (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

The LPIC-102 summary is done. You can find it over here, or in the menu on the left. Enjoy!

Posted in: lpic-102 , study , summary , sysadmin , work