Found out the other day that I recieved a credit for contracts which was my second last subject university. I am thilled as was so unsure about the exam, finishing early does not fill you sometimes with hope. So that is done, now doing summer school and filling my head again with leadership theory and finding ways to fill gaps within project management with selected theory. Yes it does sound rather boring!
It is interesting when you deal with case studies/real examples to understand how theories are used, but 9 times out of 10 it is boring information in books or on the computer screen. I am now doing my last subject at university and very excited about it. As you can imagine with summer school it is condensed into a couple of weeks rather than months so there is a lot to do.
I am hoping that with the time constraints, kids, house, Christmas pressie shopping, and all other things that I get it all done. Plus the fact that we are going away to visit the in laws starting on boxing day so I want to have most of it done by then. I know a big ask, but if I power through it you never know.
Have you done a subject in summer or winter school and thought how in the hell are you going to manage it? Did you survive? Send in your stories.
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Today I went to the university for my contracts exam, I navigated the large campus and with some other student I found the place for the exam.
I did manage to get to the right building but could not see where there the exam would take place. I looked online via my wonderful iPhone (the girls and hubby gave it to me for my birthday this May – I have a sparkly pink case chosen by the girls) and ended up with the same information that I copied down at 4am this morning; this information was still no help to me.
With about 10mins left to find the place to sit this exam I was starting to get a bit concerned. I had been in the city for hours and now I might be late. Oh no this cannot be happening, after of course a much needed toilet break I headed out the door the way I had come in. I asked the first person I saw and he seemed to be in the know and I followed him. Thank god, I found it. Well? Really I followed and found it but still the same outcome. So no point dwelling on if I did it or someone else did.
Now to find the seat number for my exam, if you have never sat a university exam they give you seat numbers to make sure it is you and you have turned up for the test. I found the right number and sat at the right desk and waited. The man at the front told everyone to put their bags and belongings under their chair. I did as asked. However I left out my two pens, a notepad that had never been written in, a piece of paper that had my seat number and other info that I needed, and of course my reading glasses (that were still in their case).
Before proceeding with this exam you need to fill out the answer booklet with your details, Name, Course code and number, Student ID, Paper code, and Seat number. You also need to detach a part of the paper so that they can take it and you have to sign this as proof you were you and not someone else sitting your exam for you.
I did not have my student number on me but remembered that I had it on my phone as I logged in to get the room number of the exam. I was going to turn it off but wanted to get the student number first and then I was about to switch it all off. One of the ladies that was monitoring the exam, (it was not just contracts that had their exam today two other faculties had exams in there as well) noticed I had the phone and I explained what I was doing and then told her I was turning it off and packing it away. While she was explaining this and I agreed and told her that was what I was doing, she then told me that I needed to pay attention to the man that was giving us all instructions. I then explained that I was but she was talking to me as well. I found this rather frustrating, being told to listen to someone and them telling you something else.
Just before the exam started another person that is overseeing told me that I cannot have my glasses case on the desk. I then explained that I had my reading glasses for the exam and I needed them. She said that glasses were fine just had to lose the case. So I did.
We had 10 minutes reading time and then our 2 hours started. In the 2 hours we were then allowed to answer and to write responses, but during the reading time you cannot do anything but read.
Once the exam started not even 10 minutes in, a man who is overseeing the exam came to collect the piece of paper that I had signed to prove it was me sitting the exam and asked where my student id card was? I explained that I don’t have one as I study online and that I have a drivers licence if that would help? I also mentioned that the exam had already started and why is he doing this now not later or why was this not done before? His answer was that he did not notice. I stopped the exam, got the drivers licence and then he did his thing and I had to leave it on the desk until I completed my exam.
Where to go for the exam and other info for paperwork
One of the ladies that were keeping an eye on the students came up and remarked on my piece of paper with the room number, paper code and so on. She looked at it on one side, then the other and thought it very suspicious and told me I could not have it on my desk. I did not understand where the threat to the exam was but went along with it and put it under the desk (you will see the menacing piece of paper as I have added it as an image for this blog post – you can even see I have used it to test my pen as well)
Then a younger lady that was also helping with making sure that there were no funny business looked at my notepad and asked if I could open it. It is blank I said and showed her. I told her that I did not know if I might need to write notes of work or ideas out and that are the reason for it. She decided that too had to go and it joined the crowd under my desk.
I am not sure how I went but think I did o.k, only time will tell. I managed to finish with 40 minutes spare and was able to drop off my specialisation form to the right people for next year’s graduation. I did leave a couple of questions and went back and looked at them, but could not remember the answers. I believe I gave it a good go and tried to answer and give more information for all questions.
Not sure what the people that were overseeing this exam thought, where they bored and wanted to be seen to be doing something? It was just rather bizarre, removing things that are no threat to cheating or anything like that at all.
I must say my hand and arm is very sore from writing so much in a short space of time. I find when I do exams I don’t write very well as I am so used to typing all the time. Do you have this issue? Also have you faced something similar in an exam? It did feel a bit like harassment but not sure if they were just to eager to do their jobs. What are your thoughts? Send in your comments. Why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.
Have you found yourself with heaps to do and no interest in any of it? Well I have, although I do have an interest in doing it, I think I just have too much to do currently and that is making it all not get done. It does not help that I feel pressured about studying for my university exam but then I feel that I need to do other things, like housework, food shopping, and other things that get in the way of a student doing study.
Maybe I should put all the laundry away? Maybe I should just sit down and do the study that is needed to pass this exam and course. Oh the joys of not being able to concentrate currently. Would more coffee help? I still think cloning me would help but I know that is out of the question, ethically and also due to not having the technology available. I also think it would be freaky having more of me about.
It could be due to the fact that the contract law is rather dry and hard to digest at times so once you read a bit it is hard to stay enthused. Maybe I can develop ways to remember it all and to stay enthralled about it until the exam? Any ideas appreciated.
One other complication is staying focused and energetic about doing things late into the night when I am exhausted from kids and keeping things running in this house. I know I just need to knuckle down and it is probably just due to the fact that I am tyring to put it all off, but I don’t want to do badly and would like to give it a good go.
I think the hardest part is trying to do more in your day when the days are not your own anymore. I used to be so good with this, but now with kids I find that I cannot just sit down and study or sew, or do anything when I am at my best (namely the mornings), I have to wait to the twilight hours. Have you found this? My brain is thinking of all the things that need to be done and I am finding it hard to just concentrate on one thing, would this be a mummy thing or just the fact that I have a lot on my plate currently? I think it is just due to being busy.
The next 2 weeks are going to be taken up with study and yet more study. I have my exam on the 15th of November and would like to do as much as possible to get a good grade. So no matter what the situation I am going to do that. I promise myself. How do you make sure that you stick to your plans? Do you write notes to yourself? Make plans and give yourself rewards for sticking to them? Send in your comments.
No Secret Meetings So Study Is Needed. Image by FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Tonight I had my online lecture as per usual; this week is only week 3, so early days of semester 2. You would think that it is just getting to know terms, what you are supposed to be doing and figuring out what to read and so on. Well that is part of it; however it is like everyone has met up months before to transfer knowledge and skill to these lucky few that have made it to the meeting.
I for one was not at this mysterious rondevu, and I wish I was invited. The lecture notes online speed past at break neck speed and comments at the same pace, it is a different language that is being discussed. I have to pay attention to fine detail and even then, I am unsure of what is being said. Legal slang is a hard one to master, and I am sure it will come to me, but I hope it will happen before the end of the semester.
Have you found meetings, educational lectures, or even some conversations are like you missed the memo or the previous conversation completely, the issue with mine is that I have been online for all 3 lectures and still feel like this? Maybe some subjects have this clever way to make you feel stupid? Or just not speaking the same language?
More reading and research is in order if I want to feel like the party goer that can have legal conversation with ease. Students tonight were quoting cases, now that scares me! Quoting cases this early, are they closet lawyers? I always fancied myself as a lawyer, but not sure that I would get very far. I suppose it is early days, as it is still week 3 anything can happen. It can can’t it? I will understand everything that I read and master this course to gain a HD (High Distinction). I hear you laugh, but I will give it a good go!
Do you feel out of your depth sometimes, well I do. Especially when it seems everyone has secretly had meetings without me. Why do these students know more than me! Tell us your stories of this happening to you; when have you suspected that others have met secretly and left you out? Was it university, work or friends? Send in your comments.
More study awaits me. Image by FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tomorrow semester 2 starts, and it is my second last subject. Yippee I hear you say, I am nearly finished a masters degree in project management,however I need to survive this semester. The subject I will be studying is contracts management, although very interested and feel that understanding contracts is fundamental to a project going well, I am also very worried that it might be all over my head. ( I am sure it won’t be but last semester the subject was not easy, and the exam was the worst)
I have had a fascination with law and would in theory love to study law, just don’t know if I could actually do it. I have logged on to the online learning system and downloaded the material and now it is a matter of reading it and understanding it all.
It was a big shock to realise that my holiday from university is now over, the time went so quickly. I am upset as I wanted to achieve and do more. Even though I did not get some things done, I definitely had a rest and had time out.
Now I need to think positive and do a good job, as I want to do well this semester. There is an exam with this sujbect as with last semester, and I wish to be better prepared for this exam. Well I can only hope.
If you are studying has the course started again? Did you think you had more down time, I did. I think that this semester will require a lot of reading and referencing regarding cases and precedents. I hope that I remember all the facts, wish me well. Send in your comments.
Now with pre-school in full swing, I need to focus on study. Doing all my tutorial questions and helping with the group assignment. I always find it hard to start assignments, but once involved it becomes easier. It does help to have the quiet alone time to focus on study, and working during the day is ideal. Once night time hits I find I don’t get as much done as I would have liked.
Kids are in school for three days, and I am going to use that time wisely, I am hoping to get more work done. Sorry I have not posted in the last day or so, been busy with dramas at home and outings as a family and without kids.
Hope you are all well and will post soon. Need to concentrate on some study. Remember to vote for us for Best Australian Blog.
I am very pleased to report that my first assignment for this semester gained a high distinction, and as a bonus I have gotten an extra on my overall grade. I have also been asked to present my assignment to the class. I am thrilled and just so happy. Now need to get organised and do well on the group assignment and exam. This is a great start.
Now, today is going to be taken up with tiding as the house needs to be ship shape. We are having friends come and babysit the girls on the weekend, so that we can go to a good friend’s birthday. Really looking forward to seeing our good mate, and having some time out. However it is going to be hectic until then, a lot to do. One other positive of having the house tidy is that it is ready for next week and if it stays in a reasonable state, I might have more time for other things next week.
I got up early to have breakfast, do some stretches, and get organised. It was nice to have a head start on the day and to do some things without any distractions. Do you find it is easier to be up earlier than kids or the husband/partner? It is nice to have some quiet time, I rather enjoy it.
Now off to get kids up, but first will get breakfast arranged before the little bodies make it to the table. What are you up this fine autumn day? I will be busy sorting the house out and cannot wait to make a start on it. Keen to find out how the kids will enjoy their day at school after the school holidays. Send in your comments. Remember to vote for us for Best Australian Blog.
