Wings On Some Wheels » University

Dismay with Blackboard, Pleasure with Zavvi

Kyle J Mayne — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:12:44 +0000

I’m deep in revision, although I felt it was time for a little break. Today I had an exam, which for the first time in my university career was multiple choice using Blackboard. First and foremost, Blackboard for a multiple choice exam is horrid, the interface is misleading and chunky with the only advantage of doing such an exam is getting your result instantly at the end (OK, a 1st if your wondering). Other than that I would scrap the whole system, the fact students could open web browsers and access MSN isn’t a good indication of all things fair. I kept my nose clean but blackboard really does get to me. To be honest, Blackboard just makes me sigh, I bet they offered the service and NCL couldn’t turn them down.

Here is the conversation;

Blackboard guys : “How about an online multiple choice exam ? Just imagine less paperwork to mark, you would be flattening your organisational structure and lowering costs !! “

NCL guys : “Well we have already spent ~~shit~~ loads of money implementing Blackboard we might as well use some of its added features”

I honestly believe hardly no consideration went into Blackboard MCQ in terms of usability and interface design, and when a company has a revenue of 183 million in 2006 the output should be far superior than what it was. Now I’m not getting a dig at Blackboard its a wonderful idea, but on using it I’m constantly pulling my hair out. Blackboard, get your people to phone my people and we will sort this problem out.

Apart from my dismay with Blackboard I just wanted to take a minute and say how impressed I was with Zavvi.co.uk, yesterday I saw the Only Fools and Horses box set on HotUkDeals for £40, bargain. Then this morning the item arrived, very impressive and delivery was Free !!!.

For I shall be shopping online from them again (if I see a bargain that is…).

1 hour to Jobs…

-Kyle

Technorati Tags: Newcastle University, Blackboard, Business Systems, Zavvi, Hot Uk Deals, Only Fools and Horses

1 down 3 to go

Kyle J Mayne — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:06:51 +0000

Something to shout about my Project Proposal document has just been submitted !!!!!!!!

Good Night

-Kyle

Banksy

Kyle J Mayne — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:37:48 +0000

I wonder if the Batman at University is a Banksy, it’s a stencil that’s all I know. If I get a chance (and remember) tomorrow I’ll take a photo.

-Kyle

Technorati Tags: Graffiti, Art, Stencil, Intervention

Interaction with public screens - 3rd Dissertation

Kyle J Mayne — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:27:35 +0000

The description;

Public screens are becoming increasingly common these days - not only in airports and shopping malls but even in pubs and other less formal places. Frequently, these screens are mainly used to broadcast information but for a nomadic user it would nice to be able to use them for other purposes (such as showing off photographs to collocated friends). My project aims at investigating different alternatives in terms of how to interact with public screens. Possible means for interaction include, for example, touch-screens, mobile devices, or gestures. The goal of this project is to survey what means of interaction are available, to analyse them according to drawbacks and benefits, and to devise some initial guidelines for interface design.

-Kyle

Team Two Website

Kyle J Mayne — Tue, 15 May 2007 21:03:42 +0000

Oh I never pointed this out at the time and wanted to, the Team 2 CSC 2005 Software Engineering group website is out, so what are you waiting for.

-Kyle

Texting killing the English Language

Kyle J Mayne — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:14:45 +0000

The rising popularity of text messaging on mobile phones poses a threat to writing standards among schoolchildren, an education commission says. The frequency of errors in grammar and punctuation has become a serious concern, the State Examination Commission said in a report after reviewing last year’s exam performance by 15-year-olds.

I totally agree with this article from CNN, but there is nothing we can do though, the English Language is constantly evolving. I heard an interesting story on Thursday at University how a lecturer got in touch with a student because he thought he was Dyslexic all over an email he sent out. You must admit if you understand it, it is certainly is quicker and arguably more efficient.

Anyway I’ve decided not to learn French, this new stuff is the way forward.

-Kyle

Technorati tags: Texting, French

YAWN

Kyle J Mayne — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:00:50 +0000

I must admit it is very exhausting being a stereotypical university student;

“I go to bed at night dreaming about DFDs, Use Case Diagrams and Decision tables”.

-Kyle

RSS & XML

Kyle J Mayne — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 08:47:34 +0000

I have just spent the last hour or so creating an RSS feed for some of our coursework deadline dates within NESS. To be honest RSS is one of those things you understand and know how to do, but never actually do, because its already in place.

The reason for this sudden burst into creating RSS and XML documents is that on Wednesday we were set a piece of coursework to complete. It hasn’t been difficult, to be honest I quite enjoyed it.

Here is a little example from inside B-Log-Lines;

I’m well on my to completing it and it validates fine too

-Kyle

Little Steps

Kyle J Mayne — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:41:26 +0000

Hopefully Andy shouldnt mind me using this GIF image here, it might even be part of the actual final promotional video for the CS department.

Interesting, watch this space because good things are bound to come.

-Kyle

Kyle J Mayne — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:55:06 +0000

Nothing to report, exam season so things may be a little quiet.

Oh there is one thing I picked up Grisham’s The Brethren hardback today on the market for 25p for which I was quite chuffed at my bargain.

-Kyle