Open University Communication and information technologies (TM255) Review & Tips!

[@midnightblackroses]

Thank you for this vid! I'm trying to decide between this module and the new TM256 Cyber Security. I'm avoiding TM254 like the plague. So this vid really helps

[@TomWagstaff]

Thank you, I'm glad this video was helpful!

[@jay3fox]

I'm starting this module in October, thanks for the video it really helped

[@TomWagstaff]

J Fox glad it helped! It’s a pretty straightforward module

[@maneesha112]

Hi I'm starting this module in October this year and this video is very helpful. Thank you!

[@TomWagstaff]

Thanks for watching, glad it was helpful!

[@taongatee231]

Thanks for the vids man.. great insight into the IT modules

[@UBA_NOOB]

Studying this module at the moment. Like any review, it is based on your own experience, but my experience does not align with yours. Block 1 TMA required deep research into IOT outside of the coursework if you want a distinction. Block 2 - the group work is a lottery and the WordPress site this year was extremely buggy. I had some great people in my group, but out of the 7 people in the group, only 4 showed up (only 3 at the start). The forums had many complaints about block 2. I would recommend students stay clear of this module for at least a year for the OU to address the many problems in this presentation.

[@TomWagstaff]

Yeah sounds like you’ve had a rough time, the only good thing about the group work is at least you’ll get the marks for it. The only benefit of you having to research the topics is it will prepare you for the third year where you’re expected to look in to the topic more. Hopefully they’ll get it fixed for October

[@UBA_NOOB]

@@TomWagstaff well I just got my TMA02 back. 99% - not too bad ;) TMA03 and EMA - here we come.

[@TomWagstaff]

Well that couldn’t have gone any better, especially with the issues you had. I hope they both go just a well for you!

[@danci947]

Hi, thanks for your videos, really informative. I am studying with the OU and doing your same modules. It would be great if you can do also a review of the TM254.

[@TomWagstaff]

Hey sorry for the late response, I am not sure I know of TM254? What is the module called?

[@RobinStanford]

Tom. This is so useful. Thank you for taking the time to do this. Did you do TM111 and 112? It sounds like a lot of the stuff we covered there, is it just a deeper dive into it?

[@TomWagstaff]

Glad it was helpful, I did do both of those modules before and there’s definitely some crossover, it goes a little deeper but not too much and is pretty straightforward

[@RobinStanford]

@@TomWagstaff Thanks. Whats the maths side of it like on the TMAs. Got to admit I did not enjoy the binary calculations and scientific notation stuff on the TM modules. Also, did you notice any increase in your weekly hours going from a level 1 30 pt module to a level 2?

[@TomWagstaff]

Robin Stanford it’s not too bad from what I remember, you have to work out signal strength over distance for mobile phones in the first TMA, the second one doesn’t have any because it’s more about teamwork and I can’t remember any in the third one but if there is it isn’t too bad. For this module I didn’t spend anymore time but for other year 2 modules I most likely did

[@RobinStanford]

@@TomWagstaff Thanks Tom. Thats really helpful.

[@Dipstick67]

cheers for the video, im starting the computing and it degree in october, im currently learning programming and have pretty much learnt HTML, CSS and Javascript (well getting there!). I am hoping this will help me with the course. I will also be pre learning python as i think this will be useful. What are your thoughts? I am currently not working in a tech background but have a good underlying knowledge.

[@TomWagstaff]

Jamie Tardi that’s sounds great, even just understanding the basics is good for the course so to go in-depth with the various languages is great. Depending if you’re wanting to do the module, there is a L2 Java module so you might want to look at Java at some point. But don’t worry if you don’t have the time for it the module will teach you what you need to know when you’re studying it.

[@lindssh996]

I have just started this module and only in week 2 and I am struggling on the maths part on Block one radio waves section, you said in your video that block one was straight forward the maths are certainly not straight forward they are a nightmare any suggestions that I can do for help and it can't be ask my tutor he is off sick at the moment. thank you

[@TomWagstaff]

Hey sorry for the late reply, my guess is you’ll have found help by now but in case you haven’t then the ideal next step other than emailing your tutor is to ask in the forum or join a tutorial and asking them for help. I hope everything works out for you!

[@lindssh996]

@@TomWagstaff thank you Tom I am in week 6 now and it is going better now I managed to solve the maths problem

[@bundenburg]

would you advise having gcse's / a levels to be able to study at this level?

[@TomWagstaff]

Providing you have done year 1 already I would say you would be fine with studying his module

[@bundenburg]

@@TomWagstaff thanks for the advice. I was considering the computer science with design as a high ed cert, then move onto the web development tt284. Let me know if you thinks that's wise or not!