UPOU Graduate Admission Test (GAT) in Master of Information Systems

There is NO admission examination for the MIS program. The graduate programs who require an exam are the

1. Master of Public Management (MPM)
2. PhD in Education program

I don’t know if the UPOU will change their requirements. So far, NO EXAM. I was like “Yey!” after I read the admission requirements of MIS. My speculation is that the decision to be admitted or not are based on the recommendation letters and the 500-word essay. I actually worked hard on my essay because my writing skill at that time was rusty (IS 201 got it polished and shiny again).

I hope those wondering/worrying for the GAT will not be disappointed for not having an admission exam.

That is all for this post. For official information, it is best to contact the UPOU registrar.

The Admissions Section
Office of the University Registrar
UP Open University
Los Baños, Laguna
4031 Philippines
Email: admissions@upou.edu.ph

IS 215 – My only subject this semester

Information Systems 215 : Advanced Computer Systems is a core course in the MIS program. It is more on the theoretical side. According to the course guide, at the end of the semester the student will be able to (1) discuss various computer system concepts and (2) select appropriate and relevant features when designing computer system.

The three-month semester was spent on studying concepts and architecture and operating systems research. A LOT of reading was necessary. There was no programming/coding at all ( though I am not sure if this is always the case). The class had 3 quizzes, 1 research paper as an assignment and a final exam. The quizzes were crazy short. It’s only for 10mins or so and less than 10-15 items. The final exam’s 60% of the grade! But it has been given a longer time. The assignment is a short research paper about two operating systems – Android and Tizen. The focus is on Tizen and its architecture. A few questions were provided as a guide.

Everything was done online and by oneself after the course materials were given by the Faculty-in-Charge. I kind of felt lonely in this class. Not much class discussion though it would have been better to get the students discuss the assignment output (in my humble opinion). Being a core subject, I had to do my best in getting a grade above 2. I love learning to expand my knowledge which made me pursue higher education but at the same time there should always be an awareness of the entire program’s requirements.

So how can IS 215 broaden one’s mind in computer programming? Being theoretical, this course will not teach students implement a new operating system nor how to write their own operating system. Rather, it is a good background knowledge in software engineering or programming particularly when designing computer systems or managing computer resources. The complexity of process management, network systems, threads, sockets, files and directories, multi-processors, memory management and everything that allows user applications to interact with computer hardware components are defined and discussed fundamentally. The discussion did not involve any programming language. Here is a blog post that also describes the points in studying operating systems.

I noticed that most (if not all) of the topics in IS 215 are already part of a computer science bachelor’s degree program. Still, these concepts are fundamental for mastering computer systems. Sometimes, we have to study rather than implement a system to better understand its flaws, weaknesses and strengths. Thanks to research and development, we got various operating systems available and its up to the user to choose which best fits his application.

P.S.

I’m satisfied with the grade I got on this course. Phew! I like the subject but there’s no fun in repeating.

End of First Academic Year – 7 Reflections of a “Freshman” in the Master’s Program

The 2015-2016 academic year is finally over. Such a relief, really. After the final exams were done, I was lost in thought trying to remember what happened within the past months! I never expected that I could be so busy doing school stuff. On the last two weeks, even my family had to adjust a little bit of their time to give way for my studies. No, they didn’t spend late nights trying to help me finish the final projects but I had to skip the bedtime stories routine.

Before the start of the first semester, I had this conviction that I already know what there is to know in online education setup (generally speaking). Eventually the strong ‘conviction’ transformed into a humongous doubt as each deadline and time-limited examinations draw near. I wish I know some definite points or advice on how to survive being a freshman. It may be best to share some reflections I learned based on personal experience.

• Planning ahead did lessen the chance of failure

      To plan ahead means that all (and I mean everything and everyone) day-to-day, weekly and monthly activities are incorporated and meticulously organized in a single plan. Even if it’s just for three short months. I made it a point to prioritize my studies in the planner. Deadlines are dead lines after the due date. Goodbye submission bins, goodbye examination attempts. Good Luck achieving e-mail correspondence with the professor.
  After all the coursework details were made available, use it as the central part of the planner. My purpose in planning is to know how to make adjustments in case any untimely event happens. And these events, they always tend to happen when you least expect. As a person who always forgets due dates, planning ahead had saved me a lot from stress. Time is very, very precious and not to be taken for granted. A planner doesn’t need to be the most crafty or instagram-able. The content is the most important and a planner should serve its purpose.

• “Stick to the Plan” does not have to be an absolute rule

      Sticking to the Plan is the ideal and also the hardest. After all the planning, even creating an artistically Plan board, it takes a herculean effort to follow what must be done. It will come to a point where the top spot in the to-do list is a reminder on accomplishing the to-do list. It becomes a loop with nothing executed and ultimately, the person feels deflated, bitter and dismayed.
  One or two misses from the plan is, in my opinion, not a failure. Except if it is a missed quiz or last day for project submissions. Rather, keep the motivation and have the resiliency to make appropriate adjustments. It is not necessary to absolutely stick to the plan. Life’s circumstances, especially to us adults trying to juggle a delicate balance of life, family, work, studies, etc., have the ability to throw us out of whack. Keep it cool.

• Move it! Waiting for the mood is futile, not coming

      Check the planner, stick to it, and move it (force the brain to work on it). The mood will never come to those who are waiting for the motivation. ‘Waiting for the mood’ is a very lame excuse to mask laziness. Chances are, the waiting time may consume so much hours that, had studying been started it could be on the finishing stages now. To wait for the mood to do something has been one of my pitfalls. One that I learned to avoid on the second term. If I want to beat the deadlines and stick to the plan, I had to work on my studies even if my mind and heart feels otherwise. I’d keep away from distractions.
  Studying is really a bore. Such thoughts must break. Changing the perspective from studying a subject for the sake of a grade to learning a new knowledge that may perk up the brain has worked well for me. To finish a master’s degree or any serious task requires hard work and smart work.

• Note taking improves memory retention of the subject

      Whether to hold a virtual class or not is up to the faculty-in-charge. There are faculty members who would just release the course materials and expect self-learning from the students. The grading system will depend on the results of the quizzes and projects. Note taking will therefore depends on the study habit of the student. No one will check. Regardless of one’s habit, there is a bigger chance of remembering important items when it is noted. “Taking Notes” may sound outdated but its effectiveness in studying is still significant. Note-taking is not strictly using pen and paper only. From paper to screen, note-taking has evolved together with technology.
  As I read each chapter of the course’s reading material, I have my reliable word processor by my side. It’s my dearest tool when taking notes and I do not copy-paste. I have to admit that it is tedious and it takes a while to finish reading but I find it more effective on my studies. The biggest benefit is that it is easier to browse my notes during Open-Notes exam.

• Professors do not give easy open-notes exams

      Online exams mean the student will take an exam anytime within the allowed period given by the faculty and won’t have a proctor. Student should not assume that online exams is an open notes exam. A student is expected to not cheat and close all notes during exams unless otherwise mentioned by the faculty in charge.
  When a professor allows open notes, expect that it has at least one of the following: computations, contains an essay, definition, time limited. I would make double preparations with this type of exam. It does not guarantee a passing mark especially if I don’t know where to look on the notes. Just imagine browsing an entire book for the answer while the clock is ticking and there are still items to answer.

• Preparing all Tools and Psyche Before Exams is a Sacred Ritual

      Read the instructions carefully especially the time limit and the number of attempts allowed to take the exam. It is a given that the internet connection, computer (both hardware and software) and electricity must be in perfect condition. However, other tools that could possibly be needed during the exam should also be prepared to avoid any problems and make the most of the exam period. This includes the home appliances (AC unit, ventilation, etc.), drinking water, or anything that would put oneself in a comfortable position. Remove all distractions.
  Put your mind in quiz mode.

• Being Active and Pro-Active in the Discussion Forums Exercises the Mind

      Just like the traditional classroom setting, students need to interact with their classmates and make more friends or connections. Having classmates from different fields, diverse background and varied experiences are already educational notably when having discussions. Besides, it provides an opportunity for the professor to recognize a student’s name.

The past two semesters were a truly rewarding experience. I learned a lot and made me realize that there are things I have yet to explore in understanding my capabilities as a self-learner. Hopefully, those reflections will improve my study habits. I’m looking forward to the next academic year.

A Python’s Byte

Thanks to IS 214, I got to learn about Python. Besides learning the Principles of Programming Languages, the course also requires knowledge in programming (for me it means learning a new programming language). This will be used in the project to be submitted at the end of the semester.

Whenever I’m trying to learn a new PL, I always assume I got zero knowledge. This is to avoid being biased and to actually learn the fundamentals. There was no awareness in me about Python (before IS214). But it is not because of ill-feelings or negativity. It’s just that there was not yet a chance for an introduction. After all, my studies and work were into C, C++ and C#.

Being used to semi-colons, curly braces and having no regard for indentation, my challenge in learning Python was in actual coding. I had to check each line of my code if there’s a semi-colon at the end of the statement. I oftentimes got mixed up in using indentations. Python gave me more than just knowledge about a programming language but also improved my habits.

A big thanks to tutorialspoint. This is the main reference I used in learning Python. I like how they presented the lessons in a very simple manner.

===My 7 Tips for Python would-be Enthusiasts===
(1). Get a background in Object-Oriented Analysis or Object-Oriented Programming. This is a must because Python is an Object-Oriented Programming Language. Although it is possible to learn Python without orientation in OOA or OOP, you may not be able to utilize the full potential of Python or write an optimized Python code.
(2). Look for and use an IDE appropriate for Python especially if GUI is necessary for you to learn. I didn’t use this tip myself but only because I decided it was not needed for my assignments and project. I actually practiced and coded my assignments and project using the Notepad++.
(3). Allot an entire day to learn the language. It gave me more focus as compared to when I’m studying an hour each day.
(4). Please read and understand the BASICS. Yep. The first three chapters are very very important. It contains the FUNdamentals and the foundation of the language.
(5). Practice Python coding. Do not copy-paste the code from your references but actually type the code. Please. Even if it is just a simple code as “Hello World.”.
(6). If you are like me who has the habit of using curly braces and semi-colons, then be prepared to have lots of errors (or maybe not, depending on you). Most of the errors I got was due to this so before fixing a logical error, check for the syntax.
(7). Work on a project or machine/programming problem. It is better if the project do not focus heavily on the GUI but more on the logic of the problem such as using lists, tuples, dictionaries, loops and classes.

Do Not Forget to Have Fun.

 

P.S.
I tried my best to publish a post today only because… It’s February 29! Also, this made me remember I saw a romantic movie about a couple meeting only during the 29th of February  which I don’t really find romantic but nonetheless, it was good.

1 for IS 201

IS 201 is a core subject in Master of Information Systems. It is Computer Ethics which is one of the three subjects I enrolled in on my first year-first semester. It was hard work for me. It did not involve any type or any kind of programming but it was challenging, nonetheless. After every chapter of the study material, an ethical dilemma will be presented to us and required us to write an essay. We also had to make 1 video presentation (uploaded to YouTube) about our ethical view of the given topic. The project for this course was to give a seminar to at least 10 audience. It was the project that really made me doubt if I will pass the course! I’m so glad this is over.

So how did I pass this course?
Two Main Points:
(1) Always submit each essay, assignments, papers and requirements before the deadline.
(2) Submit complete works and must contain relevant content. This means that it follows the guidelines provided by the Faculty-in-charge. In case of uncertainty, immediately ask for confirmation from the FIC.

Others:
(1) Before writing an essay, read a lot of materials related to the topic. It helped in giving me an idea what to write especially the different point of view.
(2) In writing an essay or any paper, make sure that the spelling, grammar and punctuation marks are correct.
(3) Write the essays like a formal paper (though not necessarily in a formal tone).
(4) Do not copy-paste sentences from your references.
(5) Do not forget to include your references and citations.
(6) Try to reply in the discussions or give feedback to others’ submitted work.
(7) For the video presentation (MeTV), simple videos are enough but make sure that there is enough lighting and tidy background. The audio is important. It should produce a clear sound (even if the person watching will not use a headset) and avoid noise.
(8) As for the Ethics Project (which was a seminar I conducted with 14 of my friends and colleagues), write a concise lesson plan detailing the activities of the seminar. The seminar was in an informal manner. I only included about 10 pictures.

How to Apply in UPOU MIS Program

These are the steps I did when I apply for the Master of Information Systems.

1. I made sure that I am qualified for the Master of Information Systems program.
   Refer to this link for the qualifications of the program. I’m qualified on number 2.
   1. Applicants who have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or Diploma in Computer Science from UP with a general weighted average (GWA) of 2.5 or better are qualified for admission.
   2. All other applicants must satisfy the following qualifications:
      • a Bachelor’s degree in any field from any recognized institution with a GWA of 2.0 or better;
      • proficiency in at least one programming language; and
      • two years IT-related work experience (this requirement may be waived if the applicant is a graduate of BS in Computer Science, BS in IT, BS in Information Management or a related field).
   3. Applicants who do not satisfy the above requirements will be advised to apply to the Diploma in Computer Science program.
2. These are the official documents I prepared (I had both hard copy and soft copy) for submission.
   1. Official* Transcript of Records.
      • Prepare both original and a photocopy.
      • The TOR should bear the school dry seal and imprint, and the Registrar’s signature in ink, and with acceptable remarks. I requested (my dear alma mater) to use “For Further Studies”.
   2. Two letters of recommendation from (I actually got three recommendation letters from my supervisor, HR Manager and the company’s EVP. ):
      • Employer/supervisor
      • Former professor
      • Former program adviser
        • Note: Use UPOU Form 1a for this purpose. The form is attached to the printed application form. Or you can download it from the UPOU website.
   3. Two identical 2” x 2” photos and two identical 1” x 1” photos, with your name and the program applied for printed at the back of the photos.
   4. 500-word essay. (What is your purpose for applying to the DE program and what are you plans after completion of Graduate study at the UP Open University?)
   5. Photocopy of any Government-issued ID.
   6. Photocopy of NSO Authenticated Birth Certificate.
3. Go to the UP Open University Online Application procedure to apply online. This is a requirement. When all documents are ready, applying online is easy.
4. Pay the application fee. P 500.00 for those living in the Philippines. USD 100.00 for applicants living outside the Philippines. I paid P 500.00 at PNB. I’ll post a separate blog about the payment procedures.
5. Mail the accomplished application form, original copy of the credentials and the proof of payment. I sent mine by courier (LBC). Although the online application allows uploading of the required documents, it is a must to send the original.
   • Note: Mail or bring your accomplished application form together with the other documents and proof of payment on or before the deadline to:
     The Admissions Section
     Office of the University Registrar
     UP Open University
     Los Baños, Laguna
     4031 Philippines
6. Wait and monitor the progress of the application using the OAS and email.

The information in this post are from the UPOU Admission website. This is only a summary of how I prepared my application. For more information please visit the University of the Philippines Open University Application Guide.

Subject Selection

It’s already the 7th of January and am still undecided of the courses that I will take this coming semester. Tsk! Here are the things I’m trying to consider:

• The number of courses to take
• For 2 courses: try to get only 1 course that has a programming project. The other should be non-programming
• Which elective should I take?

Time management is quite a challenge in distance education. It is all about the ability to self-study (fast-paced, mind you) while juggling personal lifestyle and studies. It is quite an art, I believe. To my classmates who are able to take three courses every semester, hands down to you.