AY 16/17 Semester 2

Posting this abit late, so it has no expected grade (since I already got my grades). I took 6modules this semester, and was hoping for a slightly less intense semester to recover from the horrors of the previous one. I also choose to do CS2103 as a technical elective, since programming was enjoyable. All in all, it was a tough semester with CS2103, but pretty refreshing and enjoyable nonetheless.

IE2150 - Human Factor Engineering

Content: This is a very atypical kind of engineering, and present to you areas where engineering and usability meet. It teaches about how to engineer/create applications and/or spaces for human usage, with consideration for human factors such as anthropometry, survey, human senses, etc. Lectures was web-casted for this module, making it easy to catch up with the content. There were four assignments (15%), mid-terms (30%), finals (30%) and a group assignment and presentation (25%). Bell curve was rather average, but most people got similar marks for assignments. Overall an interesting module, which was less technical than expected of engineering.

Difficulty level: Relatively do-able

Grade Obtained: A-

IE2130 - Quality Engineering 1

Content: A module that mixes statistics and quality control concepts together, to come up with standards to evaluate the acceptability of processes/products. There were no webcast, and lectures were generally engaging thanks to the professor. I developed a deeper sense of appreciation for how the industry checks and ensures that quality is maintained at a certain level, and how they can improve on quality by using statistical tools. There were 2 group assignments (6% each), a midterm exam (20%) and a final (68%). Bell curve for this topic was generally steep, seeing that most grades were very similar for the assignments and mid terms. Finals was challenging, and really tested your understanding of the module. Lectures are really important, and should not be missed. 

Difficulty: medium

Grade obtained: A-

IE2100 - Probability Models with Application

Content: This is a module that teaches about the different probability models as well as stochastic processes. It builds models to illustrate or estimate how real life processes and system works. The first half of the class focuses on discrete processes and the application in discrete time makrov chain, and the second half focuses on continuous processes and its application. Grading were based on assignments (20%), midterm (25%) and finals (55%). Lectures was webcasted, and it was particularly useful since lectures were really hard to understand, especially the second half. Bell curve for this topic was relatively decent, so just make sure you understand the topic well.

Difficulty: Medium
Grade obtained: A

BSP1004 - Managerial Economics

Content: This module introduces students to the basic concepts of economics and how the world operates as a function of economics. It teaches supply and demand, elasticity, market power and how it relates to pricing strategies of a firm. There is three chapters at the end that brings in concepts of game theory along with some examples of how it is acting out in real life. Altogether, it is a module that offers greater insight into how the economic mechanisms of the world function, but the concepts are far too simplistic and theoretical for actual application. (Probably true for most economic theories out there) It was not too difficult a module, and if you had an econs background in Junior College, this should be a simple refresher and add-on to what you have learnt. Assessment wise, it is 20% problem sets, 10% case presentation, 10% class participation/attendance and 60% finals. Lectures were web-casted so catching up with content should not be too difficult. For tutorials, you will be assigned a group at the beginning, to complete the problem sets and case presentation together. There is low pressure to class participate, for those who hate this component. Alas, most of the grades depend on your performance in the finals, seeing that it is worth a whopping 60%.

Difficulty: Relatively do-able
Grade obtained: A

BSP1005 - Legal Environment of Business

Content: This is a very interesting module that introduces the concept of law in Singapore, and is applicable especially if you are looking to start a business in Singapore. I feel that the lecturer geared most of the content in a way that highlights key features to take note of, for small and medium enterprises. Class is based on a 3hrs sectional class a week, and is rather chill. Most of the students, if not all, were year 1 as it was a compulsory module for business students, so I was the only odd ball. Assessment is based on 20% on a group assignment, 30% on class participation and 50% finals. The group assignment for my semester focuses on drawing up a business proposal that takes into account Singapore's laws and regulations. My group and I worked pretty hard for it, but I don't think the professor really looked into it, he was really chill. We did get good grades for it though, seeing that he seemed to like us. Class participation was strange, and it is based on the tutorial questions that is pre-arranged and can be prepared for. As the questions were limited, the professor tried to give everyone a chance, so in all of the 10+ classes, you get just 3 chances to speak and class participate. Rather intense if you think about it, so do be prepared with the answers, unlike me who screwed it up. Finals was in the form of case studies, where they give you scenarios and some questions, which you then analyse and "fight" your case. It was done through your own laptop, and the platform they did it on had some weird error and caused my words to be huuuugee. Bad experience, and with poor essay writing, I din't do that well. Altogether a good module to take if you want to learn more about how business and law might affect each other.

Difficulty: Slightly hard
Grade obtained: B+

CS2103 - Software Engineering

Content: Coming with a background of C and C++ programming, this module was a slight shocker as it is all in java. That being said, the lecturers understood that and gave the first two weeks as refresher weeks to update and understand java (still a challenge if you're relatively new like me). This module teaches several concepts about application development, architecture behind applications and some concepts about object oriented programming. It is a very interesting module, and you are expected to develop a functional working application with your teammates at the end of the module. Assessment of the module is based on 50% project, 10% class participation and 40% finals. Lectures were webcasted, so catching up is relatively simple. The first half of the module left me and my ISE friends (those who dared to venture into this trap), very lost. We had to come to grasp with github, sourcetree, java, and understanding complicated codes. There is alot of self learning that needs to come into play, and things can get really messy really fast. Thankfully, I had friends taking this with me, so we struggled together. Try not to take this and struggle alone. The second half of the module is where you start developing code and your program with your group. The code used is to be adapted from a functioning code that the professors will present to you. Lecture only introduce you to simple concepts, and you have to research on how to write the code that does what you want it to do. My group had 2 other ISE friends and 1 computer science student who was really busy in his own schedule. As a result, we had 3 ISE boys who struggled with understanding the program's 10,000 lines of code and then tweaking it to fit our ideas. Previously in CS1010 and CS1020, it was just a few hundred lines, so it was a giant leap and not an easy one. Finals on the other hand focuses on lecture material and was rather difficult to understand and apply as well. This module takes an insane amount of time and effort to do well in, just like most other computing modules, but the results can be very satisfying. Although I din't do as well as I hoped in this module, I've learnt many useful lessons about programming and coding, and even software architecture. A very useful module, but very intense one too. Take it at your own risk.

Difficulty: Very hard
Grade obtained: B