Spend a few minutes this evening upgrading from Wordpress 1.5 to the latest version 2.2, all went well with no issues what so ever with plugins or themes.
The most surprising thing was the volume of spam comments that had been previously sitting in the database and hidden on the blog itself, Spam Karma 2 found around 20,000 spam comments to delete :)
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Since finishing off the modules for my MSc ISM more an more people have been coming to read back through past blog entries. Generally I get asked about module content and additional reading, hence the book list. Sometimes I get asked about the time needed for study and the methods used, hence the description of study methods.
Now it seems that the most common question is ‘what are the essential tools’, so here we go, this is a list of the tools and websites that I have found invaluable over the past couple of years.
Endnote and the University of Liverpool Harvard style template - This is a must have from day 1, you can buy it with a massive student discount if you go through the university computing website and you will never lose marks for poor referencing. The benefits and time saving from keeping a record of all references are also great.
Microsoft Word (combined with Endnote) for all assignments as well as initial responses - Use Word or something similar instead of typing straight into First Class, this way you can use Endnote’s Cite as You Write toolbar within Word to auto reference your work.
First Class (client and web access) - Download the latest First Class client from the website rather then use the outdated version provided by the university. Also make sure that you know how to use the web access for those times when you have 15 minutes free. Spending the occasional 15 minutes reading up on DQ posts over lunch from the office or on the train with a PDA etc makes a big difference when you do it throughout the week.
University of Liverpool Electronic Library particularly the following sources / databases:
For top marks throughout the modules you are expected to show that you had read outside of the course materials and carried out your own research, there is no comparison between academic grade articles such as those coming from journals via the library and general information found on the Internet which is considered unreliable.
MindManager - Really any mind map software will help greatly when brainstorming assignments and collecting data. MindManager is expensive and there are many other pieces of software that do the same thing, others that I would recommend are: NovaMind, TheBrain and Freemind.
Google Scholar - While the UoL library is great, you can sometimes find what you are looking for faster with Google and then go and collect the full article through the library where you have academic access.
Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion - If you are a mac user like me then at some point during your modules you will have to run Windows software such as MS Project, both of virtual machines run Windows very capably within OS X.
Skim - A PDF reader that I have only just found recently, it’s main advantages over Acrobat, Preview etc. is the ability to annotate the PDF as you read it.
Access Anywhere bookmarks - I used to use .mac to synchronize my bookmarks and favorites between computers, this also gave me the opportunity to access my bookmarks from other locations such as the office, university libraries or net cafe’s if I happened to be working away from home. In recent weeks I’ve moved my bookmarks onto del.icio.us which seems to be a much better way of working.
ChronoSync / Backup - On the Mac I use both of these tools to keep backups of my work but any backup method will do. As I work between a laptop and a desktop, ChronoSync makes sure that all of my files (including my Endnote reference databases) are the same in both location by using a bi-directional sync each day. Apple’s backup take a backup of my documents and uploads them to an iDisk on the Internet which also provides the advantage of remote access from libraries etc. if I don’t have my laptop with me.
Earplugs / iPod - Both essential if like me you intend to take advantage of public or university libraries, or even coffee shops for studying. Personally I find that I work best when listening to mellow classical music.
While not essential tools, I would recommend avoiding:
Wikipedia - While it seems like a great resource, entries are often not accurate and many instructors will not accept Wikipedia references. Get into the habit of using better sources from the outset and don’t come to rely on this site.
Referencing general pages on the Internet - Unless you are referencing company or organizational websites or are referring to reliable secondary sources such as newspaper and trade / industry news websites, look for some better source material i.e. reference from the electronic library databases.
Using non standard referencing methods - The university provides a clear referencing guide that you must follow if you want good marks, it is very easy to fall into the trap of using non standard referencing as the Harvard system demands attention if you want to get it right, if you hate writing out references in the correct format get a tool to do it for you e.g. Endnote.
Technorati Tags: Mac, Masters, MSC ISM, Studying, University
What a hectic couple of weeks, whoever it was that said to me ‘Oh your at the dissertation component, it is easy sailing from here’ should be shot.
A friend asked me to compare the dissertation process to the modules a couple of weeks ago, the best comparison I could come up with is -
The modules are like swimming in a swimming pool with lane markers to keep you going in the right direction and a life guard to give you advice and jump in if you get into trouble. The dissertation is like you have been taken out of the pool, flown by helicopter out to the middle of the ocean and then dumped. While your treading water, watching the helicopter disappear into the distance the sudden realization of the mammoth task ahead hits home!
So weeks 2,3 and 4 have been and gone, I’ve worked steadily through the research modules and have been developing my project proposal. The topic has worked through a couple of iterations and the scope has been reduced to the development of best practice guidelines for the use of mobile email devices such as Blackberries within organizations. I still am not clear as to how to evaluate such a best practice and the timing of the proposal development has coincided with a family emergency of my dissertation advisor so feedback has been delayed and to be honest, less than expected.
This week I have had 2 days off work to try and get through the week 5 research module and to attempt to pull the proposal together a bit more.
Technorati Tags: Dissertation, Masters, MSC ISM, Studying, University, UoL
It seems that more an more new University of Liverpool online students are getting in touch to talk about the Masters degree program, specific modules and studying in general.
Those of you looking to contact me will be please to know that I’ve updated the contact me section and added a new feature:
Get Skype and call me for free.
Yes, you can call me when I’m available (if not you will get voicemail) and I will try to assist if I can.
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Having already gone through the research methods training week 1 reading along with the required reading from both the MSC ISM and MSC IT textbooks, yesterday I read through the entire Final Project and Dissertation Guidelines document. I’d never really appreciated until now that there are quite a few milestones throughout the next months aside from the hand in of the proposal and final dissertation.
My time plan looks something like this:
For the rest of this week I have the research methods assignment work to hand in and I need to make a start on the proposal part of the project.
A couple of people have now asked about the subject of my dissertation, I am working with a preliminary title of “An investigation into the unguided corporate usage of ‘always on’ mobile email devices and the subsequent effects on employees.”
Technorati Tags: Dissertation, Masters, MSC ISM, Studying, University
Three days into my dissertation and to be honest I feel like I’ve been dropped off in the desert with no idea of where I am or in which direction I have to walk. This is such a change compared to the modules where the basic underlying plan is already in place and there are deadlines throughout each week for DQs etc. I’ve already been through the reading for the week and have a good grasp of the topics but need to attempt to apply this to the topic suggestion that I put together for the application.
I’ve been reading through Stephanie Clark’s dissertation diary which is fairly helpful, it’s good to read about other student’s views on the process, which I guess is one reason for me writing here.
I also have two pieces of work that are due to be submitted to my dissertation adviser this week and I should be working on the project specification so I suppose that I do have some direction, I think a good way forward for the next few days may be to outline the work in relation to my topic for the next couple of weeks.
Technorati Tags: Dissertation, Masters, MSC ISM, Studying, University, UoL
Finally, I’ve recieved the provisional marks for all modules:
Grade A*
Computer Communications and Networks
Computer Forensics
Information Technology Project Management
Principles of Marketing
Grade A
Security Engineering
Grade B
Computer Structures
Managing Organisational Resources
People Technology and Management
This confirms that I’m well on the way to a distinction overall as long as my dissertation is up to standard. I’m still sceptical about performing well on the last task but at least it has now began.
My topic was submitted and accepted and I was assigned the dissertation advisor of my choice - Geoff Sandy, over the weekend I started on the research training mini module and the plan is to have this completed by September the 8th. I have to put together my dissertation proposal in parallel with the research training module and in a perfect world this would be submitted by the end of September.
Technorati Tags: Masters, MSC ISM, University, UoL
Adrian Harper, born in the Isle of Man, currently in Zurich, Switzerland working as an IT manager and studying in the online postgraduate program of Liverpool University - MSc. in Information Systems Management.
IT Manager, Husband and MSc. ISM Student = A very busy man!
