Final exams

After one week without thinking about academic activities, I feel comfortable to talk about it, then I've decided to write a little bit about exams here in Brunel.

First thing I have to say is that it is totally different from exams in Brazil: format, expectations, environment... The biggest difference is the fact that exams here include all the content of the year (while in Brazil it is split into three smaller exams).

Also, here we have too much pressure about this and the environment is so serious that we feel scared for only see the room! To give you an idea about that, we have to leave all our belongings (including even coats) in a specific place in the room, we can only have a bottle of water (label has to be removed) in our desks, besides basic material (pen, pencil, eraser...). The answer book is very similar to those we use in tests to get a public job, in Brazil.

Besides that, the exam structure itself is also much more complex. The questions (at least in my modules) are much more reflexives, rather than direct use of concepts or definitions. We have to apply the knowledge for the whole year to examples, study cases (sometimes previously distributed to us) or problems from real life. I can not gie you an example of this, because I've already forgot everything that occurred in those days! Haha

Another thing which is different is that although all lecturers had explained well what was expected from us in exams, after finishing them I didn't have a clue about how well or not I did. I think this is mainly because these were my first exams in this format and I don't know exactly how they will be assessed or how flexible lecturers are with answers.

I'm not sure that my performance will be as good as I wish it was, but I'm sure that I did my best.

See you!

Finally, the spring...

Yes, you are right.
This post is a bit late, but if the spring can, why I couldn't?
The point is that the weather is finally good, days are longer, flowers are everywhere and I'm totally in love with this mood.
The only point is that while there are so much good energies outside, I and some other hundred students are confined in our rooms or in the library, until the end of exams.
I hope this weather still the same when I finally finish them!
See you!  

Red tulips, at Brunel

After a storm a calm comes...

Or in my case, the opposite. After three gorgeous holiday weeks, it's time to prepare for final exams.

Source: http://www.rsmsr.nl/tips-and-advices-for-bachelor-2-trimester-2-iba-exams/

In two weeks I'll be going crazy in a room, and now it's revision time. Ok, I confess, for some modules it has to be a little bit more than only a revision, but that's fine. In this mood, I've decided to talk about how my module are going to be assessed here in Brunel.
First thing that I should say is that assessment here is very different from Brazil (at least most universities, I guess). Grades here follow a scheme of letters (from F to A) rather than numbers (from 0 to 10). Each letter ranges from minus to plus (A- to A+, for instance) depending on the performance the student has, of course.
Secondly, even we have courseworks which count for the final grade, the exams evolve all the content of a module, which is the most significant difference, as in Brazil we have the topics split into 3 exams, along the year. And I have to say that it is scary for me, too much content in a single exam!
Finally, another difference is that exam structures vary a lot. For example, in one of my modules, I will have four questions. If I answer correctly only the first, I'll get a D; if I answer the first and the second, I'll get a C; a B if the first 3 are corrected and all rights would give me an A. That's very strange for me, as if I would be able to answer questions 2, 3 and 4, they would not be considered as I didn't completed right the first one. That's terrible!
The nicest things are that most lecturers explain quite well how it will be the exams, which sort of questions we can expect and also that 5 of my 6 module had a coursework which counts for the final grade. In fact, in three of them I've achieved at least a D- in the module, independent of how I'll perform in the exam.

I hope I don't get mad until there!
See you.

How is Brunel life?

These days, many Brazilian fellows were applying for the same program by which I came to the UK - Science Without Borders*. Many of them made me several questions about how is my student life at Brunel, so I've decided to write a little bit here for all people who are interested.

• Classes: Most of modules are split into two different classes. One is called Lecture, in which Professors introduce contents of the subjects. Compared to Brazil, we don't have as much content in the lectures, but many extra reading is expected of us to complete the topic. To complement the lecture, we also have a more practical class, which can be a lab or seminar. Labs (in my course) are used to practical activities, like using some computer software. Seminars, on the other hand, help us to think about a lecture topic and discuss it with other students. For example, I have lectures for Usability Engineering and we always discuss a specific problem in HCI in small groups and have to present our solution in the end of the class.
• Campus facilities: We have everything we need inside the campus. I almost don't have to go to city centre if I don't want. There is a gym, sports centre, a little market, vegetable market once a week, medical centre, pharmacy, restaurants, pub, disco and so on. The library is also very good (I've never searched for a book that a professor recommended which wasn't in the catalogue). Mainly core books are available in great quantity and there are also some dvds for location. We can renew or reserve items online. Library is open 24h almost every day. Computer are also available on library and  many other buildings. There is internet wifi in most (maybe all) buildings.
• English support: This is one of the most fantastic things that Brunel offers for students. We can join many English courses which cover academic skills, like Academic writing or Discussion skills. This courses are amazing and that's a pity that most international students don't attend this lessons. The academic writing I took was a course for life, not only English, but also how to write good essays and reports. I do miss Paul's lessons!

That's all for today. Maybe another day I can tell you about fun around Brunel!

See you!

* Science Without Borders is a program of Brazilian government which provides scholarship for undergraduate students to study for one year abroad.

Effective Learning and Ask Week

This seems to be a great week for me. First, this is the Effective Learning Week (popular as Reading Week). A whole week without lectures and seminars, in which we are supposed to take advantage to be up to date with our coursework or readings. Not all of the courses really have Effective Learning Week, I don't know why, but I have mine and I'm grateful for it! I have to say that it comes in a great time. I have two deadlines for the next week! So, just in time!
Apart from this break in the lectures, this week is running the Ask Week. Ask is a university department which help students with Academic Skills. They help us, students, with tips for writing, presentations, preparation for exams, statistics, and so on. Today I've attended a workshop "Top Tips for Clear Writing", which will be very useful in my next 2 assignments. The coolest thing is that these things I've learned are useful for life!
I'm already looking forward the next workshop!

And the winner is...Brazilian snowman!

As I've said previously, my Brazilian friends and I have entered in the snowman building competition at the uni, and yes... We've won! This is our Brazilian snowman, a work made by many Brazilian hands!

Brazilian snowman - Picture sent to the competition

Now, we just have to decide how to divide our lovable prize. :)

Our prize

Thanks to all fellows who collaborated and to Brunel for the gift. 

Brunel Diversity

Last English class, I met people from so different countries that I've just decided to create a map, showing how well-opened Brunel is for international students.
Of course, as I'm here almost 5 months, I won't remember all nationalities I've crossed around. These are those that I remember now (Click the map to see the full size).

Countries from where I've met people in Brunel so far

I hope I still colouring it from now!