IFS 231 - REFLECTIONS ON LECTURES AND TUTORIALS 

Week 1-  (13 Feb 2022-17 Feb 2023)

This week, we didn’t have any live lectures. I am not sure why exactly, but I think it’s because that there was a protest on campus. We were however informed that we will be having online classes from next week onwards. So I guess my excitement for this module has to be delayed until next week. Overall, its been a good first week of campus

Tutorial 1

The tutorials for this module only start next week which will be the third week of the semester. We did however receive our first tutorial for this module, but it will only be discussed during next week’s tutorial class. I did have a look at the tutorial. It’s a group task though, and I’m not really a fan of group tasks, so hopefully this one is different!

Week 2 (20 Feb 2023 - 24 Feb 2023)

This week we had our first lectures for the semester. We had online classes because there was a protest on campus this week. This week’s lectures were based on unit 1 which is about BA (Business Analysis).  To summarise it this unit was about ‘what is a Business Analysis’ and what are their roles as well as what you can expect from an BA. To be honest I was actually or well I am thinking of becoming a business Analyst so this module has already caught my attention and might become one of my favourite module as  well.  We were introduced to our lecturer. There are actually three lecturers for this module namely Mr Njenga, Ms Kimani and Ms Davids- Latief.

Tutorial 2

This week I had my first tutorial of the semester for IFS 231. It is the first period on a Tuesday which is super early. We were introduced to our tutor, her name is Lisa Lusiba. She seems very nice and willing to help with what ever is needed. She placed us into groups of five. So this will be my group for the rest of the semester. I do recognise one of the members in my group because we went to the same high school. Everybody in my group seems like hard working people which is pleasing because I never really liked groups assignments because in the past other group members would not always do their part which is really frustrating but hopefully this is not the case for this group, fingers crossed! For this tutorial week basically we neeeded to pick a group leader and create a MoU. We all then needed to create Trello and a Lucid chart account. Overall this weeks tutorial was a simple one.

Week 3 (27 Feb 2023- 3 Mar 2023)

This week was our first face to face lectures. However, on Monday my group didn’t have a face-to-face class because it was loadshedding. But group two had an online class and because I was free that period so I decided to join group 2 in lecture wall D because I didn’t have data and someone projected the meeting onto the projector for everyone in the lecture wall. This weeks lecture was still about a Business Analysis but obviously we went more into detail. I must say it is getting interesting. Mr Njenga was our lecturer for this week.

Tutorial 3

This week Lisa explained tutorial two to us during our online meeting. The tutorial was basically to test our understanding of all the work covered in week 2. We received questions that we needed to answer. At first we were told to complete and hand in our tutorials on Friday but then my tutor informed us that the tutorial was not for marks and that it was not necessary to submit. I literally received that message right after I just finished the task, but atleast the task showed me that I do know a few things about business analysis.

Week 4  (6 Mar 2023- 10 Mar 2023)

This week was basically our first normal week with not interruptions (no loadshedding/protests). We were able to have normal face to face lectures. We are busy with Unit 2 which is ‘BA as a project’. This is basically about System Development Lifecycle, Business Case Document and IT Project Management. This unit was a bit more difficult to understand than the first unit. There were many questions that were brought up during the lectures which actually help explain a few things which made it easier to understand. It just shows how important asking questions are. Overall this week’s lessons were very insightful.

Tutorial 4

This weeks tutorial class was about tutorial three. Tutorial three was about a Business Case. Where we had to answer questions based on a case study named Smart ID card. In the tutorial we basically had to work within our group to complete the task. We decided to split the questions among ourselves to make it easier to answer. I chose to do problem statement and organizational impact. I then had to use the case study which was about a issue of many North Africans that loses their smart ID cards daily and then have to get a new one made which results in pressure on the government because they do not have enough resources to meet the increasing demand of Smart ID card applications. My group and I were able to complete and submit this task before the due date. This tutorial was harder than the other ones because we had to apply and come up with ideas. Overall its was a interesting tutorial.

Week 5 (13 Mar 2023- 17 Mar 2023)

What a week it has been. I can feel that it is getting to that time of the semester where everything in due. But anyway we had a new lecturer this week, Ms Davids-Latief. With no disrespect to the other two lecturers I just think I like Ms Davids-Latief a bit more. This week was all about Unit 3 which is about the requirements, gathering and elicitation analysis. This week I realised that this module contains a lot of information and that it is not as easy as I thought it would be. I think Ms Davids- latief did a very good job explaining and going through the power points because I was able to understand what she was saying/ trying to bring across. I also like how she uses different examples because I find it easier to learn something when examples are being used. Overall it was a busy week and I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks with Ms Davids-Latief.

Tutorial 5

This week’s tutorial was about tutorial 4. During our online meeting our tutor explained what we had to do, and she gave us some guidance on how to answer the questions. The tutorial was based on the same case study as last week but obviously just different questions. This tutorial we had to do within our tutorial group. But this time there were only three questions that had to be answered so then we decided to do two questions in pairs and the group leader decided to do one question on her own. I paired up with one of my group members and we did question three which was Alternative analysis. I gave two alternatives, and my partner gave two alternatives. We were able to complete and submit on time. Overall, I think my group and I are getting better at these group tasks and I think practice makes perfect for the most important one which is due next month.

Week 6 (20 Mar 2023- 24 Mar 2023)

This week we had a mixture of online and face to face classes. This week we also covered the rest of Unit 3 and then we started on Unit 4, which is about Documenting requirements, which is where you draw use case diagrams with descriptions. I must say that Unit four sound very interesting and shows that there is more to something than what we see directly Infront of our eyes. There were some good questions that came up from other students. Questions which I didn’t even think of but really helped  Overall, the live lecture was good and helpful.

Tutorial 6

This week my tutorial group didn’t have an online lecture because of the public holiday on Tuesday (Human Rights Day). We were offered the opportunity to join our tutors other tutorial online class but I was unable to attend because I had a lecture the same time as that period. But I heard from my group members that we received tutorial 5 but that it is not due this week. It is just used for preparation for tutorial six for next week. Other than that, it was a very simple tutorial week.

Week 7 (27 Mar 2023- 31 Mar 2023)

This is the last week of the term. What a hectic week it is because I have this POE, a quiz and a semester test to do, all for this module. During our lectures we continued with unit four. I started struggling to draw a use case diagram so I decided to consult Ms Davids-Latief so that she could explain it and show me a few more examples of how to draw a use case diagram. I must say the consultation helped a lot because I am now able to draw one. Which makes me confident going into the semester test this week. Overall, it was a good week.

Tutorial 7

This week we had a special tutorial because our tutor used the time to show us and explain how our individual assignment should be done and where it should be done on. This was very helpful because if it was not for that meeting, I would have probable not had fulfilled all the requirements for the individual assignment so therefor I’m grateful for that. Our tutor did however send a recording of what we need to do for tutorial six which is in fact due this week. She is being generous enough to only have our due date on Sunday because she knows that we have a lot to get done this week. This tutorial we do however have to do on our own which obviously means move work. I haven’t had a chance to look at tutorial six yet but I’m sure that I’ll get there before the end of the week.