Reading finally up to date, but that was a bit of a mammoth session and
I'm through it, even if it didn't all sink in.
I'm pretty sure I know the
bits I'll need to re-read for the TMA. The online tutorials have still
to be done, and I'll try them later, maybe the econometrics one at the same time as doing the
econometrics part of the TMA.
At least tackling the TMA has
been helped by the fact that we did game theory in DD209 and it hasn't
been expanded on that much. A bit here and a bit there, but but all in
all Part A of the TMA came together OK.
Part B is at present a complete mystery to me. I have found the
information for Questions 1 and 2 by using the 'Find' function to get to
the right instructions in the Help pdf, after that I am completely
stuck - don't even know what the information I have found means. This is
going to take a couple of days of real dedication to econometrics to
get close to getting a grip on this. The only thing in my favour is I am
reasonably comfortable with graphs and equations, so I am probably
approaching this with more background knowledge than others. Without
some previous maths experience this would be a pretty daunting section
to get right. My tutor has made it pretty clear they are not contactable
over the Xmas period, so I am pretty much going to have to sort this
out for myself.
Part C I am fairly confident about. It
is a matter of reading the material and matching it up against models
and examples in the text book and drawing outcomes from that. It would
also be useful to find other real world examples that are similar and
chuck in some quotes from other books, my tutor seemed to like that in
the last TMA. It is just about finding the time across a busy Xmas
period when we are all up to our eyes looking after parents and children
while being driver, cook, barman and cleaner.
But that is why the TMA should be finished by now....... Doh!!!
My excuse is have been somewhat distracted by having to travel for
work purposes while also deciding, possibly for the first time, to apply
for a job in a very different industry to what I am used to. So with no
real interview experience (at least not as an applicant) in about 20
years I have also arranged interview training, which will be both novel
and expensive, but I would probably regret it if I didn't do it.
So
the time table is, sort this TMA out by the 6th Jan without having to
take extra holiday from work to do it and without neglecting loved ones.
Study for interview training for the 9th and then immerse myself in the
goals, strategy and plans for my prospective new employer in order to
dazzle them at the interview the next week. TMA 2 should hen be marked
and I can start section 3 of the course my customary 2 weeks late on
account of the TMA just being returned.
It's always good to have a plan.
So as our cousins from across the pond would say "Happy Holidays", and I may as well pass on an oft quoted piece of random advice "remember to defrost the bird and cook it until the juices run clear."