She will pass for any ordinary student, oluwatimilehin, 2,1 from a family of several children born and raised in the city of ijebu ode in the heart of ijebu land, crossed my path in may of this year when she paraded 20 orphaned children she has devoted the last 2 years to cater for, at a leadership training event.
I caught up with her recently (10/10/2006) in her room on campus and here are excerpts from a moving, very emotional interview:
Me: where are the kids?
Timi: the kids are refugees who had lost their parents in the librarian war and putting up with the camp pastor at the Oru refugee camp.At the moment the camp pastor provides them shelter while I clothe and feed them
Me: what do you do?
Timi: am a student in the dept. of Botany, Faculty of science Olabisi Onabanjo universityAm in 400level and working on my final year project and seminar as well as my final exams.
Me: So how do fund all of this?
Timi: Oh my pocket money and gifts from friends
Me: For how long have you done this?
Timi: Since 200level,that is sometimes in 2004
Me:So how large is your pocket money?
Timi: (smiles)…N3,000
Me: Ah?
Timi: Yeah my parents aint millonaires and they infact had to increase it to that amount when they got wind of my vision.
Though it was not easy at first mummy complained initially but became supportive along the line
Me: What do your parents do?
Timi: My father retired from the civil service a couple of years back…
Me: And now lives on pension?
Timi:…no,not really,he has a small building materials concern and mummy is a small scale poultry and fish farmer.
Me: So how do you live on 3,000 monthly?
Timi: I spend all the money less my tithe on the children.
I live close to school so I trek to class daily, I share food stuffs with my roommate and I keep a low profile and am not extremely fashion conscious so I don’t really spend money on clothes and other fashion trappings.
I spend my pocket money and gifts from my few friends who know am doing this to get food stuffs(tubers of yam, garri, beans, rice), stationeries ( exercise books, pencils and biros) and cloths for the children though most times I get old clothes from people…
Me: So what does your typical day look like?
Timi: I attend my classes which usually are between 8:00am and 1:00pm daily, rest between one and 3:00pm or work on school assignments within that time frame then I go to see the children at the camp and spend between 4:00pm and say 7:00pm.
Me: You go see the kids daily?
Timi: Yeah…everyday.
I really want them to feel loved and cared for so I hang out with them helping the with home work, teach the to do their laundry, cook their meals with them…you know korede everything their parents would have normally done for them were they alive
Me: Timi what gives you the push?
Timi: (Smiles) I just cant stand seeing children suffer especially when it can be helped.
So am helping those I can and hope to do more in the future… I will also suggest other people do stuffs like this for kids.
Me: So after school what next?
Timi: I have volunteered to work with a catholic mission working to improve the living condition of children in a particular village on the outskirts of ijebu ode in ogun state
Me: What’s the pay like?
Timi: I volunteered so I don’t expect any pay but will accept anything offered by the mission to cover basic costs like transport, accommodation., ….
Me: Do you plan having a facility of your own…?
Later! not now… I don’t have means to support such, besides I will like to learn all I can about social services like this, settle down and raise a family before commitiing TOTALLY to the cause so for now its’going to be just what I do.
Me:Have you been on any Show…TV,radio, campus…to show the world what you are doing?
That is not the purpose. It is all about making the children happy and not about…. (rave reviews)…though I had to be part of cornerstones programme earlier this year but it had never been for the show. It is all about (sevice)
Me:Timi you are doig this generation proud and am going to spread the news of what you are doing.
Thank you korede
Hope to see more of you
Me:Thank you for your time.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Taking and passing Exams
When you take a test, you are demonstrating your ability to understand course material or perform certain tasks. Successful test taking avoids carelessness.
Examples of objective tests are true-false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank.
Examples of subjective texts are short answer, essay, or oral exams
These suggestions may help you avoid careless errors!
Prepare:
· Analyze your past test results
Each test can further prepare you for the next test. Use your tests to review when studying for final exams
· Arrive early for tests
Bring all the materials you will need such as pencils and pens, a calculator, a dictionary, and a watch. This helps you focus on the task at hand
· Be comfortable but alert
Choose a good spot and make sure you have enough room to work, maintain comfortable posture but don't "slouch"
· Stay relaxed and confident
Remind yourself that you are well-prepared and are going to do well. If you find yourself anxious, take several slow, deep breaths to relax
Don't talk about the test to other students just before it; anxiety is contagious
Taking the Test:
· Read the directions carefully
This may be obvious, but it will help you avoid careless errors
If there is time, quickly look through the test for an overview
Note key terms, jot down brief notes
· Answer questions in a strategic order:
1. First easy questions
to build confidence, score points, and mentally orient yourself to vocabulary, concepts, and your studies (it may help you make associations with more difficult questions)
2. Then difficult questions or those with the most point value
With objective tests, first eliminate those answers you know to be wrong, or are likely to be wrong, don't seem to fit, or where two options are so similar as to be both incorrect
With essay/subjective questions, broadly outline your answer and sequence the order of your points
· Review:
Resist the urge to leave as soon as you have completed all the items
Review your test to make sure that you have answered all questions, not mis-marked the answer sheet, or made some other simple mistake
Proofread your writing for spelling, grammar, punctuation, decimal points, etc.
Change answers to questions if you originally misread them
or if you have encountered information elsewhere in the test that indicates that your first choice is incorrect
IMPORTANT
The University releases examination guidelines just before commencement of examinations every semester and disobeying any of these rules could attract severe punishments- you may even loose you studentship
Examples of objective tests are true-false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank.
Examples of subjective texts are short answer, essay, or oral exams
These suggestions may help you avoid careless errors!
Prepare:
· Analyze your past test results
Each test can further prepare you for the next test. Use your tests to review when studying for final exams
· Arrive early for tests
Bring all the materials you will need such as pencils and pens, a calculator, a dictionary, and a watch. This helps you focus on the task at hand
· Be comfortable but alert
Choose a good spot and make sure you have enough room to work, maintain comfortable posture but don't "slouch"
· Stay relaxed and confident
Remind yourself that you are well-prepared and are going to do well. If you find yourself anxious, take several slow, deep breaths to relax
Don't talk about the test to other students just before it; anxiety is contagious
Taking the Test:
· Read the directions carefully
This may be obvious, but it will help you avoid careless errors
If there is time, quickly look through the test for an overview
Note key terms, jot down brief notes
· Answer questions in a strategic order:
1. First easy questions
to build confidence, score points, and mentally orient yourself to vocabulary, concepts, and your studies (it may help you make associations with more difficult questions)
2. Then difficult questions or those with the most point value
With objective tests, first eliminate those answers you know to be wrong, or are likely to be wrong, don't seem to fit, or where two options are so similar as to be both incorrect
With essay/subjective questions, broadly outline your answer and sequence the order of your points
· Review:
Resist the urge to leave as soon as you have completed all the items
Review your test to make sure that you have answered all questions, not mis-marked the answer sheet, or made some other simple mistake
Proofread your writing for spelling, grammar, punctuation, decimal points, etc.
Change answers to questions if you originally misread them
or if you have encountered information elsewhere in the test that indicates that your first choice is incorrect
IMPORTANT
The University releases examination guidelines just before commencement of examinations every semester and disobeying any of these rules could attract severe punishments- you may even loose you studentship
STUDY HABITS
Studying can be simply defined as applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject or several subjects or issues -especially by reading- in other words it is the process of acquiring knowledge.
And it is for the reason of STUDY that you are here in the University (or you are planning to enroll in a university).
In making your effort at studying worthwhile you should consider adopting the following principles.
1. PLAN AHEAD
Planning gives you focus and help simplify things. In planning to study you need to decide:
§ what to read
§ how long you will spend studying and
§ gather all necessary materials
§ select the appropriate time for your study
2. MOOD
Set a positive mood, i.e. a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling conducive for you to study in. a good mood aids your concentration trust me you need absolute concentration to really understand.
3. STYLE
There are several study styles however you could employ the style SQR&TR2W,which is my variation of the traditional SQ3R system which I have also included.
Each letter stands for a step in the process as follows:
Survey and overview: This involves skimming through the whole text to be studied or considered. Read the Introduction and the concluding paragraphs as well as a few paragraphs in between, to get the gist of the text.
Question: quickly consider the question(s) you are expected to provide answers to upon studying the text, as well as other questions that might come to mind while surveying the text.
Read & Take notes: now you read as carefully as you can, going over ambiguous words again and again to get their meaning in context of the text you are studying, and checking for the meaning of difficult words in an English Dictionary as well as in a specialized dictionary for the area of study in which you are confronted with the difficult word, e.g. you may have look up the word POWER from an English dictionary as well as in a dictionary of Science (or Physics),Politics or Economics likely fields where you may have been confronted with the word. While reading, you should take notes of important points or underline such points for easy reference if and only if the book or material you are reading is your own. (It is an offence to deface library materials and sheer irresponsibility to mark books and materials that belongs to others).
Recall at this stage you cover the text/material and then try to recall the points you had noted or the general gist of the text, you may write this on a separate sheet and then compare with the notes you took while reading.
Revise: This step of the process involves you going over the text one more time to see if you have left any part of the text uncovered.
Write: Write down the key points (or steps of a formula) on a 3” by 5” card or piece of paper which you can easily carry about and quickly review, in between lectures, on the bus ride to school and other short breaks you may have during the day, this helps you concretize what you have learnt and makes forgetting difficult. These cards may come handy when revising for an assignment, test or examination.
You could use mnemonic devices e.g. the use of first letters of points, to help you remember easily what you have read .E.g. M T W T F for days of the working week.
And it is for the reason of STUDY that you are here in the University (or you are planning to enroll in a university).
In making your effort at studying worthwhile you should consider adopting the following principles.
1. PLAN AHEAD
Planning gives you focus and help simplify things. In planning to study you need to decide:
§ what to read
§ how long you will spend studying and
§ gather all necessary materials
§ select the appropriate time for your study
2. MOOD
Set a positive mood, i.e. a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling conducive for you to study in. a good mood aids your concentration trust me you need absolute concentration to really understand.
3. STYLE
There are several study styles however you could employ the style SQR&TR2W,which is my variation of the traditional SQ3R system which I have also included.
Each letter stands for a step in the process as follows:
Survey and overview: This involves skimming through the whole text to be studied or considered. Read the Introduction and the concluding paragraphs as well as a few paragraphs in between, to get the gist of the text.
Question: quickly consider the question(s) you are expected to provide answers to upon studying the text, as well as other questions that might come to mind while surveying the text.
Read & Take notes: now you read as carefully as you can, going over ambiguous words again and again to get their meaning in context of the text you are studying, and checking for the meaning of difficult words in an English Dictionary as well as in a specialized dictionary for the area of study in which you are confronted with the difficult word, e.g. you may have look up the word POWER from an English dictionary as well as in a dictionary of Science (or Physics),Politics or Economics likely fields where you may have been confronted with the word. While reading, you should take notes of important points or underline such points for easy reference if and only if the book or material you are reading is your own. (It is an offence to deface library materials and sheer irresponsibility to mark books and materials that belongs to others).
Recall at this stage you cover the text/material and then try to recall the points you had noted or the general gist of the text, you may write this on a separate sheet and then compare with the notes you took while reading.
Revise: This step of the process involves you going over the text one more time to see if you have left any part of the text uncovered.
Write: Write down the key points (or steps of a formula) on a 3” by 5” card or piece of paper which you can easily carry about and quickly review, in between lectures, on the bus ride to school and other short breaks you may have during the day, this helps you concretize what you have learnt and makes forgetting difficult. These cards may come handy when revising for an assignment, test or examination.
You could use mnemonic devices e.g. the use of first letters of points, to help you remember easily what you have read .E.g. M T W T F for days of the working week.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
A GUIDE FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN NIGERIA
The Grade point
(You will be examined at the end of each semester, usually after 12-15 weeks of course work (lectures, practical, field trips etc), examinations are usually written, though in certain situations oral tests are conducted to confirm if you have attained the minimum standard expected in a course for promotion) use for examination.
Generally, the minimum pass mark at the university is 40%, though in some cases it may be a little higher.
Credits are awarded as follows:
Marks Grade Points/Credits
70 & above A 5
60-69 B 4
50-59 C 3
45-49 D 2
40-44 E 1
0-39 F 0
The Grade Point Average (G.P.A)
Results obtained in each course offered during each semester will be cumulatively added together and averaged specially, using the Grade Point Average(GPA) also called G.P which is calculated for the semester in which examination is taken and then for the entire duration of your University career as your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) which eventually determines the class of degree you will be awarded at the end of studies.
The GPA and CGPA are calculated thus:
Step 1(move to study related)
The grade points obtained in each course are multiplied by the units (weights) attached to the course and a sum of these values is obtained for all the courses taken in a semester or session.
Step 2
The sum obtained above is divided by the sum of units allotted to the courses taken.
An Example
A student obtained the following results:
Course Score Grade units (weights)
PHY 101 - 67 B4 4
PHY 103 - 72 A5 4
PHY 105 - 80 A5 4
PHY 155 - 39 F0 2
MAT 160 - 80 A5 2
CHM 101 - 76 A5 1
BIO 107 - 74 A5 2
The GP will be calculated thus
Total number of units offered = 4+4+4+2+2+1+2 = 19 units
Total points obtained =
Phy 101 = 4 units x 4 points = 16
Phy 103 = 4 units x 5 points = 20
Phy 105 = 4 units x 5 points = 20
Phy 155 = 2 units x 0 points = 0
Chm 101 = 1 unit x 5 point = 5
Bio 107 = 2 units x 5 points = 5
76
G. P. = 76/19 = 4. 0
For the second semester the same student obtained the following results
Course Score Grade Units
PHY 102 52 C3 4
PHY 104 61 B2 2
PHY 156 47 D2 2
CHM 102 38 F0 2
BIO 104 78 A5 3
The GP calculated as outlined above is : 2.69
The CGPA will be calculated thus:
Total points obtained for both semesters /total units taken for both semesters,
First semester Second semester Total
Total units offered 19 13 32
Total points obtained 76 35 111
CGPA = 111 / 32
= 3.47
It is wrong to calculate the CGPA by adding the GPAs together and finding their average.
The CGPA and The class of degree
0.0 – 0.99 = failed
1.00 – 1.49 = passed
1.50 – 2.39 = 3rd class
2.40 – 3.49 = 2nd class (lower division)
3.50-4.49 = 2nd class (upper division)
4.50-5.00 = First class
NOTE: Examination procedures and regulations will be issued by each faculty and/or department, and the provisions contained in them must be strictly adhered to.
Here at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, all forms of examination malpractice are frowned at and may lead to expulsion from the university.
Oluwakorede Asuni
+234 805 624 9391
(You will be examined at the end of each semester, usually after 12-15 weeks of course work (lectures, practical, field trips etc), examinations are usually written, though in certain situations oral tests are conducted to confirm if you have attained the minimum standard expected in a course for promotion) use for examination.
Generally, the minimum pass mark at the university is 40%, though in some cases it may be a little higher.
Credits are awarded as follows:
Marks Grade Points/Credits
70 & above A 5
60-69 B 4
50-59 C 3
45-49 D 2
40-44 E 1
0-39 F 0
The Grade Point Average (G.P.A)
Results obtained in each course offered during each semester will be cumulatively added together and averaged specially, using the Grade Point Average(GPA) also called G.P which is calculated for the semester in which examination is taken and then for the entire duration of your University career as your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) which eventually determines the class of degree you will be awarded at the end of studies.
The GPA and CGPA are calculated thus:
Step 1(move to study related)
The grade points obtained in each course are multiplied by the units (weights) attached to the course and a sum of these values is obtained for all the courses taken in a semester or session.
Step 2
The sum obtained above is divided by the sum of units allotted to the courses taken.
An Example
A student obtained the following results:
Course Score Grade units (weights)
PHY 101 - 67 B4 4
PHY 103 - 72 A5 4
PHY 105 - 80 A5 4
PHY 155 - 39 F0 2
MAT 160 - 80 A5 2
CHM 101 - 76 A5 1
BIO 107 - 74 A5 2
The GP will be calculated thus
Total number of units offered = 4+4+4+2+2+1+2 = 19 units
Total points obtained =
Phy 101 = 4 units x 4 points = 16
Phy 103 = 4 units x 5 points = 20
Phy 105 = 4 units x 5 points = 20
Phy 155 = 2 units x 0 points = 0
Chm 101 = 1 unit x 5 point = 5
Bio 107 = 2 units x 5 points = 5
76
G. P. = 76/19 = 4. 0
For the second semester the same student obtained the following results
Course Score Grade Units
PHY 102 52 C3 4
PHY 104 61 B2 2
PHY 156 47 D2 2
CHM 102 38 F0 2
BIO 104 78 A5 3
The GP calculated as outlined above is : 2.69
The CGPA will be calculated thus:
Total points obtained for both semesters /total units taken for both semesters,
First semester Second semester Total
Total units offered 19 13 32
Total points obtained 76 35 111
CGPA = 111 / 32
= 3.47
It is wrong to calculate the CGPA by adding the GPAs together and finding their average.
The CGPA and The class of degree
0.0 – 0.99 = failed
1.00 – 1.49 = passed
1.50 – 2.39 = 3rd class
2.40 – 3.49 = 2nd class (lower division)
3.50-4.49 = 2nd class (upper division)
4.50-5.00 = First class
NOTE: Examination procedures and regulations will be issued by each faculty and/or department, and the provisions contained in them must be strictly adhered to.
Here at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, all forms of examination malpractice are frowned at and may lead to expulsion from the university.
Oluwakorede Asuni
+234 805 624 9391
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
DRAWING EFFECTIVE TIME PLANS
Time never seems to be enough, sometimes you wonder if the hour of the day is actually up to 24 or lesser. But wish as you may, you cannot push forward or backward the hands of the clock.
Bearing in mind the limited time you have within which to complete work for your bachelor’s degree, you will agree with me that there is a need to have in place a ‘time plan’ to effectively manage your time from time to time.
In evolving a practical time plan one can not overlook the need to PRIORITIZE – put first things first. It is also of note that those who plan ahead often end up far better than those who do not.
Spending some hours at the beginning of each semester to plan ahead of the semester, as boring as it sounds definitely makes life easier for one, and helps to keep your overall goal in focus…you find it easier to turn in assignments on time, you are adequately prepared for tests and examinations etc.
The following tips can help you develop, practical time plans.
1. Identify and keep in mind the goal(s) you want/need to achieve at the end of a time period (e.g. a semester, a session, a week etc).
2. Identify and draw a list of all activities necessary to achieve these goals (e.g. attending classes, tutorials etc) and other general activities (e.g. playing soccer, attending fellowship etc).
3. Compare your lecture timetable, as well as the time schedule of other productive activity(s) you are involved in.
4. Assign priority to each activity then arrange all your activities in the order of their priorities.
Place for example your lectures and other academic activities first and allot adequate time for each activity leaving enough room for REST and RELAXATION in between activities.
5. Carry a card for each day, upon which the day’s activities and the allotted time is legibly written, to serve as a reminder.
6. Review your time plan, to accommodate changes in your interests and priorities only and never for frivolous reasons.
Note: Never loose sight of the school’s calendar of events, your time plan should be based on your University’s calendar.
I hope you have learnt one or two things here. If you have comments, questions or suggestions then get in touch. Wish you the best of all timesExcerpted from my book ‘SURVIVING THE ODDS’.
OLUWAKOREDE ASUNI
+234 805 624 9391
Bearing in mind the limited time you have within which to complete work for your bachelor’s degree, you will agree with me that there is a need to have in place a ‘time plan’ to effectively manage your time from time to time.
In evolving a practical time plan one can not overlook the need to PRIORITIZE – put first things first. It is also of note that those who plan ahead often end up far better than those who do not.
Spending some hours at the beginning of each semester to plan ahead of the semester, as boring as it sounds definitely makes life easier for one, and helps to keep your overall goal in focus…you find it easier to turn in assignments on time, you are adequately prepared for tests and examinations etc.
The following tips can help you develop, practical time plans.
1. Identify and keep in mind the goal(s) you want/need to achieve at the end of a time period (e.g. a semester, a session, a week etc).
2. Identify and draw a list of all activities necessary to achieve these goals (e.g. attending classes, tutorials etc) and other general activities (e.g. playing soccer, attending fellowship etc).
3. Compare your lecture timetable, as well as the time schedule of other productive activity(s) you are involved in.
4. Assign priority to each activity then arrange all your activities in the order of their priorities.
Place for example your lectures and other academic activities first and allot adequate time for each activity leaving enough room for REST and RELAXATION in between activities.
5. Carry a card for each day, upon which the day’s activities and the allotted time is legibly written, to serve as a reminder.
6. Review your time plan, to accommodate changes in your interests and priorities only and never for frivolous reasons.
Note: Never loose sight of the school’s calendar of events, your time plan should be based on your University’s calendar.
I hope you have learnt one or two things here. If you have comments, questions or suggestions then get in touch. Wish you the best of all timesExcerpted from my book ‘SURVIVING THE ODDS’.
OLUWAKOREDE ASUNI
+234 805 624 9391
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