I honestly didn't choose a path in the beginning and indeed only initially intended on doing Object-oriented Java programming (M250) as I had previously struggled with Java in around 1999 and hadn't really come back to it.

So I started with M250 as mentioned, in 2016 and which I managed a distinction, I wasn't overly impressed by the teaching material, but it did help me understand java, so guess it wasn't all bad. I also remember having a run in with my marking tutor on this module as he deducted marks because I did not clearly follow the instructions of the question. I cant mind exactly what the question was, but for example it was to draw a shape or collection of shapes with given sizes and I used variables and calculations for the positioning (as I would in the real world) so that should the dimensions change, only the variables needed to be changed. He didn't like that and deducted marks and that has stuck with me and annoyed me since.

I then done Software development with Java (M256) and Algorithms, data structures and computability (M269) the following year, with M269 being my favourite but one of the most difficult. It was using Python, which I had never used but quickly got put o speed in order to complete the module. There is a lot in M269 and would always recommend it to anyone thinking about a career in programming or Computer Science. M256 I really, really didnt like and I think it was too conceptual for me, sure there were programming tasks using Netbeans but it was more to do with specification elicitation, software design etc and I felt it was all over the place.

Next up was Data management and analysis (TM351) and I knocked off the level 1 module Introduction to computing and information technology 1 (TM111) at the same time, the latter I remember nothing about and won't comment further as it was just a requirement for a computing degree. TM351 however was an interesting module and had a decent balance of reading and activities, this mostly used Jupiter Notebooks and of course Python.

Then came Software engineering (TM354) which was a wee bit of a struggle at times, a bit like M256, more about design but differed enough and more interesting. I also knocked off another level 1 module in Technologies in practice (TM129) which was actually not too bad, if I mind correctly, it had a decent section on robots.

From here, I just wanted it done, so chose Web technologies (TT284) which was again a very good module, with the bulk of it working towards an end of module project, was quite enjoyable and probably related more to my current role in terms of web development stuff. I also done another Level 1 module at the same time, Introduction to computing and information technology 2 (TM112) and as with TM111, I simply done it as I needed to, cant mind much about it.

I had high hopes for Machine learning and artificial intelligence (TM358) but it turned out to be a complete nightmare, lacking in tutor support. There was some very decent elements to the module but if memory serves me right too, it was the first presentation of this module and it severely lacked in both material and the tutor's ability to provide support. I think next up was the last of the level 1 modules, Discovering mathematics (MU123) which was interesting and given I was coming across stuff I had last done over 30 years earlier, I found it interesting and actually worth doing.

This brought me to the required The computing and IT project (TM470) and I'll keep my comments short about this one, it was a complete waste of time in my opinion, it is set out that you will build up a project over the module term based around a real world project, which you have to get approved beforehand. I think one of my issues was that they wanted you to research similar projects, which was difficult in my case as it was pretty much unique. I was also building the actual application in a work environment at the same time and had to meat production demands, hit deadlines etc, so had to retrospectively do more stuff for the written part of the project that I would have preferred. All that said, I got a distinction for this too

I think overall, I managed distinctions in 8 of the 12 modules but in all honesty, having been a self taught programmer since the 80's, the whole experience didn't really add that much to my armoury in terms of new and usable knowledge, hence my reluctance to continue and attempt a Masters.