TSFX Summer School Review.

[Edward21]

I've recently just attended TSFX's Summer School for VCE Chemistry 3/4 and Methods: and I must say it was not worth the $140 even though there was 3 long sessions I thought I was going to die of lack of interest. The only good thing was the notes, in the future I'll just but them cheap from someone else, and with that I also mention down the bottom it had 2012 Summer School on some of the notes, repeated notes from last year! All the lecturer does is read over the notes and go through examples... that's it. When we were already given a solutions booklet to the questions that the lecturer is working out from scratch on screen. It's really not as great as you'd expect it to be. The lecturers (no doubt experienced) weren't bad, it's just... they weren't as passionate about what they were doing, I attended Connect Education's revision lectures for 3/4 Biology last year with Edward Cliff (his own small company and previous student). It was so much cheaper and so much better, the lectures only had 80 people so no matter where you were you had a perfect view and great notes for a reasonable price. I owe Connect Education part of my Biology SS  TSFX lectures had SO many people there and it was hard to concentrate when most people are quietly talking to their friends, don't get me wrong the notes are top notch but the lectures themselves, they just weren't that great and considering how expensive they cost. I'm a really studious person, but I felt like going to sleep halfway through from lack of interest. 

[dossie58]

The first lesson of Chemistry was fine, maybe because it was revision. But today's lesson on spectroscopy was just too rushed, and I felt we didn't learn the concept and skipped to the methods of solving questions without understanding what we're actually doing. Quite often I found myself asking, 'Why are we doing this technique again?' While it's okay for a headstart, its overpriced.

[thushan]

The first lesson of Chemistry was fine, maybe because it was revision. But today's lesson on spectroscopy was just too rushed, and I felt we didn't learn the concept and skipped to the methods of solving questions without understanding what we're actually doing. Quite often I found myself asking, 'Why are we doing this technique again?' While it's okay for a headstart, its overpriced.

Yeah, the problem with teaching these concepts is that it takes a LOT of time to understand, particularly IR and NMR, not something that can be taught without background in an hour :/

[dossie58]

I agree, I didn't think it would be possible to teach all the material briefly within such a limited time. It would be better if they covered some topics in detail to build a good foundation, then let teachers/tutors/masterclasses teach us the rest, rather than try to cover everything and confuse us on some topics.

[nspire]

I enjoyed yesterday's lecture for Chem, still lots of gaps in my knowledge but I feel more confident with organic chemistry now

However today's lecture was rushed and I struggled to stay focused/interested especially when I didn't know what was going on half the time. I think past VCE students like thush would have some idea of who the lecturer was

I've recently just attended TSFX's Summer School for VCE Chemistry 3/4 and Methods

How have the Methods lectures been so far, and are you going to any other ones?

[Edward21]

I enjoyed yesterday's lecture for Chem, still lots of gaps in my knowledge but I feel more confident with organic chemistry now

However today's lecture was rushed and I struggled to stay focused/interested especially when I didn't know what was going on half the time. I think past VCE students like thush would have some idea of who the lecturer was

How have the Methods lectures been so far, and are you going to any other ones?

Really really rushed, the only good thing is the notes which will be great for a summary book. Just the lecturer (though a VCAA assessor) made like mistakes every 5th question, and these questions he's working out when we already have fully worked solutions with us!? There's some useful tips but the pace was really fast and there's a lot of note taking when putting down the answers so you miss stuff, the notes are fantastic though so it's a bittersweet situation... And Health, CAS lecture, Mastering the VCE  you?

[nspire]

I'm going to Spesh and Mastering VCE on the 17th (only because it's free )

[Edward21]

I'm going to Spesh and Mastering VCE on the 17th (only because it's free )

Yeah exactly,
by the way; it must be so competitive at JMSS with math/science subjects eh?

[Charmz]

I actually liked them. For me, when I learn something for the first time, it may not make any sense at all but the second time, I feel like I know it all. That's why I liked tsfx. I found that everything that was taught just made perfect sense when I went over it again.

Mastering the VCE is very much a waste of time though. Most of it is common sense and the only benefit to it would have been that some of the stuff appears in psychology but it's not very advantageous if you have done Mastering the VCE

[nspire]

Yeah exactly,
by the way; it must be so competitive at JMSS with math/science subjects eh?

I guess so, some of our SACs are pretty challenging from what I have heard and it's difficult to get on top of the cohort when everyone is studying hard - not that it matters in the end

I actually liked them. For me, when I learn something for the first time, it may not make any sense at all but the second time, I feel like I know it all. That's why I liked tsfx. I found that everything that was taught just made perfect sense when I went over it again.

Mastering the VCE is very much a waste of time though. Most of it is common sense and the only benefit to it would have been that some of the stuff appears in psychology but it's not very advantageous if you have done Mastering the VCE

It costs $150 without the two lectures as well. That's wayy overpriced.

[Charmz]

I guess so, some of our SACs are pretty challenging from what I have heard and it's difficult to get on top of the cohort when everyone is studying hard - not that it matters in the end

It costs $150 without the two lectures as well. That's wayy overpriced.

yeah fair point. It does cost a fair bit. In the end maybe you're not getting what you paid for. I actually had to travel 4 hours to get to Melbourne and I don't have access to tuition where I live.

[Edward21]

I actually liked them. For me, when I learn something for the first time, it may not make any sense at all but the second time, I feel like I know it all. That's why I liked tsfx. I found that everything that was taught just made perfect sense when I went over it again.

Mastering the VCE is very much a waste of time though. Most of it is common sense and the only benefit to it would have been that some of the stuff appears in psychology but it's not very advantageous if you have done Mastering the VCE

Today I realised what I really did not like, we had a different lecturer today who was way more interesting and engaging so I was actually alert and learning the whole time, secondly the other lecturer had a camera facing downwards so we could see his working on his booklet, but it was average quality and completely monotonous. The lecturer I had today used a tablet with a touch screen with the pdf that we had so it was easier to see what was going on.

[michak]

Tsfx or any company that you go to for lectures before you have learnt the material are going to be seen as boring and you will sit there thinking what the hell is going on. Just sit there and listen and make some extra notes if needed. The real value of these types of lectures comes when you are learning the topic at school or home are you understand because you have heard it before and now it makes sense whereas your peers will be at that wtf stage.
I do agree though that tsfx is grossly overpriced. Other provides such as connect or engage education are so much cheaper and in some cases better quality.

[Edward21]

The real value of these types of lectures comes when you are learning the topic at school or home are you understand because you have heard it before and now it makes sense whereas your peers will be at that wtf stage.

Personally I feel that trying to do the entire course in a few hours does not prepare one with the prior knowledge of what the course will entail, but rather has a tendency to be able to overwhelm due to the fast pace where all the course just flies past you; it would be better to slow down so that students could actually wrap their heads around what was going on rather than trying to understand a concept but the lecturer has already moved onto the next page

[michak]

Personally I feel that trying to do the entire course in a few hours does not prepare one with the prior knowledge of what the course will entail, but rather has a tendency to be able to overwhelm due to the fast pace where all the course just flies past you; it would be better to slow down so that students could actually wrap their heads around what was going on rather than trying to understand a concept but the lecturer has already moved onto the next page

Yeah there is that too. actually as long as they still provided their notes for the entire unit I dont think many will complain if they spent a bit more time on extra topics - for example maybe topics that people had generally not done so well in the previous year exam.
I will admit when i went i was pretty lost some of the time but i didn't mind that it was kinda rushed. depends on the person i guess.