21st Century Rodin
The upper right-hand
corner of my desk blotter;
a fresh, stark canvas
this morning, now a sepia
montage of concentric
accomplishments.
I sip,
I Think.
I sip,
I think.
I sip…
I think.
Sip.
Think.
Sip.
Think.
Sip
Big sip
sip sip sip
sip sip sippppp.
Ahhhhhhh.
Final sip, cup down.
A caffeine-laced
still life of a Slinky.
Boy-oh-boy-oh-boy-oh-man
was-I-ever productive
today!
-Mark L. Lucker
Hi Tracy
As promised, I want to give you some mid-way feedback on how I think the blog is shaping up in terms of the final assessment. Basically, things are going well. The criteria for assessment are:
*Reflection - You are demonstrating sustained reflection on the course content and its application to your professional (and personal) practice.
*Regularity - You are posting reasonably regularly, and your postings are all substantial.
*Knowledge and understanding – You’re demonstrating a good understanding of the technologies and ideas introduced. You could engage more critically with the course readings. How do they impact on the way you understand the technologies, experiences and ideas you’ve come across in the course?
*Writing style – is excellent, making for an engaging read. Your use of the blog format (inclusion of pics, formatting etc) is above and beyond!
So, well done and keep up the good work. If you can continue like this you'll be looking at a good mark for this element of the assessment. Kudos!
Please let me know whether this is any use to you – I’m more than happy to chat through the blog process. Also, since this is my first time commenting on IDEL blogs, I would appreciate your mid-blog feedback too! Are my comments useful? What could I do to be supporting your blogging more?
Cheers
C.
Mid!?!? What is this 'mid' of which you speak? I thought there were 12 weeks in this course! :D
Thank you, very useful feedback.
I am finding the course absolutely wonderful, everything I expected plus some lovely surprises.
Time is ok, but harder than I expected. I thought I would find this first part a breeze time wise, but so far this hasn't been so. Not difficult just harder than I expected for the following reasons:
a) Thanks to vaguaries of the net my speed is inconsistent - web CT especially can slow down dreadfully for me so that opening the discussion area, selecting a topic, reading, opening a reply window, posting etc can become a frustrating chore. Then on other days it is fine.
b) Also I seem to find it difficult to switch hats, I focus on the blog - discussion gets neglected. I focus on discussion blog gets neglected. I play with my pebblepad / VLE both get neglected. And reading? That just gets neglected, lmao. I have read all the core texts but not analytically enough to use them productively. But I am not so worried about that at the moment cos I fully intending to roll up my sleeves and get involved with the activities. I have 2 weeks off work soon and will do some more... cerebral? study of the texts then.
c) work is horrible at the moment, literally horrible :(
It came up in discussion (I forget who Iwas chatting with now) about how knowing you were being evaluated changes things. And I realised in that discussion that part of the reason I hadnt posted as regularly as I had intended was the sense that I had to have a fully rounded thought before I could voice it. I wasnt satisfied with posting fragments on my blog. I think this is because of my experience with blogging & reading blogs generally is of completed ideas being presented. Basically I am trying to use my blog as a canvas as opposed to a sKetch pad. I think I will try and change that to see how it feels.
Maybe I can find a way of creative tagging or categorising (can we categorise posts? I haven't even noticed) to indicate my aim in each post.
So I have 2 concerns:
1) I am not being academic enough. It is years (8 to be precise) since I have studied academically and all my interaction with technology has been experiential rather than theoretical. I like playing with it and talking about it, but the more academic meanderings seem almost beside the point. :P
2) Time - I spoke to Hamish before the course started about pacing and he said he recommended a 1:2:2:1 + thesis apporach to getting through the Masters. I really want to get this done but I don't know if I can handle 2 modules. Maybe it will be easier as they focus on one topic rather than flirting with a bit of everything.
What are your thoughts?
As for your support, you have been perfect. I get all excited when I see you have commented on my blog (I only wish we could have more reading and commenting from within the group - but everyone seems to have gone for the private option). I don't need more support as I don't respond well to pressure, lol - I curl up in a ball.
I would be interested to know how you think we are doing as a group? I sense we have divided a little into to 2 camps... I would call them the "thinkers" and the "feelers"
^^
Tracy
Thank you, very useful feedback.
I am finding the course absolutely wonderful, everything I expected plus some lovely surprises.
Time is ok, but harder than I expected. I thought I would find this first part a breeze time wise, but so far this hasn't been so. Not difficult just harder than I expected for the following reasons:
a) Thanks to vaguaries of the net my speed is inconsistent - web CT especially can slow down dreadfully for me so that opening the discussion area, selecting a topic, reading, opening a reply window, posting etc can become a frustrating chore. Then on other days it is fine.
b) Also I seem to find it difficult to switch hats, I focus on the blog - discussion gets neglected. I focus on discussion blog gets neglected. I play with my pebblepad / VLE both get neglected. And reading? That just gets neglected, lmao. I have read all the core texts but not analytically enough to use them productively. But I am not so worried about that at the moment cos I fully intending to roll up my sleeves and get involved with the activities. I have 2 weeks off work soon and will do some more... cerebral? study of the texts then.
c) work is horrible at the moment, literally horrible :(
It came up in discussion (I forget who Iwas chatting with now) about how knowing you were being evaluated changes things. And I realised in that discussion that part of the reason I hadnt posted as regularly as I had intended was the sense that I had to have a fully rounded thought before I could voice it. I wasnt satisfied with posting fragments on my blog. I think this is because of my experience with blogging & reading blogs generally is of completed ideas being presented. Basically I am trying to use my blog as a canvas as opposed to a sKetch pad. I think I will try and change that to see how it feels.
Maybe I can find a way of creative tagging or categorising (can we categorise posts? I haven't even noticed) to indicate my aim in each post.
So I have 2 concerns:
1) I am not being academic enough. It is years (8 to be precise) since I have studied academically and all my interaction with technology has been experiential rather than theoretical. I like playing with it and talking about it, but the more academic meanderings seem almost beside the point. :P
2) Time - I spoke to Hamish before the course started about pacing and he said he recommended a 1:2:2:1 + thesis apporach to getting through the Masters. I really want to get this done but I don't know if I can handle 2 modules. Maybe it will be easier as they focus on one topic rather than flirting with a bit of everything.
What are your thoughts?
As for your support, you have been perfect. I get all excited when I see you have commented on my blog (I only wish we could have more reading and commenting from within the group - but everyone seems to have gone for the private option). I don't need more support as I don't respond well to pressure, lol - I curl up in a ball.
I would be interested to know how you think we are doing as a group? I sense we have divided a little into to 2 camps... I would call them the "thinkers" and the "feelers"
^^
Tracy
Keywords: IDEL08
Comments
Tracy – I’m cheating and pasting in my response from the WebCT mails. :P
“Mid!?!? What is this 'mid' of which you speak? I thought there were 12 weeks in this course! :D”
Lol! Yeh time is flying bye a little too fast for my liking.
“I am finding the course absolutely wonderful, everything I expected plus some lovely surprises.”
Hurrah! That is good to hear.
“a) Thanks to vaguaries of the net my speed is inconsistent…”
This is very frustrating. The best I can suggest is having a plan B available, so if WebCT is so, move to your blog or the readings and just try again later. It’s really important to remember that the class will still be there, waiting for you. There might be more posts, but that just means you can sit back and enjoy the conversation a bit more before joining in.
“b) Also I seem to find it difficult to switch hats, I focus on the blog - discussion gets neglected. I focus on discussion blog gets neglected. I play with my pebblepad / VLE both get neglected. And reading? That just gets neglected, lmao.”
:) Time to be strategic then. What gets assessed? Blog. Assignment. Focus on them first. Also, use some of the stuff you have said in the db for your blog. Or take a theme from the db that has been discussed and reflect on it. Make the multiple spaces for learning work towards your goal rather than pulling you in different directions.
“more... cerebral? study of the texts then.”
For me personally, I read the texts only once properly and I read them in an x-files “trust no one” kind of way – always questioning. But it takes me an age to read them (maybe 1-2 hours depending on length, difficulty). As I read, I copy and paste chunks into another document along with quick reflections, questions, notes to myself. One of the other IDELers asked me for some websites on critical analysis. I’ve posted them below in case you find it useful.
“c) work is horrible at the moment, literally horrible :(“
Always very tough. Let me know if you think it’s going to impact in anyway that might lead to time out from courses or a need for extensions etc. We’re very understanding and supportive on this front since most of our students are full-time, busy folk.
“how knowing you were being evaluated changes things. … I had to have a fully rounded thought before I could voice it. I wasnt satisfied with posting fragments on my blog. I think this is because of my experience with blogging & reading blogs generally is of completed ideas being presented. Basically I am trying to use my blog as a canvas as opposed to a sKetch pad. I think I will try and change that to see how it feels.”
Firstly, always think about what is being evaluated. For the blog it is the development of your thinking. How can we see development if everything is shiny and perfect/ what’s wrong with taking a few posts to develop a thought?
Secondly, this idea of complete idea can be dangerously crippling, paralysing even. Try turning it on its head. Make a decision to post only partly formed ideas for a week or two and see what happens.
Thirdly, don’t artists sketch on their canvas? Doesn’t it take several layers to create the picture? Why is one post the canvas and not the entire blog?
“Maybe I can find a way of creative tagging or categorising (can we categorise posts? I haven't even noticed) to indicate my aim in each post.”
Good idea. Keywords act as tags, so tag away!
“1) I am not being academic enough…”
You’re getting there. Being “academic” is like being anything else – it takes time and practice – I don’t feel like I am being academic enough, and I’m finishing off my second masters and tutoring on this course. :) The links below might help. Itmight also help to ask ‘what does being academic mean?’
“2) Time - I spoke to Hamish before the course started about pacing and he said he recommended a 1:2:2:1 + thesis approach to getting through the Masters. I really want to get this done but I don't know if I can handle 2 modules. Maybe it will be easier as they focus on one topic rather than flirting with a bit of everything.”
IDEL is a very full on course. Partly because it requires getting your head around loads of different environments, as well as getting into the teaching and learning approach of the programme, the programme’s demands, finding your own rhythm as an online learner etc
However, all the courses are demanding. Not just because of the level, but also because they all give a lot of responsibility to you to make the most of the learning opportunities. So it’s up to you – how strategic are you going to be in your learning? how much do you want to immerse yourself in a subject? How flexible is your schedule when assignments are due?
Not a very helpful answer I know – but it really comes down to how much time you really have and what you want to get out of the programme.
“As for your support, you have been perfect.”
Ah, exactly what I like to hear. :P
“ I get all excited when I see you have commented on my blog (I only wish we could have more reading and commenting from within the group - but everyone seems to have gone for the private option).”
We encourage folk to take the private option during IDEL – for so many people this is their first time blogging, or even being online a lot, and they need the safe space to sort out their thoughts.
“I don't need more support as I don't respond well to pressure, lol - I curl up in a ball.”
:) I’m the same.
“I would be interested to know how you think we are doing as a group? I sense we have divided a little into to 2 camps... I would call them the "thinkers" and the "feelers"”
Ooh, haven’t thought about this. I can see where you get the idea though. But for me, it’s a multi-dimensional axis – across academic/professional, personal/experiential and creative/explorative.
Cheers
C.
- - - - - -
This one struck me as very good – you could follow the links through in quite a lot of depth - http://www.sussex.ac.uk/languages/1-6-8-2-3.html
But if you want something quicker then here’s a handy guide to critical analysis - http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/study-support/study-skills/handouts/critical-analysis.php and another one http://hsc.uwe.ac.uk/net/student/default.aspx?pageid=192
A quick overview of what critical thinking is: http://www.criticalreading.com/critical_thinking.htm and a handy “stairyway to critical thinking” http://www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy/critical-thinking.php
Some much meatier stuff defining critical thinking (worth reading!): http://www.criticalthinking.org/aboutct/define_critical_thinking.cfm
Hi Tracy,
Thank you for sharing your blog with the community and for trying to get a sense of community going. Your style of good to read, it is fun and lively and you bring in pictures and poems and other fun stuff. I haven't even managed a picture yet.
I just read your post and the comments and find it really reassuring to know that others have the same concerns as me. Am I academic enough, where do I find the time, which task do I do first, why am I always behind other people, why can't I just trot out relevant articles and URLs like the others, is my blog 'right', what will I do the assessment on, am I doing ok? etc etc....... I go through these same thoughts every week, and I'm not even working in training, so please don't feel you are the only one with these concerns. The comments you got from Clara were helpful for others too, so thanks for sharing. The reason I don't post mine public is I'm not confident enough, and I write too much, and I'm not academic enough, and I'm scared the others will laugh at me and think I'm not up to this course. And I think my posts are boring.
And I too have signed up for 2 modules next term and am now going through the same debate about whether to drop one, and if so, which? Maybe this is a topic we could discuss more publically. I am enjoying the course and want it to last and want to make the most of it, so I think I'm going to slow it down and just do one, but it is interesting to hear someone else having the same thoughts.
And please, tell me.... am I a thinker or a feeler? ..... or no.... don't say it...... a lurker !
Jane
Hi Jane and Tracy
Just wanted to say, Jane, having seen quite a few people to do two courses at once - they all say it is hard work, but they also seem really enjoy it - particularly the kind of synchronicity of learning they can experience. It's worth perhaps having a look at which two courses you want to choose, how much alignment there is between them and also between them and your work, and when their main assessment pieces fall and how the assessment process is scaffoded. e.g. IDEL has both assessments due close together, but by week 11 your blog is done, so there's no real pressure there to create from scratch two major assignments at once.
Cheers
C.
p.s. for a tutor it's a tad terrifying having my comments "out there" on display. I keep forgetting that's the case! Eep! :)