What can I say. Speaking online with strangers is an interesting experience! Firstly I would like to say that I am grateful of my ability to touch type otherwise I would be behind in the conversations. Next I would like to say not everyone is of the same opinion as me and hence won't listen! Actually it is interesting to read others viewpoints and to share where they are coming from in relation to me. I find myself in an unusual position however, not only am I the only primary educated person on the course (the rest are Secondary) but also, I am the only lecturer on the course! Which is a tad bit weird almost as I think the expectations may be falsely higher than I can achieve...oh, and I still hate writing!
Today however I got to write my first RRR, read, reflect and review. I decided not to look at any of the other posts before doing mine...almost wished I had however as mine wasn't really like the others so not sure if that is a good thing or not! Well just waiting now to see if anyone replies to what I wrote...I did my reply, must confess just wanted it over with and felt decidedly like I had picked someone who wrote like I wish I did! But, one done and now 10 days to write the next one...oh dear lol
Monday, 10 October 2011
Friday, 19 August 2011
Reading the small print...
So, register online, this must be the easiest thing I've ever had to do...easy that was until one of my least favourite words appeared. ELIGIBLE, not only do I get confused with what it means (yes I know I ranted about this last time but I know what it means but I keep forgetting!) I also frequently pronounce it incorrectly which makes my dislike of this word even stronger!
So...I know I am eligible to register online as after I got my new user name and password all sorted however...despite my status clearly stating eligible to register apparently I'm not, something to do me not sending them a copy of my university degree certificate, the same certificate that when I scanned and phoned the university to ask if that was all they needed was told no, we don't need to have the paper copy! So, I spoke to registry today, pointed out that I was told I didn't need to send it, that my status shows eligible to be told oh that only means you are eligible if you have sent your certificate, sorry if it is confusing!!! I mean just a tad bit misleading don't you think...to top it off I then couldn't find the certificate...last seen when I scanned it back in MARCH!!! I mean hello, would have been useful to know this sooner. Turns out when I got my unconditional letter telling me I had a place, at the very bottom of the letter in small print were the words this is subject to sending any relevant certificates. Apparently that was meant for me! No imagine had they stuck that in the actual letter and not just at the bottom then someone like me may have actually read it...
Did you know most people take them to registry when they arrive in Leeds, that's great I said as I am doing my course online and have no intention of ever visiting Leeds...EVER!
So, after going through every possible box I could find in my bedroom I finally found the certificate in an envelope on top of one of the boxes...so now just need to remember where I actually stuck the bit of paper where I wrote the address I need to send it to!
So...I know I am eligible to register online as after I got my new user name and password all sorted however...despite my status clearly stating eligible to register apparently I'm not, something to do me not sending them a copy of my university degree certificate, the same certificate that when I scanned and phoned the university to ask if that was all they needed was told no, we don't need to have the paper copy! So, I spoke to registry today, pointed out that I was told I didn't need to send it, that my status shows eligible to be told oh that only means you are eligible if you have sent your certificate, sorry if it is confusing!!! I mean just a tad bit misleading don't you think...to top it off I then couldn't find the certificate...last seen when I scanned it back in MARCH!!! I mean hello, would have been useful to know this sooner. Turns out when I got my unconditional letter telling me I had a place, at the very bottom of the letter in small print were the words this is subject to sending any relevant certificates. Apparently that was meant for me! No imagine had they stuck that in the actual letter and not just at the bottom then someone like me may have actually read it...
Did you know most people take them to registry when they arrive in Leeds, that's great I said as I am doing my course online and have no intention of ever visiting Leeds...EVER!
So, after going through every possible box I could find in my bedroom I finally found the certificate in an envelope on top of one of the boxes...so now just need to remember where I actually stuck the bit of paper where I wrote the address I need to send it to!
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Registration first attempt!
Got an email from the university on Friday explaining a bit about my course and some paperwork and the details about registration online...seemed okay but was missing a key piece of info so left it. The key piece of info arrived through the post yesterday, cool I said to myself let's get registering...now, if my university's online registration was/is as complicated as this one is I'm surprised we ever get any students registered! I mean I am into technology and doing an MA related to ICT so I should find it easy...right? Wrong! maybe the problem is I am too technologically minded and that's the problem, maybe I am trying too hard...the long and short of it however after an hour of my life I have a new username, a password and...am still not registered!!! I mean how hard can it be??? Apparently I am eligible to register...that's one of the words that confused me (English is not one of my better or favourite subjects I should add at this point) so I was assuming it meant I couldn't register (despite the email and letter telling me too), someone else said this meant I could but ti keeps telling me to take my certificates for proof to somewhere when I arrive in Leeds...could be fun this being an online course an all and me never intending to EVER visit Leeds unless someone else is a) driving and b) paying...so, now playing the waiting game, waiting for Monday so I can phone and say in a polite way WTF!!!
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Reading lists and ignoring the questions!
Well, it was a while ago now when I was sent info as to where I could locate the readings needed for my course. I must have spent at least a morning downloading texts that I could access for free online so I didn't need to buy the books, good to see they use a similar system to where I work. No reply however to the Blackboard query so will just have to wait and see...
Yesterday had an email, got sort of excited and then opened it to discover it was congratulating current MA students on completion of the course, not yet sure why they felt the need to share that with me who hasn't started yet but I suppose it is a mailing list kind of thing.
I suppose the thing that concerns me the most is all the talk of how great a place Leeds itself is and how much fun we are going to have there, they appear to not be giving too much thought to students like me who are doing the course all at a distance and will never actually go to Leeds itself...not that there is anything wrong with it of course I mean Chris Moyles is from Leeds so it can't all be bad!
So, signing off again to go play with some Scratch, new (to me I should add) piece of software that may help with mathematics so I've been told...time will tell!
Yesterday had an email, got sort of excited and then opened it to discover it was congratulating current MA students on completion of the course, not yet sure why they felt the need to share that with me who hasn't started yet but I suppose it is a mailing list kind of thing.
I suppose the thing that concerns me the most is all the talk of how great a place Leeds itself is and how much fun we are going to have there, they appear to not be giving too much thought to students like me who are doing the course all at a distance and will never actually go to Leeds itself...not that there is anything wrong with it of course I mean Chris Moyles is from Leeds so it can't all be bad!
So, signing off again to go play with some Scratch, new (to me I should add) piece of software that may help with mathematics so I've been told...time will tell!
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
An online seminar...
Nothing beats typing your blog, pressing publish and losing it...thanks Blogger thanks for my wasted time just now...
Anyway, the seminar online was great, a chance to hear from someone who has already completed the course and how it helped them, a chance to hear all about the course and things I can expect. On the downside my useless netbook coped until the Q & A part at which point it crashed, I got to ask no questions and got to see no reply to the questions I heard, frustrating as the reading list link was in amongst that.
Sent the leader of the course an email and so am just waiting for a reply, they currently use Blackboard to work with which is good as I am used to using it, having looked on the uni's website however there is a slight risk that the may be moving over to Moodle!!! Not impressed as there is a chance my own uni also may be moving over to Moodle, Blackboard has its issues buts I really like it, maybe it is just a familiarity thing of course, time will tell if I end up having to use Moodle in either institute!
Well, just need to wait now for an email reply and then the reading begins...thankfully unlike my dislike of writing I quite like reading, although that is normally for pleasure so we shall see...
Anyway, the seminar online was great, a chance to hear from someone who has already completed the course and how it helped them, a chance to hear all about the course and things I can expect. On the downside my useless netbook coped until the Q & A part at which point it crashed, I got to ask no questions and got to see no reply to the questions I heard, frustrating as the reading list link was in amongst that.
Sent the leader of the course an email and so am just waiting for a reply, they currently use Blackboard to work with which is good as I am used to using it, having looked on the uni's website however there is a slight risk that the may be moving over to Moodle!!! Not impressed as there is a chance my own uni also may be moving over to Moodle, Blackboard has its issues buts I really like it, maybe it is just a familiarity thing of course, time will tell if I end up having to use Moodle in either institute!
Well, just need to wait now for an email reply and then the reading begins...thankfully unlike my dislike of writing I quite like reading, although that is normally for pleasure so we shall see...
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
An MA I hear you ask!
I got my 2nd reminder email today, next Monday I get to take part in an online seminar...ever stopped to ask yourself why exactly is it that I am doing an MA! Of course, I know why. At some point you need to look deeper at what others are saying and jump on the journey to develop your teaching either further...
So what am I aiming to get from it?
Actually I am hoping it makes me a better lecturer, I love working with my students and seeing them progress and develop over the course of 3 years but it isn't always enough, I want to inspire them to take risks, look at what others try and not be afraid to try themselves or, try and think, no this isn't for us!
So my aim is to try and write my journey over the next two years and share my experiences of trying to do an MA whilst teaching on a degree course and...oh did I mention being a single parent to my 12 year old every growing always hungry son.
And finally, thing I am most dreading? Writing, I hate writing with a passion so this could be real fun!
So what am I aiming to get from it?
Actually I am hoping it makes me a better lecturer, I love working with my students and seeing them progress and develop over the course of 3 years but it isn't always enough, I want to inspire them to take risks, look at what others try and not be afraid to try themselves or, try and think, no this isn't for us!
So my aim is to try and write my journey over the next two years and share my experiences of trying to do an MA whilst teaching on a degree course and...oh did I mention being a single parent to my 12 year old every growing always hungry son.
And finally, thing I am most dreading? Writing, I hate writing with a passion so this could be real fun!
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