This post is about looking
at what three things mean to you and how you can interact with them:
A)
What it means to
work when doing a work-based learning course,
B)
What campus
sessions are / mean
C)
Notes about
stuff on posts
I am starting with (C) – I
am really excited about the SKYPE group calls plan see my post last week. If
you want to do it my SKYPE address is in the handbook. This blog is open to
anyone and everyone because I think the idea of open access is interesting and
education needs to work out how to engage with the idea. But I don’t want my
SKYPE address to be open access!! So I am not posting it, just look in the
handbook. I have at least one person for each module discussion BUT for a group
we need more than one so join in..
Looking at Blog posts this
week I read Rhoda’s blog post about how much data she has. I think it’s really
useful and not just because she mentions me!!! Have a look and leave her a
comment on what you think.
Looking at (B). This relates
to the open access ideas I hate to endorse too much use of Wikipedia but for
the common understanding of something it is useful. Here’s what they say about
open access.
What do you think?
The philosophy of this
course has something to do with the changes in how we can understand learning, information, knowledge and connection that the inter-net has
raised. We see these issues in our everyday social life and work life. We begin
the course by flagging it up, but this is for more than just how to get noticed
for the next audition it is about thinking about how we interact and connect
with each other. On this course we have decided to come together in the web 2:0
‘world’ it seemed that because people are working or looking for work in the
professional arena that the Internet offers two interesting concepts that we
can use. Firstly, connection with each other out side of time and space as we
usually use it. I am writing now,
about things I care about and hopefully connecting with you but you are not
ever in the same time or space as me even though we connect.
Before internet maybe we could use a letter in this way to some extent but a
letter requires a physical object that travels the distance between us. From my
time and space to yours – the internet offers another way to address time and
space. I am interesting this because of my work in embodiment.
So the internet and the
blogs and lib-guides are our shared point of connection. That’s what that’s
about – what do you think? How have to understood what the blogging is all
about? You can see that from the perspective I have just described it is really
important you post on your blog and comment on others. It is how you
participate. So the campus sessions are not the places where we give you
information that is on the web in Lib-guides, group emails & blogs. The
campus sessions are places where we can come together to talk about what we
think of the information. We then share out what we found. So not coming to a
campus session is not about missing important information it is about missing
connecting in a particular way – in physical person. You my be someone who
needs this or likes to work that way but other than feeling sad about not
working in your preferred way you are not missing key information. I think the
coming together of people to talk is really fun and interesting. One of my
advisees was really worried about missing a campus session and that is what
made me think we should think of other ways to interact together in conversation
– hence the group SKYPE idea (see previous post).
This course is not about us
giving you information and you telling us back what we said. It is about you pulling
the information and meaning toward you through a range of sources and us
nurturing and encouraging that process. We are here to help you find meaning
and value in the information. So not coming to a campus session does not mean
you miss having us inject you with information.
How do you see the campus
sessions? How are you finding the connections
you make on the course with peers with advisors, with the handbooks, with other
people’s literature….etc…?
Point (A) It’s a work-based learning course. To me that
means work is central (your professional practice) so the course should not be
an either /or situation: study or work. The point is you are studying your
work. If you get offered a job while on this course do not see it a conflict –
I mean maybe we are doing a good job of helping you open yourself to new
possibilities and deeper thought and that has shifted your approach to
something in a positive way or made you more attractive to employers. Maybe it’s
not a coincidence that as you open the door into deep thought around your
practice you get a job!!! Of course I am not saying you are validated by a paid
job but think about the experience and see how things connect.
Of course work out with your
advisor any admin problems if you are worried about getting work posted off for
deadlines or less internet access but we are all imaginative people we can make
it work. The opportunity is that the work will add experience to your study at
MDX and the study at MDX with add depth to your work. That is point. If you are
not finding that synergy then think about it because that is why we ask you to
centre around your professional Practice in the work you hand in for
assessment. Part of this course is about placing yourself in your work context,
better understanding what you bring to your practice what your influences are,
what you want to know more and more about. How have you seen the relationship
between ‘work’ and ‘study’ so far? Have you noticed work informing study and
study informing work? What is your experience in this?
Please comment
Keep up the good work
Adesola
