Food for Thought

I have been reading the resources issued with the module for the next tasks. The resources are Situated Learning by J Lave and the Social development Theory by L Vygotsky. I think it would help all to take a look at these because not only is it thought provoking, but also it raises some questions in my mind, questions that have me thinking about the work we are currently undertaking.

Ok lets start by asking, What is online learning? In a nutshell it is simply the sharing of knowledge, exactly what we here at Ultraversity are doing. Someone has an idea, they share this idea, this starts a discussion and the end result is that everyone taking part has learned something they didn’t know beforehand. In our case, the learning is guided in that we have the modules to work to and our discussion is therefore based around that. However, how many of us can say actually, we have learned so much more than this. We have learned about each other. Already we are all picking up things about others careers, how they go about doing things in their job role, ect, ect. I am sure we have all found something that we have thought we would try at work ourselves. I know I have.

This in itself has me thinking, what else have I learned through using the internet? Well I have learned about a nasty condition fish can get called camalanus. Sounds horrible doesn’t it? Well it’s a worm, but its very hard to get rid of once you have it, and it can wipe out your tank. When I first discovered this I naturally went straight to the fish shop and asked. They hadn’t even heard of it. I went to other shops, same result. I bought a book, it was listed in there, but the treatment was cattle wormer only available from vets, and only in the USA. How do I sort this out? Most of my fish I had bred myself, no way did I want to lose them, so I went straight to the internet, spent weeks searching one forum after the after. Finally through the information I had been able to find I discovered that this problem was common in Guppies (which were the fish I had) and Discus (had no idea what they were). I went to a site called Simply Discuss. I found so much information, including a treatment. Problem, it was for these Discus fish not mine. I learned I had to use a drug called Fenbendazole which a sit turned out was quite simply cat wormer. I could buy this over the counter in crystal formula. I learned how to mix the drug with the fish food and so feed it to the fish, how long to administer it for, tank cleanliness, water quality, and loads loads more. Finally I totally eradicated it from tank, and didn’t lose any fish at all.

My thought here is, how did I go about discovering this information. Well I didn’t simply sit and read for weeks on end, the thing that we are all doing right now with our degree, I asked questions, direct questions. These questions never led to a direct answer, but they led me to the correct place to locate the information I needed. I was able to talk to people who had had the same problem and sorted it, I could take advise from them. We are all doing all of the above apart from asking direct questions. How many of us asked “what is an ILP”? Not many if any, though I am sure at least 50% of the cohort thought it. How many of us are asking direct questions of each other to help us understand what we are doing, and were we should be going? Many say I think I have it right, but I am not sure, can I have some feedback please. We ask questions that we feel safe asking, but not necessarily the ones that would help us to learn, direct us in the right area, or keep us going. Is this a reason for why so many of us find ourselves panicking? I know I have not asked enough questions to allow me to research properly.


You may totally disagree with every thing I have said here, but before you do, think about it. Have you asked anyone to explain anything to you today?

12 October 08

What a week. I have still been heavily under the influence of the flu, but still trying to continue with my degree. Finally gave myself some time off from it, but decided tonight I needed to crack on so that I can go visit my folks tomorrow.

My role!!! Having completed my organisational chart, I decided I really needed to crack on with the analysis part of it. Right now I wish I hadn't even bothered. I have yelled at my poor hubby so many times purely out of frustration. He even tried to explain it to me, but I simply wasn't getting it. Draw up a conclusion first he said. This was also suggested on First Class by one of the facilitators. Conclusion of what? A chart???? I had to analyse all the information I had collected prior to putting the chart together. Had to learn to use new software too. But I did it. He said "What does your chart show"? My response???? Work! I finally yelled "give me a blank piece of paper and ask me to analyse that. That will make just as much sense. All the things I have read were worded for analysing reading, but this wasn't a book, it was my chart, that I put together.

Anyway I have finally put something together, and though I am pleased that I managed to write so much, I feel sure that I have totally missed the point of this. My role involves everyone in school apart from the catering staff, and that's it. Have posted it in First Class to see what responses I get, and see if anyone can put me on the right track, but not hopeful. Seemed to get more done while I was totally bunged up and dosed up.

I'm sure that as we progress this will all become easier to understand, but right now, I feel stupid. I feel inadequate, and seriously I am wondering how I ever got accepted onto this course.

Until next time, a very frustrated, wound up yet deflated Kay, signing out.

Module B - LO1

Today I have been thinking about the online communities I currently use and the ones I have used in the past. Obviously over the years I have used many in one form or another, many as just one off's. However, I realised that there are certain online cummunities I use regularly, for instance:

Facebook - A social utility used to connect people all over the world. Great for keeping in touch with family and friends living huge distants away. This community offers the benefit of real time chat too, which, subject to time differences can make for great contact with family and friends anywhere in the world. Though this is fantastic for communicating, its downside is that everyone using it seems to insist on sending out weird and wonderful applications to all and sundry. These can be very very annoying, unless they happen to be something you are really interested in. At present I have almost 50 applications waiting to be opened, all of which I have no desire to look at. I have learned that applications claiming to be for 'meeting new people' are nothing more than flirt applications. Unfortunatley there are way too many of these. Facebook also seems to have the need to let everyone know that someone in their friend list has a crush on them. Why??? This crops up all over the place and can be very, very annoying.

Myspace - An international site offering email, blogging, forums, video's and music. A good site for anyone seriously interested in music, and following their favourite bands. This is one of my favourite sites as I am mad for music. I find that I can listen to tracks I have never heard before. If you are subscribed to your favourite bands myspace site, you can get early information of their up and coming concerts. Also being able to chat to people who are equally as interested in the various artists as you are is great fun and great for sharing information on the artists.

Friends Reunited - An online community used for finding long lost relatives and friends. I have used this site for many years, and as a result I am now back in touch with 2 guys that I was in primary school with, all those years ago. I have also been able to contact other old school friends to simply say hello, and catch up on where their lives took them. Very nostalgic.

Genes Reunited - A geneaology site used for tracing your family tree. I began using this site several years ago when I decided to trace my family tree. As well as locating information about my ancestors, it also help to put me back in touch with a living Uncle whom I had not seen for approximatly 10 years. This in turn sparked a whole string of events leading to me making contact with many living relatives not seen for many years.

Microsoft Messenger - A web messenger used for chatting in real time to friends anywhere in the world. This site is great because you have to add people to your buddy list to be able to chat to them. First you send a request, and if denied, they cannot message you. This allows you to only add people you know, and is therefore a much safer chat application for children to use.

Anbody There - An online community for anyone interested in the paranormal. The site is home to many forums and live chat. Its a great site for learning about the paranormal as well as discussing any unusual things you may have experienced.

Pursuit of guidance - Another site for any one interested in the paranormal, however, I personally did not find this a terribly good site as everytime I entered the chat rooms they were trying to carry out readings on me, and I was told some rather worrying/nasty things. I advise anyone using this site to do so with caution.

Simply Discus - A forum for anyone interested in tropical fish, but more specifically discus fish. This site is very informative and helped me to sort out a nasty problem I had with camalanus worms in my fish tank, a problem that no aquatics shop could help with.

E-Folio - An online community used by the college I work for. This site is used for putting the students homework on, for adding reasources the students may need, for staff resources and email. The students all have their own email account and can therefore email the teachers when they have a problem with their homework, or email their friends when they wish.

Plone - An online community used by Anglia Ruskin University for the benefit of the students studying online with Ultraversity. This site is used for uploading completed assignments, downloading modules ect.

First Class - Another comunity though not actually accessed online. Its like a mail client, with the added benefit of the forums area for exchanging ideas about the work, or researching information. The site also has an instant chat facility allowing you to talk in real time to one of the cohort. As this site is not actually found online, it is only available to the students in the university cohorts, which means that needless chat is kept to a minimum, and the site can be used strictly for the degree.

I am currently in the process of trying out Photobucket, an online community used for uploading and sharing photographs. I have only just signed up for it, so it early days yet, but I will keep you up dated on how it goes.

05 October 08

Well I am suffering nicely with the flu at the moment, and I am bored stiff, feeling very sorry for myself too, So every now and then I try to attempt a little bit of something for my degree. I have spent alot of time on my colleges web site investigating whose who and, Wow!!!!! what an eye opener. I have a much better understanding of the organisation now, wnd who can help me when my line manager cannot. Wish I had done this when I first started. Researching it definately gave me a beeter understanding of it than if I had simply been given it all laid out on a sheet.

I think I have completed my working life picture display. I used a powerpoint presentation for it so that I could add some information. My job role is difficult to show in picture format because no 2 days are the same. I do not cover any one thing alone, and I do not have any other responsibiliteis. Makes my job sound quite boring which it isn't, but I have no ownership of anything. I dont even have a tutor group anymore. Also with the legal implications of photographing students, it was really difficult to complete.

I have also spent time talking to other students and where I can helping them to understand what they have to do. This in itself is making for some great relationships and one in particular, Marianne. She was ready to give up. Now she has completed her first task and is feeling fantastic, and I feel really pleased that I was able to help her. That in itself makes us feel more like a cohort and not individuals. We have now decided that in future we will discus the modules between us to help us to understand the requirements.

Have also been redaing Tindals undergraduates research thingy. Its really interesting. Seems to suport alot of what I have felt for many years now, that being that teaching skills to someone is one thing, but if they are not taught, or as in our case are not encouraged to research the subject more, how can they truley have a good understanding of the why's and where fores behind the skill? Simple they cant, and so in turn, they have not truy learned hte skill and cannot therefore develop it. Good reading. Stronly recommend it to all.

All in all so far everything is going well. Fingers crossed that my facilitator thinks the same.

Till next time.............

30 September 08

I am on a role now, which is just as well because I have come down with an awful cold, so it is taking me sooooo much longer to do anything. I decided I needed to check with my line manager about the legal implications of photographing the students in school for my task. Many of us were chatting last night on First Class, and we were all unsure of the exact ethics for this. I have discovered today that although the students parents do sign consent forms giving permission for their children to have photographs taken for the schools web site, and any publicity relating to the school, it does not cover things like staff training. Therefore, if I wish to photograph a classroom with students in it I must ensure that I only have the backs of their heads. Now, I have seen how they react when a camera appears. All the girls pull the standard bebo pose, finger to the lips, or the peace sign next to their face, O and that weird position they manage to get their heads in (which you need to be a contortionist to be able to do), not really what I would be looking for to represent a typical working day for me.

I have also discovered that I need to get permission form the staff if I wish to potograph them for my assignment. This is the easy part really. I have decided to cover myself, due diligence as it were, I will put together a consent form or anyone to sign should i wish to use a picture of them. This may be able to be used later in the course too. I will file the signed consent forms in my university folder, and if need be, these can be scanned and submitted with the work to show that I have taken the law into account.

I established that were the children are concerned, by not photographing them, I will be working within the child protection laws.

I have already started putting together my pictures with some information about my normal working day, and in doing so have tried out the programme recommended for shrinking pictures. I am not too sure if I am happy with the result, as the pictures that you end up with are nothing more than thumbnails. I may try another programme as suggested by another undergraduate in First Class.

I think I have just about finished my ILP. I have submitted it to my facilitator, but I do expect to recieve it back for ammendments, if for no other reason than, if it is all correct, making amendments would serve to increase my potential grade. I have not done an ILP for about 4 years, and I must admit I did found it pretty tough going. I am sure it will all fall back into place.

Already I am looking at the next assignments so that if nothing else I can be collecting together any information needed. Already starting my research as it were.

The start of my Learning Journal

Hi, my name is Michaela, and this is as it says, the start of my learning journal.

I have spent all day on my computer, with the exception of the time I spent ironing ready for the week ahead. I think I did it all, but if not, well the family will only yell at me, and with 4 teenage children, that's not unusual.

I spent a long time printing of the scheme of work (if that's what they call it in uni) and all the literature to go with it. Thank heavens for tesco cheap ink cartridges. Although this took along time, hence all day on here, I have been able to organise everything so that I can go about my modules in a methodical way instead of being all over the place. Something I have leaned helps me a lot.

The ILP was the thing I was really worried about, but I think I have gotten my head around it. I tried to use a gannt chart for it, but to be honest I found the end result really confused me. The ILP template made a lot more sense to me, so I have decided to stick with that format. I will continue to fathom out smart draw because I can see the mind mapping element being incredibly beneficial to me.

I created a page using google page creator (or its new equivalent). Didn't know what to put so I went for a humorous feel to the uni jargon that I have yet to fathom out. http://sites.google.com/site/degreepanic/Home

I have posted many replies in First class, and as a result have met as it were some other students in the same panic as me. I don't feel quite so alone now, and will continue to chat to these people. I have sent some emails requesting various information for my task on my work setting. I work in a high school and therefore the family tree as it were is huge and complicated.

I will add to my learning journal at least once a week as I have found from experience that it is one of the best tools available to just about anyone. For now though, I think I need sleep.