Opening the doors (Tuesday 20th Feb discussion group)

Last Tuesday I attended my first discussion group. It was great to hear from other students from varying different stages of the course. I have to admit - at first when the module 3 students were discussing the 'importance of literature within their inquiry' and their 'literature reviews', I had pretty much no idea how I was ever going to be able to contribute towards the discussion. But by the end of the discussion, my understanding had become clearer and I could see how the work I am doing at the moment (in module 1) is in fact giving me valuable skills to practice using before I get to that same stage.

After reading our module 1 handbooks, all of us new starters were keen to discuss Web 2.0 in order to further understand it's use. Matt (from module 2) helped us all greatly in describing Web 1.0 as a source for giving us information, whilst Web 2.0 gave us the information whilst also offering space for us (the reader) to contribute. We had all started to try and reflect this into our professional lives and were struggling to understand the connection, but Helen and the others from the higher modules informed us that we needed to look at it all with a much more broader view.

Bearing this in mind, I had been keen to discuss the use and content of our blogs. I understood that it was a use for us to reflect and share with fellow students, but I wanted some clarification of how broad I can go with the subjects that I write about. I was told that there wasn't really a limit to this, just so long as my blogs can inspire a broad discussion with 1 key question running through them. Like 1 thread running through the centre, with many branches of relevance that can be discussed. Essentially my blogs should be opening the doors to interesting and (hopefully) some relevant and thought-provoking discussion!

I hope this can help (particularly any module 1's who couldn't make the discussion, but may have had similar queries to us).   

Blog no.1!

Last Saturday (10th Feb) I attended the induction Skype session as I begin my journey at Middlesex University. Meeting and hearing from other students, both old and new on the course was a great help to me in not only settling my nerves in re-entering the academic world, but also in hearing about how fellow professionals manage to pursue successful careers in their fields as well as working to complete a degree.

I unfortunately do probably still remain a bit of a mystery to everyone who was part of that session as my microphone was not working (for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how to turn it on!) So I spent the session trying to get involved as best I could by typing. Thankfully everyone was very patient and still made me feel included. And as I said (or typed) during the session, it was as if I was prepping for my blogs as trying to get across thoughts and feelings through written word (where you don’t rattle on for too long) isn’t always the easiest.

Coming away from the session, I have noted down some of the key points made of which I will be taking forward with me into this course:

• Create your own set of deadlines. I started a new dance contract this week. It was a very last minute achievement and really didn’t expect for my whole timetable to be turned upside down all at once, with uni and job starting at the same time. So the idea to create my own deadlines on top of the course set ones, will be of great use to me. That way I can stay on top of my work, but also with extra time left in case performance/rehearsals become especially busy. This way I should always be able to submit my work on time. 
• Note down as soon as you have an idea. An idea for a blog or a point of interest to research or reflect on could pop up at any time but just as easily could be forgotten if not written down immediately. I have now started to carry a notebook around with me dedicated to these all important moments of inspiration. 
• Voice memos. I have never used this before, but it is a great idea if there isn’t time to write down an idea. So I will use this to store up ideas from moments when I’m especially busy. 

We also discussed the use of writing our blogs. Adesola told us it was best to write short blogs regularly (trying to stick to around 400 words). This will help with refining our thinking and help us to build on our academic writing style. Blogging is also a great tool to encourage discussion, so it is best to go at writing a blog as if it is a question in process. 

And so I have come to the end of my first blog. I am very much looking forward to meeting more professionals on this course and reading and discussing ideas with everyone!