Learner Bytes

Post #18 – where this writer contemplates stillness

I guess it may be the type of job I have, and to some extent they way I work – but I often find myself overwhelmed by the number of things that need to get done. A lot of demands from different quarters as well as a seemingly never ending number of emails, phone calls, and drop-ins. The phone calls & drop-ins are interesting. I have an open door and welcome people to drop in with questions and talk about what they are doing, or want to do. Sometimes though, these drop-ins & phone calls turn into extended visits or consultations. Often there is a problem to solve or a question turns out to be complex and doesn’t have an easy answer. I do appreciate these occasions, but if it’s not planned and lasts 30-40 minutes, I find there is some catching up to do. 

This leads to some frustration as all the tasks that require doing all compete for attention and I don’t know where to start with the next thing. A good friend has advised to just do the next thing, but often that can be tricky when faced with a number of priorities. Sometimes it seems that my mind just wants to escape and shut down from the demands of decision making. When I notice or realise this though, I know it’s time for a break – some time of quiet & stillness. A moment of calm is required to settle the cacophony and let things/thoughts settle and reorder themselves. Taking a 10 minute break can be useful, and I guess meditation also can do that for us. My solution is often to get out for a walk and take some fresh air. This changes the environment around me to provide different inputs and I find the distraction/s helpful. Coming back to the office and making a cup of tea make all the difference to what happens next…

How do you respond when you hear that inner call from some peace & quiet?

Moonrise over Corio bay

Word of the Day is ’scofflaw’ – not quite the same as a maverick, but close.

Post #17 – where I reflect on a re-discovered practice

I had an experience the other day that was both positive and negative.

I’ll start with the bad news. We had an opportunity to test/trial a new tool that would support student interaction in lectures. Something similar to clickers I guess, but hopefully also easier to access and work with students who might off-campus. So, a demonstration workshop was organised and we soon discovered that the tool (and integration) didn’t really work as advertised when faced with the testing we wanted to do. There was different functionality depending on device, a serious time lag between the face-to-face session and the online space, a non intuitive and clunky interface, some anomalies with the flow and process of designed activity, and a port user experience. This was enough to convince us that the tool wasn’t fit for purpose – yet. The test convinced us that we’d need to look further afield for a tool that would support what we wanted to do. 

The good news in all this was that we had an experience that we all agreed was a very useful one. A group of us collectively participated in a test/trial, using the tool in a range of environments (places, space, and devices), and with authentic learning activities. This enabled us to reflect on a range of factors that would be important to make for a good learning experience and ensure intended outcomes are achieved. This included functionality, navigation, input and response, and the leading/presentation of the activity. It was great for a group of people to actively participate, contribute and respond as the session unfolded. Different situations for individuals allowed for a range of response and gave us an excellent overview of the issues that could be expected. We also were able to try and seek alternative solutions to problems as the ‘live’ experience unfolded. While there was an atmosphere of ‘let’s try and break it’, we were also willing it to work so ensured that we gave the system the benefit of the doubt. Also useful was the record of our interactions in a text chat that captured questions and answers.

Everyone was happy with the process and outcome and we’ve committed to using a similar model next time we look at trialling a new product system. Do you do something similar?

Innovation in Niger – recharging torches more effectively

Word of the Day is ’transfigure’ – to change for the better…

Post #16 – where a sort of stream of consciousness occurs

You know, that feeling when you need to do something and don’t know where to start… What can I write today that will entertain my dear readers – something worth visiting this blog for.

The day started well enough – cold & wet! No meetings either, but then people start turning up and it starts to get noisy and you get interrupted and – the best laid plans… You know how it goes. What will I write about for #blogjune? Coffee to the rescue out of the office for a moment to catch up with colleagues quickly while off to the café & back. Then some emails before playing around with a spreadsheet to help with getting ready for Semester 2. But hang on, need to check the twitters and the yammers to see what’s happening. Oh, and some #crowdfunding projects that I’m involved with are getting close to closing, and oh so close to getting funded… Oh, and friends are in New Oleans – wonder if they’ve watched Tremé? Oh, and there’s a half season 4 to look out for, nice. But, then there’s work to do and and I need a cup of tea and by lunchtime I need some fresh air so it’s out for a quick walk before tackling the afternoon. Can I attend that meeting on Friday? Wonder what’s going to happen in the final episode of G.o.T tonight. When’s the best time to organise that demo? What will I write about for #blogjune? Don’t forget to upload the agenda and papers for that meeting. etc. etc. 

Lots of busy work and things going on in my head – sometimes I’d rather mow grass – more time to think. What about you?

Sculpture on the beach

Word of the Day is ‘gallinipper’ – keep them away from me!

Post #15 – where we realise we’re halfway through #blogjune

The past two weeks of blog writing have passed quickly even though I’ve been very aware of my commitment to write every day. I’ve appreciated the challenge of writing regular and appreciate the tag line of Stephen Downes’ blog, ‘Half an hour’ – “A place to write, half an hour, every day, just for me.” I’ve always thought it would be useful to get some of my thinking and reflection out of my head and into some form so that I can process the ideas. I haven’t been able to find a regular time to do this and initially thought that I could get up early in the day and spend that half hour writing some things down. I’ve found myself doing my writing at the end of the day rather than the beginning and that’s OK. 

Where I’m finding things difficult is in the process of writing and getting a ‘solid’ piece written. By solid I mean something that’s not a short comment, more a piece that is able to convey a significant idea and more than one hundred words. So, I’m finding that half hour is not enough time for me to write what I’d call a considered piece of writing. I’m probably a slow writer and need time to ‘craft’ the words into something I think will be worth reading.

I guess there’s some art involved in putting words together, and like using a brush to arrange paint to make a picture, I see good writing as creating a word picture for the reader to enjoy. I like to have some ’substance’ that gives some volume to the writing, and so I struggle with gathering the words together for that. Words can be like leaves scattered about l, as well as gathered together in clumps in the gutter – how can we arrange them to make some sense?

Maybe I’ll try writing some shorter posts to see if I can do that without worrying about being deep and meaningful. I guess I’ve got the rest of the month to play around with that…

Autumnal ground cover

The Word of the Day is ‘beget’ – not a French bread stick. 😉