Author: Caleb Brennan

Week 8 came and flew by in a quiet riot. Considering the chaotic nature of last week with university closure and all modules being taught online, this week was always going to be a little different and offer new challenges. It has been that throughout.

The hardest challenge in the way that courses were being delivered was the inconsistency in how they were being broadcast to students. For example, our English Literature lecture recorded podcasts of her lectures which we can tune into with the slides whereas other modules were delivered through streams with poor audio quality. The tutorials were no less odd overall, for English Lit, we had a forum discussion in which our tutor posed questions to my class and we had to respond accordingly.

This overall variation was a little frustrating at times. You must be flexible to this changing environment and identify the areas you need to improve on as for some of you, you might not get much value out of this delivery.

Since September the phrase I have heard again and again is “Self-Directed Learning”. The emphasis since entering university was to guide yourself in the direction of your education in terms of timetabling study, research, reading, and writing. The difficulty in the current situation is that the self-direction has me out-of-whack as how does one self-direct themselves through the chaos! Nevertheless, we struggle on, and we stay strong and see how this stressy messy situation unfolds for my modules and classes.

Closing Question: Have your classes been moved online because of Covid-19 and how have you had a troubles with your classes – how have you found that and any tips to keep yourself on track? Please feel free to share.

Caleb

To inform you guys on my Week 6, I took my ‘free skip’ from weekly blogging last week as I had a packed schedule. I had an essay, a group presentation followed by a group essay and 50% assessment in InDesign. This was a jammers week which at times I found difficult to plan and navigate.

During the orientation day as a mature student, we were told that there would be weeks like this which we will challenge and will question the decision to return to education.  I have found delight over the week having got through it and pride in the work I had produced. We all have difficult weeks in education where you don’t see the light at the end but it’s motivating to overcome these challenges.

At this time, it’s decent to reflect on these challenges and how best to develop barriers so that you won’t struggle again!

The past week has been chaos. The shop shelves are left bare of loo roll and hand sanitisers, everyone is sneezing into elbows and throwing looks at the those who do. While the ensuing worry of “is Covid a threat?” UL closed its doors until March 29^th (And maybe longer!).

The connection between the two weeks has me pondering possible challenges of the coming end of the semester.

All my modules have moved online, with lectures being streamed or podcasted. This will purpose its challenges and I think the main challenge will be motivation. This time off isn’t a holiday and I will need to stay focused on my work.

So I enter week 8 with the intent of keeping on top of things in a new virtual environment. Whether I sink or swim at that moment is to be seen. Regardless, I’ll keep you guys updated!!

Caleb

Hi, I am Caleb. I do words and this blog. I will be spending the next few weeks with you, pondering and reflecting on my coursework and how I am getting on with it. So get ready for the continuous weeks of my stressy messy way I will stumble into the second year of my university life.

I will ask a question to you to begin, why do you read, listen or watch a piece of media?

The answer for me (And do comment below, as I want to know your reasons) is because I find it to be the most effective way of telling a story. I am obsessed with stories. I always have been. These can be stories told by Edgar Allan Poe, a priest, a teacher or random stranger. Everyone has a story.

I come from a creative background; I am a poet. So, stories and the idea of the reader being present in my work as I construct it has been crucial to the way I formulate a piece of content, whether that be a poem or a news story.  This is where you come into the mix. I have never blogged before and to be serious, I don’t know what a blog reader expects and perhaps doing this technical writing module can provide that clarity.

Previously during my journalism modules, I was told split my brain into parts and assign the parts to the types of writing that are required of me.  The main purpose of this method was it allow me to flip a switch and allow me to focus intently on the purpose of writing.

Normally I would break it up as such:

1. Creative
2. Academic
3. Journalistic

I wonder how blogging will fit into all of this will be a mixture of journalistic and creative or will it be a separate new part of my brain.

I suppose this is the fun we are going to have along the way. This blog will insight into my head for the next coming semester, and I will be touching along many topics in my study to add further reflections I feel worthy of comment. So, whether it be a new poem I encounter in English Lit or an issue in contemporary journalism I think we will be in for a journey.

I encourage your added reflections along the way, of course. This module will offer me an interesting new way of writing. Hopefully, at least, let’s be positive!

Caleb