My name is Adele and I'm an addict. A technology addict that is! I'm never to be found without my blackberry and mobile (yes, I know the fruit is a 'phone, but I hate using it as one!) I have an ipod seemingly glued to my ears and I'm typing this on my laptop. That's not the end of it though, oh no, stand back, this is where it gets geeky!
I also have an Asus Eee Pc running Linux and a zpen which I thought would be useful for when I come to write essays (I can recommend the zpen by the way, but take note, it doesn't work too well on Linux) and of course the obligatory 3g pen so I have my nice portable internet connection.
So why is it, with all these machines that go bing, I've taken to using a proper old fashioned diary? Yes, it's true, I've bought myself a posh Moleskine diary and have fastidiously written all my study weeks, essay dates, weddings and other appointments in and have taken to carting it round in my handbag.
Am I coming completely mad?
Probably
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Chuffed
Well, I'm quite pleased with myself all in all! I've managed to work my way through the Cleopatra module of my course 2 weeks earlier than I was supposed to, result!
I have to admit, I sat down to work on the module with a not insignificant amount of trepidation, normally when I've done studying in the past, I've had to sit there with a bit of a glazed look as nothing was quite sinking in, however this seems to be a bit different. I was writing what I thought the answers were, and surprisingly was getting the same results as the books - RESULT!
That's made me think about ploughing on now as I was going to wait until the course starts in earnest to do any more, but I think I will try and keep this lead time going, then I can either have some time off when I need it, or spend a bit longer working on one of the trickier essays.
In the meantime however, I'm stuck at Liverpool Street Station as per usual due to a train fault, so it gives me the perfect excuse to not go and buy a pasty and to start reading Dr Faustus instead.
I knew I put it in my bag this morning for a reason!
I have to admit, I sat down to work on the module with a not insignificant amount of trepidation, normally when I've done studying in the past, I've had to sit there with a bit of a glazed look as nothing was quite sinking in, however this seems to be a bit different. I was writing what I thought the answers were, and surprisingly was getting the same results as the books - RESULT!
That's made me think about ploughing on now as I was going to wait until the course starts in earnest to do any more, but I think I will try and keep this lead time going, then I can either have some time off when I need it, or spend a bit longer working on one of the trickier essays.
In the meantime however, I'm stuck at Liverpool Street Station as per usual due to a train fault, so it gives me the perfect excuse to not go and buy a pasty and to start reading Dr Faustus instead.
I knew I put it in my bag this morning for a reason!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It's exciting
I've had a couple of days to get my head round this being a student thing, and it's starting to get a bit exciting.
The course site opening up has meant that I've been in touch with some of the others who will be studying with me, and what a varied bunch they are, I'm impressed! It's been really useful for me seeing who else is having some misgivings about the course, or finding people in the same position as myself. I had kind of figured when I started that most of the people on the course would be doing it for some kind of 2nd or 3rd degree, perhaps for career development, but it's been quite nice to see there are lots of people who left school early for whatever reason and have now decided to go off and do something interesting.
I haven't been able to resist any longer. My course books were delivered back at the end of December, and I lovingly took them all out, quickly glanced at them, read the assessment guide and then put them on their own special shelf in our spare room, along with all my set texts, notepads, pens, pencils and other studying detritus.
This week however, I've decided I can wait no longer. I start the course officially on the 9th February, however I've taken the bull by the horns and have started reading the first module which is Cleopatra. It's quite interesting, I'm impressed! Now I need to get myself into the habbit of writing on books (something I find physically very hard to do after years spent as a librarian) and carrying my notebook around with me everywhere so I can jot down my thoughts.
All being well, I'll be writing my final assessment on the week ending the 27th September, which is nicely timed, as my brothers wedding is on the 26th! In theory I do have until the 1st October to submit my work, but having spent the last 2 courses I was on submitting essays at the last minute, I'm aiming to get the ones I'm doing for this course in at least 3 days before the final submission date.
Here's hoping!
The course site opening up has meant that I've been in touch with some of the others who will be studying with me, and what a varied bunch they are, I'm impressed! It's been really useful for me seeing who else is having some misgivings about the course, or finding people in the same position as myself. I had kind of figured when I started that most of the people on the course would be doing it for some kind of 2nd or 3rd degree, perhaps for career development, but it's been quite nice to see there are lots of people who left school early for whatever reason and have now decided to go off and do something interesting.
I haven't been able to resist any longer. My course books were delivered back at the end of December, and I lovingly took them all out, quickly glanced at them, read the assessment guide and then put them on their own special shelf in our spare room, along with all my set texts, notepads, pens, pencils and other studying detritus.
This week however, I've decided I can wait no longer. I start the course officially on the 9th February, however I've taken the bull by the horns and have started reading the first module which is Cleopatra. It's quite interesting, I'm impressed! Now I need to get myself into the habbit of writing on books (something I find physically very hard to do after years spent as a librarian) and carrying my notebook around with me everywhere so I can jot down my thoughts.
All being well, I'll be writing my final assessment on the week ending the 27th September, which is nicely timed, as my brothers wedding is on the 26th! In theory I do have until the 1st October to submit my work, but having spent the last 2 courses I was on submitting essays at the last minute, I'm aiming to get the ones I'm doing for this course in at least 3 days before the final submission date.
Here's hoping!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Here goes nothing!
Well, Monday morning is when it all starts.
The AA100 website gets opened to the students who are starting in February - and I guess that's me.
Gone are the days of lounging around in the house or sleeping on the train, now, wherever I go, I'll have a course book in my hand. I'll be mumbling artistic things in my sleep, and probably getting really good at pub quizzes!
This is now my 3rd time at trying my hand at a degree, the first one I failed, and the 2nd, I moved to England and it would have been too complicated getting onto a similar course down here, so here I am, 3rd time lucky!
I'm optomistic about this one however. I decided a while ago that I would like to do a degree in History, but not for any particular career development thing, just to keep me occupied and "better myself", and because of that reason, I think I'm going to do better at this degree than the others. I'm not doing it because I have to, I'm doing it because I want to and that's it - plus it's a topic that I'm actually interested in, Rab Kiddie would have been proud (He was my History teacher at school!)
So here I am, enjoying my last weekend of freedom, and planning out my workload.
My theory is simple (well, to me anyhow), I spend 4 hours a day commuting to and from my work at the National Archives. Normally this is just spent asleep or listening to my Ipod. Well, no more. By my reconing, I need to do around 16 hours of studying a week. I've already earmarked Sunday mornings for that, about 5 hours, so doing 2 hours study during my 4 hour commute per day should bring me up to 15 hrs, with an extra hour to squeeze in somewhere if needed (and lets face it, I've still got 10 hours of commuting time when I'm not studying!).
Fingers crossed!
The AA100 website gets opened to the students who are starting in February - and I guess that's me.
Gone are the days of lounging around in the house or sleeping on the train, now, wherever I go, I'll have a course book in my hand. I'll be mumbling artistic things in my sleep, and probably getting really good at pub quizzes!
This is now my 3rd time at trying my hand at a degree, the first one I failed, and the 2nd, I moved to England and it would have been too complicated getting onto a similar course down here, so here I am, 3rd time lucky!
I'm optomistic about this one however. I decided a while ago that I would like to do a degree in History, but not for any particular career development thing, just to keep me occupied and "better myself", and because of that reason, I think I'm going to do better at this degree than the others. I'm not doing it because I have to, I'm doing it because I want to and that's it - plus it's a topic that I'm actually interested in, Rab Kiddie would have been proud (He was my History teacher at school!)
So here I am, enjoying my last weekend of freedom, and planning out my workload.
My theory is simple (well, to me anyhow), I spend 4 hours a day commuting to and from my work at the National Archives. Normally this is just spent asleep or listening to my Ipod. Well, no more. By my reconing, I need to do around 16 hours of studying a week. I've already earmarked Sunday mornings for that, about 5 hours, so doing 2 hours study during my 4 hour commute per day should bring me up to 15 hrs, with an extra hour to squeeze in somewhere if needed (and lets face it, I've still got 10 hours of commuting time when I'm not studying!).
Fingers crossed!
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