long time coming

I just realized how long it's been since I posted. A lot has happened. I am in my seventh course of ten in the MET program: Text Technologies.

Also, I am dealing, again, with chronic illness. I am hoping I will get all my assignments done without too much delay. It is hard to balance health with work and school. I sound like I'm complaining, I know. It is just a bit hard right now, but chances are by next week I will be back on my game.

I'm sure everyone has work-life balance issues. It is practically a requirement in a graduate program. I'm not unique in tight-rope walking while finishing papers...hehe

In the mean time, I'm sure that we will all keep plugging away.

Annette

Second Life based Conference

I attended the conference I mentioned earlier in Second Life. It was very interesting. They had some problems with voice, getting the levels right, and getting clear sound, but other than that it was technically pretty good.

We started looking at a collaborative space where the group had worked to put together an interactive display on preventative medicine. They had boards up all over with their notes and diagrams they used in their meetings. Then they took us down to the acutal space where the display/interactivity area was. Very cool. My boss and I figure that within a few years we will be able to teach our courses in a virtual world, with instructor and student avatars interacting in real time, in a virtual space.

My Computer is fixed!

Finally got the comp back from the shop, and it is running well. I can't tell you how relieved I am. I have seen the depths of my addiction, in the week it was gone, and I have to say it was a bit scary.

Now I have no excuse for not getting my presentations in shape this weekend. I have one on Developmental approaches to education, my part is an adult learning lesson based on Vygotsky's ideas. That seems to be shaping up pretty well. The more technically savy members of the group set up a wiki and it looks great. I hope my part is up to snuff..........

getting overwhelmed

The workload is starting to overwhelm me. I'm begining to think I should have started with one course at a time. Oh well. I have 2 presentations due in the same week, and my computer has melted down and is in the shop. just a little stressed. I wonder how everyone else is doing?

a little swamped

I am starting to feel a little overwhelmed by the amount of reading I have to do. Work is encroaching on my time at home and leaving me less time to do my readings. I feel swamped. I need some time to catch up and process. I wonder how the other students in the program feel?

I guess this weekend will be spent somewhere quiet, trying to make sense of Heidegger....lol

Second Life conference

Here is the info on an event I will be attending in Second Life. Should be interesting to see if I can use my addiction to learn something for work.....lol

Stepping into Health - October 7th, 2008.

Held entirely in Second Life, we will visit the best and most creative work being done in promoting health and healthcare in a virtual world environment.

Keynote presentations feature Randy Hinrichs and Ramesh Ramloll.

The cost to participate is $79.00. Click this link to To learn more about the online conference and register.

http://www.steppingintovirtualworlds.org/

Please write to info@learningtimes.net if you have questions about either event.

Sniffy, the virtual rat

I am having some difficulty keeping up with all the readings, but I am finding there is some overlap with undergrad courses I took in learning theory, so that is good. I am thinking about resurrecting Sniffy, the virtual rat, a tool I used in my learning and behaviour course. Sniffy is a programme which simulates teaching a rat using operant and classical conditioning. He made a great pet.

Have handed all my assignments, except the comparison of behaviourist and social cognitive theories, but that it up now, so I think I'm ok.

Some of my anxiety about posting has been alleviated, so that theory has worked...