End of Module Assignment (EMA)

The last couple of weeks have been frantic, as I've been writing my EMA. It's in four parts:

1. Critical review of my own project
2. Critical review of two other student presentations and compare/contrast with my own
3. Reflections of becoming a networked practitioner
4. Links to my project artefact and Cloudworks.

Last year, I studied E854 - Language in Action. It was an applied linguistics module. Whilst I enjoyed learning new skills and concepts, I found the level of academic writing very difficult. I spent hours on TMAs, trying to make sure I covered all the requirements and on 3 out of the 5 assignments, I was very disappointed with my marks. When I started H818, I was looking forward to being back in my geeky comfort zone but I was nervous about the TMAs and EMA. As the module has progressed and my marks have been kinder to me than last year's, my confidence has begun to grow back a little but this week, I have felt out of my depth again.

A few weeks ago, at work there was a day when we were all feeling quite low and the atmosphere was negative. It felt like we were all slogging our guts out but achieving nothing. A couple of days later, we got an email from my line manager, with the subject 'Achievements'. The email thanked us all for our constant hard work and then listed all the things we had achieved in the previous few weeks. These were real, concrete achievements and as I read them, I felt positive and purposeful again. It was a good lesson in motivation. We need to be reminded of what we have achieved from time to time. I tend to be quite self-critical, analyse the negatives and don't notice the positives. I need to sit down and record the positives sometimes.

So here are some positive achievements from H818, not just for me but for the whole cohort:

• We have engaged in online networking, have learned and experimented with new networking techniques and have formed conclusions about our future networking plans;
• We have 'played' with new techie tools to produce an amazing array of posters to advertise our conference presentations;
• We have overcome the demotivating participation bar on OpenStudio and some of us even worked out its requirements;
• We have all presented in a live online conference, with delegates from within and outside of H818, overcoming nerves, technical issues and the constaints of OULive;
• We have grown in our ability/confidence/willingness to engage in peer reviews, and have made decisions about what feedback we will act on to improve our work.

I was relieved when E854 was finally over but this time, I feel rather sad. Even though we have never met, I feel like friendships have formed on this module and the influence of others has made be a better student. I'll miss that. 

Once H818 is officially over and I've finished a couple of other high priority pieces of work (my L1 British Sign Language exam and a job application) I must decide which module to study next. It will have to be a really engaging module though, if it is to come anywhere close to H818!

Presentation and activity 9.3

Everything in me, having done my presentation, wanted to breathe a sigh of relief and then take a week off. However, the End of Module Assignment (EMA) is due in on 3rd March, so I've returned to the module activities.

1. Having looked at the preparation material for the conference and the type of sessions outlined, you may wish to revisit and revise the criteria for review identified in Activity 7.2. For example, you may wish to add some questions or criteria related to the content or format of that session.
2. As a final test of your own work, apply your review criteria to your own presentation.

I have begun to feel quite okay about reviewing other people's work in a public forum. I've always been quite happy to reflect on my own work but committing my self-review to paper (or screen) feels a little scary... but here goes! I've decided to use a rating system which I most familiar with, thanks to Ofsted.

Criteria	Content or presentation	Rating 1-outstanding 2 - good 3 - requires improvement 4 - inadequate	Comment
Did the presentation supply what was called for?	Content	2	I think my presentation gave a good overview of my project, its background, work so far and the artefact.
Was it accurate? Did it demonstrate understanding?	Content	2	It is really difficult to self-review this. I think it was accurate and demonstrated understanding but then I am assuming that my understanding of the topic is correct. Would I know if it wasn't?
Were the elements of the materials used appropriately to deliver the message or fulfil the purpose?	Presentation	3	I felt limited here by the software. Our presentations could only be prepared in PowerPoint and without using anything beyond basic features. I lacked the courage to risk using the Webtour feature.
Stylistically, was it appropriate for the specified audience?	Presentation	2	This felt like something of an unknown, right up until the day. Having watching all the other presentations though, we were all pretty much along the same lines.
Was it at an appropriate technical level?	Presentation	2	I tried to explain terms that are not commonly used, including acronyms.
Was the message clear?	Presentation	1	When I began preparing this presentation and the project, very few of my H818 colleagues knew about This is quite a complex concept and is often misunderstood, even by teachers in FE. I think I explained it in such a way that it could be understood by all.

Less than an hour to go

We're so nearly there! In half an hour, our H818 conference begins and whilst I was initially quite worried about being the first student to present, I'm now relieved that in one hour and fifteen minutes, mine will be over and everyone else will still be feeling nervous.

I've now embedded a public version of my presentation in SlideShare:

Individual Learning Plans (ILPs): from paper to online from Nicki Berry

I've got my notes printed off, ready and a notebook and pen handy to take notes during other people's presentations.

Good luck everyone!

One week to go

The H818 online conference starts next Saturday and apart from the keynote speaker for the day, I'm up first. Have a look at the conference page. There are some fantastic projects being presented. Unfortunately the actual conference is not open to the general public but I'll be posting my presentation afterwards, probably in SlideShare, so if you're interested, you'll be able to have a look.

Conference banner

Last night and this morning, I've been finalising my presentation and I've just shared it in Open Studio so that any last minute feedback can be implemented before I have to submit it midweek. I'm getting excited about the conference now. I've selected my list of 'must see' presentations. I'm hoping to attend all of next Saturday afternoon and half of the other two sessions.

My presentation title

As often happens when a deadline is approaching, many of the forums have gone rather quiet, as people are obviously engrossed in their own work. But then we remember we have to keep actively networking and supporting each other's project development, so we have a blitz in Open Studio. Getting a good balance at this stage feels to me rather like walking a tightrope. 

Threefold reflections

This course and the End of Module Assignment (EMA) addresses three areas:

1. Project - the creation of an artefact (either a case study/paper, a multimedia presentation or a learning activity/workshop) as the culmination of a short term project.
2. Presentation - a 10 minute presentation about the project at the H818 online conference.
3. Networking - our development as networked practitioners, particularly using online environments.

At this stage of the module, the tricky bit for me, is finding the right balance between the three different areas. It's hard not to get focussed on one thing and forget the others.

My Project

A couple of weeks ago, I updated my Gantt chart so that I would have a clearer idea of what needed doing and when. Here's where I was:

Gantt Chart

During the last couple of weeks, I've been focussing on getting the eILP finished and starting the screencasts. I was having some sound issues with the ActivInspire screencasting tool, so today I switched to Screencast-o-matic and I love it! The clarity of both sound and images is great! Today, I also started putting together my multimedia presentation, for which I am once again using Sway. I've still got quite a bit of work to do and the actual artefact may not be completely finished in time for the presentation but I should have an acceptable version that I can show.

My Presentation

I've finally made a start on the PowerPoint presentation that I will give at the conference. I liked the style of the planning PP that I made months ago, so I've used that as a basis for it. I'm trying to use lots of visually stimulating images to keep people interested but I always find that I start well and then trail off. I need to work in short bursts and try to maintain the flow right through to the end.

My Networking

Throughout the course, I have found the networking aspect both enjoyable and easy to engage with. I've mostly managed to maintain regular contact with various colleagues on the module and have found it really helpful commenting and reviewing each other's work. 

Now we're all trying to focus on a handful of projects, though, I'm finding it more difficult. We're all juggling various aspects of working and family life alongside our studies and this leads to sporadic postings. That didn't matter when we were just commenting on anything but I feel like I'm only really posting occasionally now. Of course, Open Studio is now only part of the networking. We are also working a lot in Cloudworks and small groups are getting together in the OU Live rooms for practices.

My participation in Open Studio