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!