Tuesday 21 October 2008

A Time for Reflection

After my initial fears about returning to higher education proved unfounded and the class settled into researching information for the first assignment A Journey of 1000 Miles… it became clear that collectively we had made the transition into a settled work pattern with a definite deadline and all that entailed.

Having spent a lifetime working to tight time constraints I was not overly concerned about the looming deadline, although alterations and amendments ate into the time I had set aside and, towards the end, I was no different to my colleagues in having a mild panic that everything would be complete to the exacting requirements stipulated.

Part of that concern lay in the difficulties I was still experiencing in coming to terms with some of the new technology I was encountering although perseverance with placing hyperlinks has filled me with pride that I am now comfortable presenting an assignment in a format which seemed from a different world six weeks previously.

Running concurrently with the first assessable unit have been useful tutorials that have stimulated our thoughts processes and laid the groundwork for our introduction to web design. More technology needed to be mastered to set up our own dedicated website which will form the basis of a personal showcase as we build up the portfolio associated with the HND Interactive Media course.

Throughout the six weeks prior to the half-term break we have both been encouraged and required to maintain a personal sketchbook to include anything and everything that has proved inspirational. By being placed in seminar groups we have been able to follow fellow students’ interests and share our own views which have proven useful and interesting.

Monday 6 October 2008

Early Fears Prove Unfounded

Returning to higher education after an absence of more than 30 years filled me with trepidation although early fears that the course I had chosen studying for an HND in Interactive Media at Wakefield College may have been a mistake were dispelled when I joined my fellow students a week into the course.

As the oldest member I was a little apprehensive about how I may be received but, as we have settled into study over the past month, my initial reservations have proved unfounded as the broad age mix and background of colleagues should encourage interesting and diverse discussions.

The earliest tutorials concentrated on the groundwork technology we will be required to grasp in order to progress as web designers and, while those with computer-orientated backgrounds appeared comfortable, I was confused by many of the references and have also found gathering information for our first assignment difficult as much of the information is totally new to me.

However, the move to discuss design and evaluation of our initial blogger contributions had me gaining in confidence as we moved into an area with which I am more comfortable being able to draw on my typographic and editorial experience.

Hopefully, once the first assignment has been presented, I will have a greater understanding of what is required on a personal level while the group begins to act more as a collective with students drawing on individual strengths to offer greater support and advice to one another.