Sorry for the brief hiatus - the final year exams took a lot of my strength, but I’m pleased to say that I’m out of the woods and well-rested! It took some recovering, and a great deal of cake (final year will do that to you) but it’s time to put the thinking cap back on. What comes next, as I awkwardly wait out the purgatory between still-a-student and graduation, is the preparation; official adulthood is on the horizon, and I’ll be a student no longer. The job search is underway, and I thought I’d share some of the things that I’ve learned along the way.
First of all – it’s okay not to know what you want to do with your life. I’ve always been one of the awkward ones – when people ask me what career I'd like, I genuinely wish I had a better answer that “I’m not sure”. It can be a bit daunting looking for work when you are perpetually ambiguous, but if you have a rough idea of your strengths, weaknesses, and areas in which you could succeed, you can build upon that and at least end up somewhere that you will enjoy. The Prospects guide and career planner is quite good – it’s free and offers advice on the positions you are matched to. And trust me, I’ve used career planner software before and there are far worse ones out there! Meanwhile, seek out the campus Career Centre. I was very sceptical at first, but they really helped me to see potential avenues of work in a different light. When you graduate, you may no longer have this resource on your doorstep, so make the most of it!
Additionally, volunteering is a brilliant way to carve out new interests, and test the water in areas you might want to work in; I wasn’t sure that I wanted to work with old people until I found I really enjoyed it through volunteering. Do-it is a wonderful resource for local volunteering opportunities, and you can also find some student-specific opportunities advertised on the Leeds for Life network.
My only advice with volunteering is to have a realistic think about how long you are able to do it for; short term volunteering (e.g. conservation projects and public fundraising) or distance volunteering (online writing/e-mentoring) might be more suited to students who will be leaving the town in some months. Whereas when you are working in very personal one-on-one roles, such as with vulnerable adults or children, it can be painful on both sides if you form a good relationship but then have to say goodbye in a few weeks. Obviously this advice isn’t lawful – just something to consider.
With regards to the job searches, I’d strongly suggest making a separate professional email account for application purposes, if you don’t have one already. It’s a good idea to register on some job search resources (I’m using Indeed at the minute, and I love it) but sadly, it does tend to bring in the spam (SEND US £70 AND YOUR PASSPORT! GURANTEED WORK!) . A separate email account will allow you to filter through the many emails you will get, saving your personal emails from being buried.
Personalise, personalise, personalise. What exactly does the job description want? Make sure to go directly to the employer's website, and not just the search site; often there are more details there. For example, I'm trying to get into research; some positions want strong data skills, and others require little data manipulating but a lot of working with people. It's good to assess the balance and tailor your written experience to the demands of the job - if the job isn't asking for a particular skill, you're carefully crafted four lines about that your experience with that skill will make it obvious that you're application isn't very personal. A little tweaking can go a long way.
And this goes without saying, but if your social networking accounts are public and are connected to your real name, be careful what you are putting out there.
And if you still have a year or two left of university, make sure to think ahead! Get all the experience you can, talk to professionals in your desired field, and do your research. Make notes of important university open days, if you are going onto higher education. And if you are aspiring towards a graduate scheme, start searching and applying at the beginning of your final year, or even in the summer before - you might be surprised how early the opportunities close.
Hope this helps - good hunting, everyone!
Thursday, 27 June 2013
Saturday, 30 March 2013
Five Necessities of Thesis Easter
Hello everyone! I'll have to apologise for neglecting the blog these past weeks - it has always been in the back of my mind, but I've been swept up in a whirlwind of presentations, deadlines, testing, and commitments. That can only mean one thing, for many final year students - Thesis Easter is upon us.
Some of the most valuable lessons that I'll take away from university this year are from the crucial practice of being forced into problem solving. University isn't just about learning; it's about discovering how you function best as a learner, identifying your strengths and your weaknesses, and building on them proactively to make the best of your degree. From personal experience, I have five pieces of general advice for surviving Thesis Easter.
1. Turn procrastination on it's head
I'm a nightmare for procrastinating. Right now I've managed to devour three seasons of Battlestar Galactica in two weeks, on top of my usual sitcom viewings. It's been a hard habit to break out of - one sniff of a deadline and I'd rather go running to the quilt and the DVD player. Who wouldn't? But I've been turning this habit on it's head to create a reward system. If you want to watch a series back to back, turn it into small goals instead, that you can achieve with your work. For me that means an hour of work buys me 20 minutes of Adama drama and Cylon agendas. Win win situation!
2. Keep hydrated
By this, I don't mean alcohol and energy drinks, as fun as they are! Water, water and more water, to keep a clear head. Energy/sugar drinks can disrupt concentration and can make you feel like crap in the long term.
3. Regular breaks
Sadly, I'm not referring to lastminute.com here. At this time of year, I wish I were. But nevertheless it's important to give your brain a rest during the day, even if it's just five minute stretches in the middle of every hour. The more you force yourself to stay there for hours on end, the more you risk frustration and burnout. It's okay to take a breather and get some daylight!
4. Rotate your tasks
I know that when you have a mountain of work in front of you, it's hard to know where to dig in first. Sometimes you hit a brick wall, or you find yourself unhappy with what you are doing and want to try other avenues. I guess the silver lining of Thesis Easter is the options it gives you to switch tasks. Getting bogged down with your intro? Take a break and move on to your methodology. Rotate tasks as much as you need to; as long as you are digging in somewhere, it all counts.
5. Positive thinking
Last minute workers, 2am stressors, we are all in the same boat. When you see classmates racing ahead, don't panic and use the work of others as a benchmark to your own success. Just focus on getting your work done in your own way. Chances are, even though your classmates look on top of things, they still might have struggled somewhere so please don't feel like you are alone. Talk to friends about common problems you are all having. Make jokes about it, so it seems less daunting. But above all, remember that you can do this!
You may even disagree with the above, but ultimately, as long as you actively care about finding what works best for you instead of just putting it to the back of the mind, that's the right track.
What are your survival tips?
Some of the most valuable lessons that I'll take away from university this year are from the crucial practice of being forced into problem solving. University isn't just about learning; it's about discovering how you function best as a learner, identifying your strengths and your weaknesses, and building on them proactively to make the best of your degree. From personal experience, I have five pieces of general advice for surviving Thesis Easter.
1. Turn procrastination on it's head
I'm a nightmare for procrastinating. Right now I've managed to devour three seasons of Battlestar Galactica in two weeks, on top of my usual sitcom viewings. It's been a hard habit to break out of - one sniff of a deadline and I'd rather go running to the quilt and the DVD player. Who wouldn't? But I've been turning this habit on it's head to create a reward system. If you want to watch a series back to back, turn it into small goals instead, that you can achieve with your work. For me that means an hour of work buys me 20 minutes of Adama drama and Cylon agendas. Win win situation!
2. Keep hydrated
By this, I don't mean alcohol and energy drinks, as fun as they are! Water, water and more water, to keep a clear head. Energy/sugar drinks can disrupt concentration and can make you feel like crap in the long term.
3. Regular breaks
Sadly, I'm not referring to lastminute.com here. At this time of year, I wish I were. But nevertheless it's important to give your brain a rest during the day, even if it's just five minute stretches in the middle of every hour. The more you force yourself to stay there for hours on end, the more you risk frustration and burnout. It's okay to take a breather and get some daylight!
4. Rotate your tasks
I know that when you have a mountain of work in front of you, it's hard to know where to dig in first. Sometimes you hit a brick wall, or you find yourself unhappy with what you are doing and want to try other avenues. I guess the silver lining of Thesis Easter is the options it gives you to switch tasks. Getting bogged down with your intro? Take a break and move on to your methodology. Rotate tasks as much as you need to; as long as you are digging in somewhere, it all counts.
5. Positive thinking
Last minute workers, 2am stressors, we are all in the same boat. When you see classmates racing ahead, don't panic and use the work of others as a benchmark to your own success. Just focus on getting your work done in your own way. Chances are, even though your classmates look on top of things, they still might have struggled somewhere so please don't feel like you are alone. Talk to friends about common problems you are all having. Make jokes about it, so it seems less daunting. But above all, remember that you can do this!
You may even disagree with the above, but ultimately, as long as you actively care about finding what works best for you instead of just putting it to the back of the mind, that's the right track.
What are your survival tips?
Thursday, 14 February 2013
The Final Chapter
Last year, I told myself that this year would be different. That this year I’d be one of those people, staying on top of it all and laughing at the past me, who traded in sensibility for last-minute studying frenzies, tears, and tea on tap. For me, the motivation that “the fear” gives you to hammer out an assignment increases as the time between you and D-Day shrinks. It’s practically mathematical.
We’ve known all along that the dreaded Final Year was creeping nearer and nearer. 2012 rolled in, the trumpets cried, and we had our warning to get our acts together. I’ve tried to be the Queen of Organisation this year, timetable in one hand and beefy textbook in the other, but I can’t say I’ve changed my old, scattered ways. Consider this my notice of failure. The leopard could not change her spots.
Final year is special in the sense that we finally get to choose our own modules. It makes revision and studying so much more interesting when it’s the subjects that you care about the most! But that doesn’t mean it’s any easier - when you are juggling your modules and electives with work, commuting, home and health, it can be a lot to carry. As for the dissertation? It is most definitely going to be an Easter job. Though I do find it comforting that we are all in the same boat, and that I’m not alone in my last-minute tendencies (even if it means that getting a quiet table in the library will be nearly impossible!)
You'll be glad to know that I’m not just here to tell you about my own incompetence. Rather, I’m here because, fellow students, this is something we all have to go through. We’re all in this together, and in answer to your wishes, I’m here to be the angel and the devil on your shoulder. Here are some things, naughty and nice, which might help you to get through the dreaded dissertation season; not all of them will work for everyone, but it’s all about trial and error, seeing what helps and works for you. Good luck!
Here I’ll be shamelessly plugging some of the university services which I’ve found useful in the past. Most recently I’ve been reading through The Final Chapter; this is a comprehensive tutorial from the library containing advice for successfully tackling the undergraduate research process. In addition to this, the university runs free skills workshops, containing everything you need to equip you with some extra academic strength, ranging from writing and computer classes to practicing presentation skills.
And finally, there is the student counselling centre. Don’t be put off if you feel it might not be your thing – aside from counselling and drop-ins, they cater for all students, running Wednesday Workshops which help people to cope with stress and anxiety, among other things. Both of their in-person workshops and online resources have helped me a great deal when trying to understand and better manage stress and anxiety, and I can’t recommend them enough. There’s no shame in feeling like you need help; it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by everything and wonder how you are going to cope with it all. They provide wonderful, impartial services for those who need it.
In true devilish fashion, I couldn’t tell you how to get through these next few weeks, without including some of the best ways to procrastinate and slack off! We all need a break sometimes, and the internet is here to give it to you. You’ll notice that this section is slightly longer. That’s because being naughty is much more fun.
A favourite procrastination method of mine is web comics. Some of the best are SMBC, The Oatmeal, Explosm, Hyperbole and a Half, and slice-of-life comic Questionable Content, which you should read from the very beginning. Or, there are always funny articles on 27bslash6, or The Daily Mash. If videos are more your thing, Youtube channels such as Illwillpress (if you like funny rants), College Humor, SMBC theatre, How It Should Have Ended, and Comediva are winners for me. I've also recently discovered a fun online tool called Pulp-o-mizer, and lost an entire afternoon as a result. The nerd in me is loving this!
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That's to name a few, anyway. What are your favourite coping/procrastination tools? Let me know in the comments!
We’ve known all along that the dreaded Final Year was creeping nearer and nearer. 2012 rolled in, the trumpets cried, and we had our warning to get our acts together. I’ve tried to be the Queen of Organisation this year, timetable in one hand and beefy textbook in the other, but I can’t say I’ve changed my old, scattered ways. Consider this my notice of failure. The leopard could not change her spots.
'just one more nap...'
Final year is special in the sense that we finally get to choose our own modules. It makes revision and studying so much more interesting when it’s the subjects that you care about the most! But that doesn’t mean it’s any easier - when you are juggling your modules and electives with work, commuting, home and health, it can be a lot to carry. As for the dissertation? It is most definitely going to be an Easter job. Though I do find it comforting that we are all in the same boat, and that I’m not alone in my last-minute tendencies (even if it means that getting a quiet table in the library will be nearly impossible!)
You'll be glad to know that I’m not just here to tell you about my own incompetence. Rather, I’m here because, fellow students, this is something we all have to go through. We’re all in this together, and in answer to your wishes, I’m here to be the angel and the devil on your shoulder. Here are some things, naughty and nice, which might help you to get through the dreaded dissertation season; not all of them will work for everyone, but it’s all about trial and error, seeing what helps and works for you. Good luck!
The Good
Here I’ll be shamelessly plugging some of the university services which I’ve found useful in the past. Most recently I’ve been reading through The Final Chapter; this is a comprehensive tutorial from the library containing advice for successfully tackling the undergraduate research process. In addition to this, the university runs free skills workshops, containing everything you need to equip you with some extra academic strength, ranging from writing and computer classes to practicing presentation skills. And finally, there is the student counselling centre. Don’t be put off if you feel it might not be your thing – aside from counselling and drop-ins, they cater for all students, running Wednesday Workshops which help people to cope with stress and anxiety, among other things. Both of their in-person workshops and online resources have helped me a great deal when trying to understand and better manage stress and anxiety, and I can’t recommend them enough. There’s no shame in feeling like you need help; it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by everything and wonder how you are going to cope with it all. They provide wonderful, impartial services for those who need it.
The Not-So Good
In true devilish fashion, I couldn’t tell you how to get through these next few weeks, without including some of the best ways to procrastinate and slack off! We all need a break sometimes, and the internet is here to give it to you. You’ll notice that this section is slightly longer. That’s because being naughty is much more fun.A favourite procrastination method of mine is web comics. Some of the best are SMBC, The Oatmeal, Explosm, Hyperbole and a Half, and slice-of-life comic Questionable Content, which you should read from the very beginning. Or, there are always funny articles on 27bslash6, or The Daily Mash. If videos are more your thing, Youtube channels such as Illwillpress (if you like funny rants), College Humor, SMBC theatre, How It Should Have Ended, and Comediva are winners for me. I've also recently discovered a fun online tool called Pulp-o-mizer, and lost an entire afternoon as a result. The nerd in me is loving this!
.jpg)
That's to name a few, anyway. What are your favourite coping/procrastination tools? Let me know in the comments!
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Politicising Digital Media
Some days ago, my attention was drawn to the below video; a fascinating example of how an online social media campaign, with an unusual and original twist, changed the tides of a local vote.
I find it fascinating how the effects of digital media can force powerful shifts into the political world; from the local, such as the above, to the global, as with the Arab spring. There's no denying that social networking, after surviving several attempts at censorship, played a fundamental role in coordinating the protests and the eventual overthrowing of a dictator. In the words of one Egyptian activist, reported here at the time of the revolution;
"We use Facebook to schedule the protests, Twitter to coordinate, and YouTube to tell the world"
Not even half a century ago, such innovations were inconceivable and unimaginable to many. The technological era has brought fresh insights into the realities of dictatorships, wars and oppression, and has been appropriated worldwide as a useful tool to push the boundaries of regional societies outwards into a larger, global network. I think it's very exciting to be a part of an era where this has been made possible, and to be able to witness the world change as a result of it.
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
A Proposition: Open Letter to UoL IT Services
First of all; happy new year! The drinks were consumed, and the food demolished. Sadly, exam season has rolled around; I'm going to be spending the next nine days fiercely revising, so blogging will be taking a back seat until mid-January or so. Until then, I just wanted to check in with a few comments and suggestions on something I was thinking about yesterday.
As someone who enjoys social networking (and actually depends on it for several things) I'm an avid tweeter; I get a lot out of following sources of personal interest, and enjoy the insights gained into the lives of people from all over the world. Recently, I began following Sweden. Yes, the country - their official account! Volunteering Swedes have put themselves forward for a chance to be selected to tweet on the country's official Twitter account for a week. So far we've seen an impressive range of people running the account, giving insights into their hobbies, interests, and Swedish culture/politics. So far, the account has racked up over 67,000 followers!
In short, I think it's a great idea, and I've been wondering if this idea is something we could actually implement in our own university. Thus, this is an open letter to the IT services at Leeds, just to share some thoughts I had on why it might be beneficial for us to follow suit and perhaps create a representative, student-led, randomized-user account for the UoL.
I think it would be a really rewarding project for the university to take on, and if necessary, I'd be happy to assist in the operation/moderation for the remainder of my time here. To those at the IT services, if you feel I've put forward a convincing argument, I'd be more than happy to chat about this with you in person!
And I know I could have just emailed; the reason I went for an open letter is because I'd love to hear from the readers, too! Readers; what do you think about the idea? Is it something that you'd be interested in a) participating and b) following? How might such a system be improved? Comments welcome!
As someone who enjoys social networking (and actually depends on it for several things) I'm an avid tweeter; I get a lot out of following sources of personal interest, and enjoy the insights gained into the lives of people from all over the world. Recently, I began following Sweden. Yes, the country - their official account! Volunteering Swedes have put themselves forward for a chance to be selected to tweet on the country's official Twitter account for a week. So far we've seen an impressive range of people running the account, giving insights into their hobbies, interests, and Swedish culture/politics. So far, the account has racked up over 67,000 followers!
In short, I think it's a great idea, and I've been wondering if this idea is something we could actually implement in our own university. Thus, this is an open letter to the IT services at Leeds, just to share some thoughts I had on why it might be beneficial for us to follow suit and perhaps create a representative, student-led, randomized-user account for the UoL.
- Firstly, the university is home to over 33,000 students, from at least 142 countries. it's a campus which supports and celebrates diversity, including 100+ student societies, encompassing a wide range of cultures, interests and sports. Thus, I think it would be wonderful to be able to follow an active, dynamic reflection of our student population, as it would capture the variety and the spirit that make Leeds special. International students would also be encouraged to take part, as it would be interesting to see unique and fresh outlooks on the Leeds culture.
- Secondly, to my knowledge, no other UK university has tried anything similar (correct me if I am wrong). Hence, Leeds could display originality and lead by example with yet another demonstration of how modern universities are embracing social networking methods to put our university on the map, and also by encouraging community interest (in both volunteering and following the account) and endorsing the creation of online dialogues between students, including in those who may not yet be interested in online networking (yep, there are still a few out there!). (Also, I know I'm biased, but I think it's wonderful that something similar has already been done with the student blogs; I'm having so much fun reading everyone's entries, and it has made me look towards the above idea with a lot of optimism!)
- Lastly, such a project might be appealing to prospective students, who are interested in getting a taste of what the Leeds community is like. It's not always possible to reach all of the open days and know entirely what you are getting into, before you sign up to study at a given place; a representative social networking account could benefit prospective students by allowing them to a) witness first hand the interesting mix of people which makes Leeds such a stimulating environment, and b) use the network to quiz the users on their Leeds experience, thus gaining honest, peer-to-peer information and advice from current students.
I think it would be a really rewarding project for the university to take on, and if necessary, I'd be happy to assist in the operation/moderation for the remainder of my time here. To those at the IT services, if you feel I've put forward a convincing argument, I'd be more than happy to chat about this with you in person!
And I know I could have just emailed; the reason I went for an open letter is because I'd love to hear from the readers, too! Readers; what do you think about the idea? Is it something that you'd be interested in a) participating and b) following? How might such a system be improved? Comments welcome!
Saturday, 22 December 2012
The Internet Gets Festive
It’s that time of year, fellow students!
Many of you have handed in your textbooks, turned your back on the late nights and early mornings, and migrated home for the winter; all ready to raid the fridge and bask in the soft, comfortable glow of the holidays.
For those of you who are waiting on Santa’s sleigh this year, and who are suffering the slow burn of impatience as the 25th draws closer, I have some suggestions which might relieve your anguish and bring you a little joy. Here are some free, festive ways that you can use the internet to place yourself at the heart of one of the most well-loved children’s stories of the holidays.
A Message From Santa
Have young children in the family? Want to dial up the anticipation to maximum levels? Check out Portable North Pole; a free service which allows you to create a personalised video message from Santa to the children, to really solidify some extra excitement. (Or maybe you just want to make one for yourself. I won’t tell anyone. You’re among friends here, I promise).
“He's Making a List, He’s Checking it Twice”
Yup, he is indeed coming to town. And thanks to Google, and the scary-sounding North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), who have each coined their own live-action Santa tracker, you’ll be able to track his progress on Christmas Eve, in real time!
Why, you ask?
Maybe, like me, you’re from somewhere like Manchester, where clear skies are as common as Darth Bagpipes on a unicycle; craning out of the window to catch a glimpse of Rudolf will get you nowhere, and only hurt your neck. Or maybe you are agonising over whether you have been naughty or nice this year. (Volunteering with RAG and holding your flatmate’s hair back after they had a few too many, versus chatting in the library and internet piracy .... it’s a tough one). Either way, if you want to stalk the big man to see whether he deems you gift-worthy, or bypasses your house altogether, Santa Tracker is for you!
Elf Yourself!
Elf Yourself is my particular favourite. Ever wondered what you would look like in a troupe of dancing Christmas elves? Wonder no longer! Elf yourself is an online application where you can create an e-card of yourself and others as dancing elves; it’s super easy to navigate, you can alternate between different music, and it’s guaranteed to prompt a few laughs.
So next time you are sighing, and counting down the final minutes until you hear those jingle bells, just fire up the computer and pass the time with a few of the internet's spirited, Christmassy antics. But remember: if you creep downstairs too early this year, you are going on my naughty list.
If you know of any more ways that the internet is enhancing people's festivities, let me know in the comments! Happy holidays, everyone!
Many of you have handed in your textbooks, turned your back on the late nights and early mornings, and migrated home for the winter; all ready to raid the fridge and bask in the soft, comfortable glow of the holidays.
For those of you who are waiting on Santa’s sleigh this year, and who are suffering the slow burn of impatience as the 25th draws closer, I have some suggestions which might relieve your anguish and bring you a little joy. Here are some free, festive ways that you can use the internet to place yourself at the heart of one of the most well-loved children’s stories of the holidays.
A Message From Santa
Have young children in the family? Want to dial up the anticipation to maximum levels? Check out Portable North Pole; a free service which allows you to create a personalised video message from Santa to the children, to really solidify some extra excitement. (Or maybe you just want to make one for yourself. I won’t tell anyone. You’re among friends here, I promise).
“He's Making a List, He’s Checking it Twice”
Yup, he is indeed coming to town. And thanks to Google, and the scary-sounding North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), who have each coined their own live-action Santa tracker, you’ll be able to track his progress on Christmas Eve, in real time!
Why, you ask?
Maybe, like me, you’re from somewhere like Manchester, where clear skies are as common as Darth Bagpipes on a unicycle; craning out of the window to catch a glimpse of Rudolf will get you nowhere, and only hurt your neck. Or maybe you are agonising over whether you have been naughty or nice this year. (Volunteering with RAG and holding your flatmate’s hair back after they had a few too many, versus chatting in the library and internet piracy .... it’s a tough one). Either way, if you want to stalk the big man to see whether he deems you gift-worthy, or bypasses your house altogether, Santa Tracker is for you!
Elf Yourself!
Elf Yourself is my particular favourite. Ever wondered what you would look like in a troupe of dancing Christmas elves? Wonder no longer! Elf yourself is an online application where you can create an e-card of yourself and others as dancing elves; it’s super easy to navigate, you can alternate between different music, and it’s guaranteed to prompt a few laughs.
So next time you are sighing, and counting down the final minutes until you hear those jingle bells, just fire up the computer and pass the time with a few of the internet's spirited, Christmassy antics. But remember: if you creep downstairs too early this year, you are going on my naughty list.
If you know of any more ways that the internet is enhancing people's festivities, let me know in the comments! Happy holidays, everyone!
Sunday, 16 December 2012
On E-ducation
These past few weeks, I've been aspiring to write about a service which has been helping me for many months now; the growing accessibility of online education. Excuse the shoddy pun in the post title (e-xcuse? Okay I'm done, I promise).
I'm someone who enjoys learning new things, and as an introvert who incidentally spends a lot of time on the computer, I've found a great way to do so that suits me perfectly.
I want to talk about the website Coursera.
Coursera is an umbrella website which offers free online courses from top universities worldwide; the execution differs from course to course, but they usually consist of a series of weekly lectures, assignments, informal exams, user forums, and vary in their workload/intensity. Some courses even utilize social networking tools such as Facebook to provide a space for students from all over the world to chat, help each other, and engage in peer review. The courses are mainly science, computing and technology based, but there is a huge range to choose from; even non-science topics like world history, economics and philosophy are available, and there are options across the board for both complete beginners and those at more advanced levels. What’s more, if you don’t have the time to engage fully in the course, you can sign up anyway and download the material for when you might need it in future.
It has always somewhat dejected me that taking an extra elective isn't really the done thing for psychology students at Leeds; on our course, it isn't an opportunity that is publicised in the department, compared to some other courses*.If this is also the case for you, it really pays to seek out alternative sources of education; I've been using Coursera to supplement my university studies for some time now, and I can’t sing its praises enough.
What I love about Coursera is that it encourages a climate of education just for fun, or for personal development; it’s free, you can do it anywhere, and it requires little more than a computer, internet access and a comfy chair (as usual, chocolate is recommended, but optional). What’s more, users gain key skills in being able to demonstrate time management, the ability to work independently, and taking on extra challenges; thus, showing these skills through Coursera certification, even though it doesn't count as course credits in your institution, might even be beneficial in future employment (after all, distance learners have high employability prospects).
However, not everyone feels the same way as I. Some weeks ago, on my personal Twitter account, I noticed some academics criticising Coursera for devaluing and depersonalising the teaching and university experience. I take issue with this stance for several reasons; mostly because of the idealistic concept of the teaching and university experiences.
First of all, these experiences do not have a set, standardised quality where everyone who partakes in higher education receives the same tutoring, tailored to their own needs. University can be a wonderful place, but for those of us in classes of 200, even 300 people, the ‘personalised’ experience differs little from the experience of taking an online class with thousands of others. What’s more, lecturers are only human; they are busy, and the scientists in particular have their own research going on. Far too often, your requests for help/emails will go unanswered, and sometimes, that teacher-student experience, which supposedly sets university education apart from online education, just isn't there. It sounds pessimistic, but it happens. Furthermore, more and more lecturers are digitalising their notes and classes, by using voice or video recording. Human memory doesn't work like a video camera, nor can the hand write as fast as the mouth speaks, so this is something that I applaud. My point is that the classroom setting has been integrating with technology for years now, so it seems superfluous to snuff Coursera for its methods, as it is simply a different extension of the technology-education relationship.
Second of all, I resent the implication that there is one ‘best’ way to be educated, or to have the university experience. The sad truth is that the rich world of the ‘university experience’, of department participation, tutoring, halls, parties, societies, moving away and community involvement isn't always feasible, and it’s important to recognise this in order to best accommodate the needs of different individuals (something that Leeds University also thankfully endeavour to do). Education is expensive, and there are still high rates of illiteracy worldwide; that is why I feel it is overly simplistic to criticise a free educational service for its lack of ‘university experience’ if said service can play a powerful role is addressing a much-neglected gap in education accessibility, for those people who can’t physically access the classroom/extra-curricular benefits in the first place.
Nothing in this post is written with the intent to criticise the university process, or to imply that its methods are obsolete, and I hope that lecturers don’t see these online options as too much of a threat. Rather, I think services such as Coursera don’t have to replace university, but can supplement it in many ways. And thankfully, our very own Leeds University seem to agree!
I'll admit that I'm looking at these services with rose-tinted glasses; I'm an optimist when it comes to accessible education, but Coursera is not without its imperfections (being hugely biased to the English-speaking and internet-possessing world, for instance). But so many people still slam on technology culture for perpetuating soulless consumerism and poisoning children’s minds (for the purpose of this post, those arguments are neither here nor there) so it’s wonderful to see how innovations such as the internet are affecting peoples’ lives for the better. Despite the criticisms, I personally find it amazing and fascinating that, in the world we live in, technology plays a leading part in bringing better access and international relations right to people’s doorsteps. We are living in the peak era of the technological age; I'm excited to see how it will bridge further gaps, in education or otherwise, and I encourage other students to embrace the opportunity.
P.S. see also Code Academy!
*RE: electives. If your school doesn’t offer a free choice of extra electives, and you cannot enrol in any more modules online, it’s worth just emailing the elective provider and your parent school to see if you can take one up anyway. Not many people know this is an option, but that’s how I got onto mine; if it is okay’ed from both sides, you’ll be added onto the course manually. There are so many to choose from, and it can be a wonderful, enriching process to take on challenges from a completely different department; just make sure it won’t interfere with your current workload, and make the case that you can handle it and manage your time efficiently.
I'm someone who enjoys learning new things, and as an introvert who incidentally spends a lot of time on the computer, I've found a great way to do so that suits me perfectly.
I want to talk about the website Coursera.
Coursera is an umbrella website which offers free online courses from top universities worldwide; the execution differs from course to course, but they usually consist of a series of weekly lectures, assignments, informal exams, user forums, and vary in their workload/intensity. Some courses even utilize social networking tools such as Facebook to provide a space for students from all over the world to chat, help each other, and engage in peer review. The courses are mainly science, computing and technology based, but there is a huge range to choose from; even non-science topics like world history, economics and philosophy are available, and there are options across the board for both complete beginners and those at more advanced levels. What’s more, if you don’t have the time to engage fully in the course, you can sign up anyway and download the material for when you might need it in future.
It has always somewhat dejected me that taking an extra elective isn't really the done thing for psychology students at Leeds; on our course, it isn't an opportunity that is publicised in the department, compared to some other courses*.If this is also the case for you, it really pays to seek out alternative sources of education; I've been using Coursera to supplement my university studies for some time now, and I can’t sing its praises enough.
What I love about Coursera is that it encourages a climate of education just for fun, or for personal development; it’s free, you can do it anywhere, and it requires little more than a computer, internet access and a comfy chair (as usual, chocolate is recommended, but optional). What’s more, users gain key skills in being able to demonstrate time management, the ability to work independently, and taking on extra challenges; thus, showing these skills through Coursera certification, even though it doesn't count as course credits in your institution, might even be beneficial in future employment (after all, distance learners have high employability prospects).
However, not everyone feels the same way as I. Some weeks ago, on my personal Twitter account, I noticed some academics criticising Coursera for devaluing and depersonalising the teaching and university experience. I take issue with this stance for several reasons; mostly because of the idealistic concept of the teaching and university experiences.
First of all, these experiences do not have a set, standardised quality where everyone who partakes in higher education receives the same tutoring, tailored to their own needs. University can be a wonderful place, but for those of us in classes of 200, even 300 people, the ‘personalised’ experience differs little from the experience of taking an online class with thousands of others. What’s more, lecturers are only human; they are busy, and the scientists in particular have their own research going on. Far too often, your requests for help/emails will go unanswered, and sometimes, that teacher-student experience, which supposedly sets university education apart from online education, just isn't there. It sounds pessimistic, but it happens. Furthermore, more and more lecturers are digitalising their notes and classes, by using voice or video recording. Human memory doesn't work like a video camera, nor can the hand write as fast as the mouth speaks, so this is something that I applaud. My point is that the classroom setting has been integrating with technology for years now, so it seems superfluous to snuff Coursera for its methods, as it is simply a different extension of the technology-education relationship.
Second of all, I resent the implication that there is one ‘best’ way to be educated, or to have the university experience. The sad truth is that the rich world of the ‘university experience’, of department participation, tutoring, halls, parties, societies, moving away and community involvement isn't always feasible, and it’s important to recognise this in order to best accommodate the needs of different individuals (something that Leeds University also thankfully endeavour to do). Education is expensive, and there are still high rates of illiteracy worldwide; that is why I feel it is overly simplistic to criticise a free educational service for its lack of ‘university experience’ if said service can play a powerful role is addressing a much-neglected gap in education accessibility, for those people who can’t physically access the classroom/extra-curricular benefits in the first place.
Nothing in this post is written with the intent to criticise the university process, or to imply that its methods are obsolete, and I hope that lecturers don’t see these online options as too much of a threat. Rather, I think services such as Coursera don’t have to replace university, but can supplement it in many ways. And thankfully, our very own Leeds University seem to agree!
Eleven top UK universities are joining the Open University to launch free internet courses, in a bid to catch up with the elite US institutions that have led the way online.
...
Leeds University say the partnership will also benefit students studying on campus: "And our current students will have access to a rich, interactive set of resources, from both Leeds and our partners. In line with the Leeds Curriculum, this will help give them a deeper and fuller understanding of their field of study as well as encouraging them to broaden their education beyond their main subject areas."Woo Leeds!
I'll admit that I'm looking at these services with rose-tinted glasses; I'm an optimist when it comes to accessible education, but Coursera is not without its imperfections (being hugely biased to the English-speaking and internet-possessing world, for instance). But so many people still slam on technology culture for perpetuating soulless consumerism and poisoning children’s minds (for the purpose of this post, those arguments are neither here nor there) so it’s wonderful to see how innovations such as the internet are affecting peoples’ lives for the better. Despite the criticisms, I personally find it amazing and fascinating that, in the world we live in, technology plays a leading part in bringing better access and international relations right to people’s doorsteps. We are living in the peak era of the technological age; I'm excited to see how it will bridge further gaps, in education or otherwise, and I encourage other students to embrace the opportunity.
P.S. see also Code Academy!
*RE: electives. If your school doesn’t offer a free choice of extra electives, and you cannot enrol in any more modules online, it’s worth just emailing the elective provider and your parent school to see if you can take one up anyway. Not many people know this is an option, but that’s how I got onto mine; if it is okay’ed from both sides, you’ll be added onto the course manually. There are so many to choose from, and it can be a wonderful, enriching process to take on challenges from a completely different department; just make sure it won’t interfere with your current workload, and make the case that you can handle it and manage your time efficiently.
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