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Thursday 26 September 2013

The Evolution of Ideas

Its interesting to discover how one changes as a learner during the process of learning, and that learning, thinking, considering and reconsidering happens all the time.

This process has given me a great deal of food for thought, but I'm coming to realise that its also something I've been considering for many years in former incarnations, quite different from the student life I now lead, but which have all been leading me to this point.

So, I seem to have spent a number of years of my adult life, thinking and learning - about thinking and learning.

During 21 years of parenthood, and 13 years of preschool-leading, I've been fascinated in the process of learning, of how people develop, of ways to encourage learning and the ways in which learning can be inhibited. Learning has always struck me as being a 'natural' process, but one which can easily be derailed. I have applied these ideas to the process of  student mentoring over the past two years, and I'm looking forward to helping the first year students in the London module from next week.

Learning is very exciting; witnessing this process in others, even more so. Watching the process of developing maturity as learning takes place is a privileged viewpoint. 

Time is one of the greatest resources in the process, but it's this aspect which is overlooked. Learning, in the school environment at least, has become a rushed activity, and one which is constantly assessed to see if it's happening. When young students come into academia, this is an area which needs to be addressed.

They are so used to 'finding the answer' that they take time to settle into the notion that their own development depends not on finding the answer, but exploring the questions. 

Perhaps this is where mature students benefit, as they are perhaps more likely to have recognized themselves as the products of a lifetime of development - not 'finished' in the manner of the school leaver, but a work in progress, unfinished, in need of honing.

As a society I believe we place far too much emphasis on the teaching to order, and fail to recognise the value of real learning. As long as schools, tests and results are the emphasis, then the learning we do by exposure to life as a whole will always be undervalued, and this to the detriment of society as a whole.

The whole 'no holidays in term time' issue spins on the axis of learning versus teaching, but it's probably best not to get me started on that particular bit of insidiousness...

Wednesday 18 September 2013

On Conferences

I've just attended another conference, this time hosted by the Centre for History and Culture at my own university. Organised by Professor. Elaine Chalus and Dr Roberta Anderson, the event was rooted in the 18th century, under the title 'Georgian Pleasures'.

During the two days, the postgraduate group, along with several enthusiastic undergrads, began to run with Bobby and Elaine's idea of hosting their own conference, in June 2014.

Attendance at previous conferences has given me a flavour of what is involved, what is required, and ideas for successful future events. 

Our topic is the 300th anniversary of the accession of George I, and the changes which happened in the transition from the Stuarts to the Hanoverians. This will give a wide canvas to explore, from social to political, cultural to military history. 

Having jotted down a list of tasks, thoughts and initial plans, the next step will be to gather the group and decide what to do next. It's an exciting prospect. The group is composed of a range of people, with a range of skills, and between us we should be able to organise a terrific event.

Watch this space.

Tuesday 3 September 2013

The trouble with holidays...

  1. Break from study, pros and cons
  2. Reading for pleasure versus reading for research. Is there a difference?
  3. Hitting the ground running once again
Well this was a list of notes I'd prepared for another post, probably some time in July. Shall I try and remember what I was going to say?

There's always a problem with holidays. On the one hand, they are much needed, to refresh and recreate, sooth the senses and recoup energy levels.

On the other, the brain calms down and its hard to rev it up again.

So, do you take reading with you? Or rest the brain properly and give yourself space to really think?

During two separate weeks away, I opted for the latter. But this means I've allowed some thoughts to get through, sparked a few new ones, and prepared mentally for the next stage.

And the answer to question 2 is.....? To be decided. 

September Air

The sun is still shining but a sniff of autumn lies in the morning air. September is here and the summer holidays have slipped away.

Work in the archive has continued throughout the summer months, but the new term still has that feeling of 'real work about to begin'.

So today I've picked up two books via the lovely Becky and the Inter-Library Loan system, and work will progress in earnest.

The summer has given me the chance to think around my subject, and to plan ahead. I've synthesized one aspect of my research into a poster presentation for the upcoming 'Georgian Pleasures' conference, which has given me a chance to look at ways of presenting the information, ways of thinking issues through, and ways of meeting a different challenge. This has included learning a programme I had not used before (Microsoft Publisher) and two very useful meetings with fellow PhD students.

My son leaves for University in less than two weeks, and although this will mean changes in my family life, I'm looking forward to focusing more of my effort on study and work.