2009 So Far
This year has been amazing so far. I returned from Oak Hall in November, just as the credit crunch hit, really unsure where/whether I’d be able to get work, but returned to Winchester, as I knew I had a good reputation there, and was sure I could pick up a few bits! Friends put me up in their spare room whilst I applied for work, but after about 3 months, I had enough bits and pieces coming in to rent a room closer to the University of Winchester, where I was picking up most of my work, with every small project leading to another one… and at one point having to turn down work!
Summer
In May, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the summer, as teaching was coming to an end, but I picked up a couple of summer projects, went to France with Oak Hall, and in fact haven’t completed my own studies this summer, and teaching commences again next week! I then started conversations with a few others, and look what’s happening now…
2009-2010 Timetable
Semester 1 (Finishes 5th February)
I have quite a full timetable (all modules include preparation/marking):
- Monday 3-6: Introduction to Media Studies
- Tuesday 9-12: 20th Century British History
- Wednesday 10-11: Landmark (The Internet as a Landmark in History)
- Wednesday 1.30-5: STUDYING the PGCLTHE + associated 3 x 4,000 word projects
- Thursday: 7.5 hours “Blended Learning Research Fellowship“, including Learning Website
- 5 Final Year Project Students for Media Studies (Due 5th May 2010)
- Media Studies Website (for March 2010)
- History Website (for March 2010)
- SkillsNet Website (Content, Staff/Student Evaluation)
To also fit in:
- Monday Evening: Housegroup
- Tuesday afternoon: I’m not available from 12 noon on Tuesday afternoons, this is time I need!
- Super Fun Days Out Adrenablog; Twitter feed, Facebook Page, and Delicious.
- North Winchester Community Church website/Gathering website.
- Sunday: North Winchester Community Church/Christ Church (now just focusing on evenings!)
- Syzygy Website (for November/December 2009)
- Own websites: Digital Fingerprint; WW2Poster; Bex Lewis (and integrating old websites into new WordPress formats)
- FRIENDS, FAMILY, SOCIAL and GYM time!
Christmas
- Cooking at Lauterbrunnen for Christmas Week
- New Year, who knows yet…
- Complete VD poster article. Start to think about Book Proposal (Thesis to Book – note am not necessarily expecting to submit)
- Get ready for semester 2!
Semester 2 (Finishes 18th June)
I have an extremely full timetable:
- Monday 3-5: Introduction to Media Studies
- Wednesday 9-12: Dreams and Nightmares
- Thursday 9-11: Film History
- Thursday 11-3 (2 hours of): Creating and Consuming History
- Friday 9-12: Researching Media Studies
- 2 hours for 6 weeks: Reflecting
- History Independent Study Module, Dissertation/Second Marking
- Tuesday or Friday: 7.5 hours “Blended Learning Research Fellowship“
- 5 Final Year Project Students for Media Studies (Due 5th May 2010)
- Media Studies Website (for March 2010)
- History Website (for March 2010)
- SkillsNet Website (Content completion – for May 2010)
- Adding French content to ARCA website (awaiting translations).
- Been asked if I’ll teach 4 weeks on ‘History of Public Health’ and 6 weeks on ‘Design for Digital Media’ – hmmm
To also fit in:
- Monday Evening: Housegroup
- Tuesday or Friday afternoon: My time
- Super Fun Days Out Adrenablog; Twitter feed and Delicious.
- North Winchester Community Church website/Gathering website.
- Sunday: Christ Church
- Working on Digital Fingerprint as a business model, continuing WW2Poster; Bex Lewis.
- FRIENDS, FAMILY, SOCIAL and GYM time!
Easter
- A week away in Cornwall with my housegroup – woot!
Summer
The summer is yet some time away, and the Blended Learning is permanent, so I guess if I’m sensible with my money… Although waiting for the dates of Oak Hall in Israel, and may go there next September… I know it’s quite tiring, but invigorating in other ways.
So if you’re wondering why I go quiet for long periods of time, this may kind of explain it, as there’s usually approximately 3 hours of preparation for each hour of teaching… and then the marking, well, we try not to think about the marking (e.g. Intro to Media, around 40 students, 2 assignments, about 1/2 hour + per assignment)! Some weeks there’s tutorials, and some courses run alternate weeks rather than all term, so manageable – with a few late nights, I suspect!
