So, (as I believe it is compulsory to say when beginning a computer science sentence),
I’m and undergrad now.
I’ve spent years just doing stuff, and finally decided I should get some form of qualification.
Actually I am qualified, but in Agriculture, I can tell you about nutrient lock up, base exchange capacity, the effect of lodging on crop yield, drive a combine harvester and milk a cow, but frankly these aren’t skills I’d had to use much in recent years.
So,
I’ve enrolled on a Computer Science degree (online)at University of Hertfordshire, which means I get to have a student perspective on the systems I’ve helped support in the ed tech world over the past few years.
I’m hoping this isn’t going to make me a bad student.
When I studied for my Teaching Quals (damn forgot I’m a qualified teacher too), I was part of a very cynical cabal of hard bitten hypercritical FE lecturers.
I’m hoping age has mellowed me.
Time will tell.
Anyway, I was intrigued by a phrase from the Programme handbook:
“Please bear in mind that when you register for a particular module, for example Databases, what you buy is the opportunity to participate in that particular offering of the module and its assessment.”
I’m pleased to see this, as I think the “opportunity to participate” is something that has been lacking from some of the guff I’ve been seeing around the commodification of Higher Education.
Sure potential students need lots of information about courses, which is why I’m delighted to be working on the #coursedata programme, but education is surely as much about what you bring to the party?
So,
I plan to bring an open mind, a willingness to join in, and probably some beer.
I do not plan to grow a chin beard: http://twitter.com/#!/KarlVanHoet
