Robbersdog

Yeah, I know what you mean about menageries and people. Animals are easier to deal with sometimes and a big plus is that mucking out is a lot easier. One of the things I used to really get annoyed with as a tech was clearing up after people who should have been able to deal with their own digitial mess Hmm, enough on that for the mo. I'm not promising anything, but I'll see if I can persuade some of the techies in UV to either join this forum or give some contact details so you can find out more. I do come across a little evangelical sometimes, especially concerning things I am passionate about. Also, I usually realise this and the importance of getting other views - warts and all. A lot of people will not be online now - 2 months break from studying (another REALLY big plus over the OU) - but I'll try. Woof!

Hi Witch, Speaking solely from my own experience, studying for the degree (I still have a year and a half to go) has opened up all sorts of opportunities. I initially embarked on it because it seemed like a good way of learning to think more and also to apply that thinking to my work. Since then it has moved on in leaps and bounds. I am starting to look at my world (and my life) in a very different way and realise just how much more there is to it. At the very least, on completing you would be a far more critical and reflective thinker with a whole new range of intellectual skills and knowledge that you could apply to a wide range of situations. What you do with these would be up to you. Like so many of my fellow researchers (students) you might find it is a voyage of discovery - you don't know fully how it will affect your career/circumstances until you set out on it. From their comments it is clear that it has so far had a very positive impact for many of them. Robbersdog

Hi UV, Many thanks for picking up this bone. Nice bit of text there - got any fingers left? There was me thinking I could type the hind leg of a donkey. Main thing is that you have said it a lot better than I would have. Robbersdog

How would people feel if I ask one of the Ultraversity staff to get a login and field some questions in here? Just a thought that might save me tripping up and giving you duff info. Anyway, let me know and if the demand is there I'll get on to them. Cheers Robbersdog

LOL - It's amazing what people will do for a bit more profile. As you say - don't ask (or offer) don't get.

Sorry, Witch - I didn't mean to give it that impression. I've probably written too much too quickly and become a bit incoherent. UV will tell it as is should be told. It is for anyone and is by no means exclusive. Some people studying are mothers, child minders, librarians, or even half-wits like me... (I'll maybe tell you more one day, if you're bored enough) ... all sorts. You really would be surprised. Yes, there are even part-time techs! Just look on it as oil for your brain, if you like Crikey, you can literally be doing anything in your practice. There is no such thing as 'too easy' - it's that you engage the old headpiece that matters. You are not out to change the world. You can do that later, if you want. I have no doubt you could do the course. It's only a question of whether you want to or not - simple as that. From what you and others have said, you sound ready for a challenge. Robbersdog

I suppose my focus was that I'd hit a crossroads and needed to make a decision. I was tech but my new job was more management - not of people but of ... ideas I suppose. I had to look at e-learning and develop the department's knowledge an some sort of capability. My OU studies became less relevant and the 'Learning, Technology, Research' emphasis of UV became very relevant. I would also be participating in the sort of learning environment that the department might one day want to provide. UV is also very much about the 'real world' and how we operate in it. I found this view very useful in my new role - especially when dealing with people and putting across concepts etc. Oh yeah, and I'm getting to that certain 'ripe old age' where I want a change Robbersdog

Your other half is right, Mark, but I'll always opt for a bottle in front of me over a frontal lobotomy Robbersdog

Good point, Russ, you do need to be smart about how you present it. My line manager looked at me very oddly when I first proposed that he cough up for my training. However, we talked and ... talked some more. (A lot more.) He was concerned about me discussing the workplace etc but I asked him to be my workplace advocate. This meant that he got to see and understand what I was doing. This worked to my advantage because he saw I was not trying to undermine/destabilise etc and he really saw the benefits for him and the workplace. Good result - as advocate he was able to remove obstacles and open doors. It worked well - but does take a little bit of, shall we say, preparation. Robbersdog

Hi All, It's not a managerial course - but if you are a manager then you use that role as the focus of your practice while learning within UV. The degree is not hardcore IT either but if IT is your field of practice then that is what you use. As part of my role (no longer a tech, though), I had to build (metaphorically and literally) an online learning community/community of practice whilst remaining within some quite severe constraints. I had the hands-on skills to assemble the scrounged parts of a knackered old Dell PowerEdge or two and breathe life into the resulting Frankenstein's monster of a server. I was left to learn, install and configure the software (FirstClass), design the communities, sort out the security issues of connecting to a UK wide network, document the whole shebang, train people to use it, extend it beyond the UK - glad nobody got to see what lay at the heart of this - it looked good on the other end though - and .... I think you get the picture. Eventually handed the result over to the techs after taking them through it all and arranging the necessary admins courses and so on for them. My point is, that what I was doing was undergoing a learning experience or series of learning experiences, as part of my practice. I was able to bring this practice into UV's unique programme - part of the key to achieving a recognised degree in 3 years while remaining in employment. Much quicker than the minimum of 6 years it was going to take with the OU (which I also found rewarding) and of more relevance to me than a pure techie degree (because my practice had shifted away from that sort of focus). A cakewalk it ain't. There is a lot of learning, directed by UV, to do and a lot of thinking in order to develop the skills expected of a graduate. It is one of those courses where you really do get more from it if you put more in. I need to point out that if you undertake professional training such as MCSE you will have the opportunity to present this as part of your individual learning. Again, you would need to talk to UV about how this works. MCSE and similar courses are not academic programmes, you can't claim HE credits for them - but you can reflect upon undertaking MCSE etc. as a learning experience and present it as part of your professional development and build it into your assessment portfolio. Here the key is in how you analyse and document the learning experience. Anyway, time for breakfast! Robbersdog

Hi Russ, Appreciate where you are coming from regarding the cost £1200 per annum is a lot but still represents very good value - I was very lucky, I know. I also realise that there is not much spare funding in schools even if they want to support staff. There are other options but again, you would be better off talking to UV about them. For example, they mention payment support which you could look into. This site has some useful info - I didn't qualify but you never know if you don't ask http://www.direct.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/ApplyingForFinanceNewStudents/ApplyingFinanceNewStudentsArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10034854&chk=MNVvXu Robbersdog

Hi Witch, I should have mentioned an example of a research project (based on my practice). I had identified - through processes taught during the year - an area for possible improvement. I had to research this in a proper academic style to show that there was or was not room for improvement. This involved forming a hypothesis, looking at the literature related to the problem, learning about the research methodology, interviews and questionnaires in the workplace, analysis and presentation of results and then a look at what it all meant. In my case I had noticed that a cause of misunderstanding and failure to carry out tasks, duties etc was possibly a result of poor communications about team tasks and access to information relevant to our work. I proposed that a website, a portal if you like, for the team with all sorts of info and tools could help improve matters. As a techie type person I could put together the hardware, software, and networking to do this. I carried out a survey (in the proper fashion) and lo and behold I was correct in my assumption ( I could have been wrong but the research, conducted properly, proved me right). A simple year one task perhaps but I learned an awful lot, applied skills acquired earlier in the year, and mad a difference to the way people communicated in the workplace. How well it worked I never got to find out because I was offered another position that was even more interesting than the last. Other people looked at how music could affect learning - a music teacher, or different administrative practice improve a situation in a busy scholl office etc. It depends on what your practice is as to how you apply your learning. Blooming clever, if you ask me - a very innovative scheme which is creating positive and tangible results for people. Robbersdog

Right you are then Witch, I'll try and put it across. I worked as an IT support tech for about 3 years in a training environment. The department became interested in e-learning and so did I. They started up a post for someone to develop the e-learning side - someone with a technical background but who could take on a wide range of tasks. I had just completed a level 3 course in relational database theory with the OU when I was given the job. I was drifting away from the pure technology into, well, unknown territory. When I hear about the UV programme I couldn't resist it. With the shift in emphasis I needed to focus my studies elsewhere because I wanted to continue degree studies. My concern was that they had to be relevant. UV allowed me to focus on my currnent practice, to understand the workplace, its structure, my role and how it all worked together. In the first year you develop traditional academic study and research skills in order to look at what you do and do it better. You are encouraged to submit your work - which has to display your progress in academic understanding at the necessary levels - in a variety of media. Oh yes, you have to produce thousands of words (no escaping that) in a disciplined, structured, academic tone - but you can use video, websites, all sorts of means to do this (the technology part of the degree, if you like). This aspect is one of the reasons I found the learning truly 'delightful' as UV say. You learn in a social group by sharing ideas, developing thoughts and examining each others work critically. With people from so many walks of life sharing their experiences and development it makes for a very interesting and colourful environment. Fascinating. My colleagues range from someone running a language school (and therefore focussing on issues related to that) in Spain, to teaching assistants, IT specialists, nurses and people in administrative and managerial positions. It is not what people do that is the interest - it is how you apply higher level thinking to whatever your practice might be. For example, you work in IT and another person is in the fire brigade. It makes no difference - you still apply the same research methodologies (which you are taught) to investigate and perhaps improve your work, workplace, processes etc. You learn, are empowered, and have an impact. What's more, you really begin to look at your own work and training. You see opportunities you never saw before and develop the confidence to seize them - if you want to, that is. As you can tell, I could rattle on about this for some time. I would strongly recommend that you contact UV staff (who are always willing to talk) to get a better idea. I hope this helps. Just say if you would like to know more about something specific ... anything about it really and I'll try and post a meaningful reply. Robbersdog

Hi Russ, Bossman, I've actually finally signed up instead of lurking in order to post a reply (how keen is that?). I'm halfway through the Ultraversity degree now and am very pleased with it. I was studying for a BSc (hons) with the OU in IT and Computing but it was very slow. UV even took some of my credits as prior learning which has allowed me to move on with things ... more about that another day. What I did manage to do was persuade my management team to finance my first year. This degree is very much workplace oriented and will not only provide you with a very good qualification at the end but help you work better, smarter and more effectively as you study. It is an amazing formula - and it works. It is still £2k cheaper than your average course. There are several Ed. It folk studying and sharing issues so you are never isolated. Why not get in touch with UVand have a chat, find out more: "ULTRALAB is a learning technology research centre at Anglia Ruskin University. http://www.ultralab.net - Using technology to make learning more delightful. Ultralab's radical three year online degree - stay in work and learn. BA Hons Learning Technology Research - http://www.ultraversity.net September start dates - places still available!" Best thing I have done in years. Post in here or email me if you want to know more. Sorry if I sound like a bit of an evangelist but trust me, I have done enough HE courses to know when I'm onto a good - and useful - thing. Right, rattled on enough- sorry about that.