The time has arrived. The time to begin my Masters studies with the University of Nottingham.
Week 1 has been mostly administrative, logging into Moodle, getting to know the tutors and students via various online tools, reading the programme handbook and selecting this semester’s modules. Both students and tutors alike are international, multi-lingual, with strong teaching backgrounds. Being based in China, I’m officially furthest afield from Nottingham, while other students are in Vietnam, Italy, UK and Canada. I hope to share my experience of the different attitudes to teaching and learning that exist in China, and hope, in turn to learn from my classmates’ contributions to the group.
Typically, at the very beginning, there were some technical issues; I am sure there is some irony there in being on a ‘digi-tech’ course, and yet my learning being restricted by ‘digi-tech’ itself. That said, I still created an account and used Popplet to make a mind map showing the different components of the course and module choices, as well as mind map of current and future online tools we will use. I contributed to an online “Getting to Know You” game, where each student and some of the tutors wrote two truths about themselves, plus one lie.
As someone quite new to technology, I am keen to critically analyse the pedagogical soundness of digital tools, and attain some proficiency in their use as language learning implements. It is clear from the webinars I attend that there is some inner desire to “know more” and this appetite will be fully extended on this Masters programme. Coming from a business & trading background, this MA will allow me to enhance my skills in my newly specialist area of language teaching, Digital Technology, as well as enhance my overall employability.
I have two main worries related to the module – despite having ample experience in attending online courses, completing and submitting homework, I do have a number of offline, personal projects that I dedicate time to, and I hope that I am able to find the right balance between all of my ‘priorities’. Other anxiety relates to the intellectual battle that is about to begin. I have not undergone any ‘high-stakes’ study or education for many years, and although I would like to say yes, I am ready, I’m not sure if I am!
Integrating my professional and private life should not be too much of a challenge. Since moving to Beijing, China in 2010, I have always worked part-time and studied part-time. Theoretically, I am simply replacing one set of studies (Masters) for another (online courses, MOOCs webinars, Chinese study – at local Chinese schools, at home with a private tutor, independent study at home, volunteer work etc.). I plan to commit up to 4 hours a day to my Masters studies, during which time I am keen to develop the skill of producing good quality work within strict deadlines.
