Then the Head Teacher put a leaflet on my desk,
it was advertising the Ultraversity course, a totally online
degree, there was little hesitation, with the family consent
I applied. I was delighted to be accepted on the course, being
part of the first Cohort was exciting, though of course there
were some hiccups in the program and you were aware that the
team were learning at the same time.
The online community was its greatest strength,
firstly just to get to know your fellow researchers, and the
learning facilitators, but also in the final year especially,
as a platform for learning from each other.
You never felt that you were on your own, nobody could
use the excuse that they were working full time, and had a
family to care for, so many of us were in that situation.
The Learning Facilitators, were fantastic too, they were dedicated
to the task of supporting the researchers, and offered a huge
amount of encouragement.
Right from the start I decided that I would publish
my work on a website, thus sharing my work with other researchers,
we were always encouraged to be innovative and discover new
ways of expressing ourselves.
This also set a challenge for the facilitators, as
they learned to mark work that was not traditionally presented
in text form.
I have learned a huge amount from the course,
and as a workplace degree I was able to tailor my learning
for my needs at work, making every part of it relevant.
I have learned some excellent skills that will help
me with my dream of becoming a teacher, Action Research, Deep
Reflection and a deeper understanding of Learning Styles.
I also learned to play a musical instrument something
I find difficult so that I could understand what it was like
for teachers who find it difficult to use technology.
The course itself was very demanding, I became
engrossed in my work and addicted to the online community.
The final year was especially fraught with an Action
Research and Exhibition to prepare and deliver in just nine
months. I resorted
to working up until 2 a.m. knowing that it was only for a
short period in my life. Sure
enough the pain and suffering has soon been forgotten, with
the course completed and the grade of “First Class” achieved
it was all worthwhile.
I am now ‘hooked’ on further education, and have
taken the first steps towards a Masters Degree.
I am looking at the possibilities of becoming a Qualified
Teacher and am confident now that this is a goal that I could
reach.
There have been obvious benefits from taking
the course such as being employed as an unqualified teacher,
but I think the most enduring change is in my own confidence,
completing a degree course, while working full time and looking
after my children, is
quite an achievement after all!
Www.denisebinks.com,
www.exhibition.denisebinks.com
