Hi,
Well technology has got the best of me this week.
I successfully downloaded the updates and software needed to run the new CP3 for the SOLAR project, but when I opened it, I no longer have access to the social sciences project!! I e-mailed Graeme for some assistance but, as yet, he's not been back in touch. I gather he's busy elsewhere so I'll just have to be patient. So I've written some more questions for the system in the old fachioned way again with paper and pen. I now have about 50 waiting to be put into the CP3 system. When the system is up and running again that should keep me out of mischief (well something has to) for hours and hours.
The other thing I thought I'd do this week was to check over a series of economics' lectures, which I put together using basic power point (folk can then'tart them up' as they wish), with a view to getting them onto the resources in the social sciences PP- but technology got me again! My computer isn't recognising its USB input. Aaarg.
Looking forward to College People's week. I hope lots of social scientists will attend and I also hope that I have access to the social sciences SOLAR project again well before then as that's what the focus of my session is:-D
Right, off to check my e-mails and CP3 again to see if I can get on with submitting these questions to the system.
cheers
Janet
Friday, 25 April 2008
Friday, 18 April 2008
Friday 18th April
Holiday is just about over (bah humbug). I thought that as I was at home I might add some more economics questions to the SOLAR project, but it turns out that the system has been getting upgraded and new downloads are needed. It is due to be upgraded again over the next few days which will necessitate more new downloads so I'll have to wait until then (especially as I'll possibly need some technical assistance). So, in the meantime, I'm just plugging away at wrting some questions in the old fashioned way with a pen and paper and then I'll transfer them onto the system next week.
The OU has been in touch and the programme for social sciences that we've been working on has been delayed until some official OU 'things' are sorted out, but these (once sorted) will only act to enhance the partnership.
Right, I'm off to write a few more questions and then to enjoy the last wee bit of my holiday.
The OU has been in touch and the programme for social sciences that we've been working on has been delayed until some official OU 'things' are sorted out, but these (once sorted) will only act to enhance the partnership.
Right, I'm off to write a few more questions and then to enjoy the last wee bit of my holiday.
Friday, 4 April 2008
Friday 4th April
Hi,
Finally sent off my article for Broadcast. I hope it's OK.
This week I've spent many, many (happy?) hours writing and putting economics questions into SOLAR. I want to try to build up the resource as much as possible before college people's week where I hope to do a session on it. The more I have to offer on the system the more likely practitioners are to use it.
Other than that I've been doing the usual contacts stuff though folk seem to have been winding down for the hols. Speaking of which - hooray- two weeks. I'm well looking forward to it. Hope all of you get lots of time off and are doing nice things.
Finally sent off my article for Broadcast. I hope it's OK.
This week I've spent many, many (happy?) hours writing and putting economics questions into SOLAR. I want to try to build up the resource as much as possible before college people's week where I hope to do a session on it. The more I have to offer on the system the more likely practitioners are to use it.
Other than that I've been doing the usual contacts stuff though folk seem to have been winding down for the hols. Speaking of which - hooray- two weeks. I'm well looking forward to it. Hope all of you get lots of time off and are doing nice things.
Friday, 28 March 2008
Friday 27th March
Hi,
Got the article for broadcast done. Just waiting for some confirmation regarding some factual information in it before sending it to Glen.
Followed up e-mails and contacts as usual and also corresponded with Graeme of SOLAR with a view to meeting to set up tests and get a bit more training. This is very welcome as I hope to demonstrate the system and give a wee hands-on workshop on the social sciences SOLAR resource at College People week. Another positive point is that Graeme has agreed that I can expand the project a bit, so I'll start working on some economics for it.
Hoping to get some more things on PP social sciences shortly and still plugging away preparing for the Summative assessment bank, which I've not given up on.
One more week then Easter hols. Looking forward to them. Was in Dublin for the Easter Weekend which was grand. Much guiness was consumed:-)
Off to formulate some economics questions for SOLAR.
cheers
Janet
Got the article for broadcast done. Just waiting for some confirmation regarding some factual information in it before sending it to Glen.
Followed up e-mails and contacts as usual and also corresponded with Graeme of SOLAR with a view to meeting to set up tests and get a bit more training. This is very welcome as I hope to demonstrate the system and give a wee hands-on workshop on the social sciences SOLAR resource at College People week. Another positive point is that Graeme has agreed that I can expand the project a bit, so I'll start working on some economics for it.
Hoping to get some more things on PP social sciences shortly and still plugging away preparing for the Summative assessment bank, which I've not given up on.
One more week then Easter hols. Looking forward to them. Was in Dublin for the Easter Weekend which was grand. Much guiness was consumed:-)
Off to formulate some economics questions for SOLAR.
cheers
Janet
Sunday, 16 March 2008
Sunday, 16th March
Hi,
This week I've still been trying to tie up the SOLAR project so that only the psychology is left to be done. I made better progress with this this week than I did last week, but it took time. It is important, especially as I'm writing an article on it for Broadcast.
On that note I started thinking about the article. 600 words isn't a lot, especially for wafflers like me ( I always go over wordcounts for essays and have to spend ages cutting them down to meet the requirements). I'm going to have a look at previous articles in Broadcast to get a 'flavour' of the sort of styles that tend to be included as I'm only used to writing academically, so this is a new challenge for me.
With respect to PP demonstrations, Anniesland seem quite keen so I'm hoping we can get a mutual time agreed for that. I'm keeping a correspondence going there. They are also interested in the HN Assessment bank and Nautical have also expressed more interest so I'm keen to chat with them.
I replied to various enquiries from practitioners that my post has generated and I tried to find out how the SQA was progressing with the idea of an HN Assessment Bank. It would appear fairly slowly but it is progressing and I appreciate that there are quite a lot of issues involved.
Finally, putting together information for Colin for Anne and John allowed me to reflect on what I had done and what I really still want to do. Sometimes, I get a bit frustrated at how long anything takes and the 'bittiness' of it, but ce la vie.
This week I've still been trying to tie up the SOLAR project so that only the psychology is left to be done. I made better progress with this this week than I did last week, but it took time. It is important, especially as I'm writing an article on it for Broadcast.
On that note I started thinking about the article. 600 words isn't a lot, especially for wafflers like me ( I always go over wordcounts for essays and have to spend ages cutting them down to meet the requirements). I'm going to have a look at previous articles in Broadcast to get a 'flavour' of the sort of styles that tend to be included as I'm only used to writing academically, so this is a new challenge for me.
With respect to PP demonstrations, Anniesland seem quite keen so I'm hoping we can get a mutual time agreed for that. I'm keeping a correspondence going there. They are also interested in the HN Assessment bank and Nautical have also expressed more interest so I'm keen to chat with them.
I replied to various enquiries from practitioners that my post has generated and I tried to find out how the SQA was progressing with the idea of an HN Assessment Bank. It would appear fairly slowly but it is progressing and I appreciate that there are quite a lot of issues involved.
Finally, putting together information for Colin for Anne and John allowed me to reflect on what I had done and what I really still want to do. Sometimes, I get a bit frustrated at how long anything takes and the 'bittiness' of it, but ce la vie.
Friday, 7 March 2008
thinking of Peggy
Hi,
I'm thinking of Peggy and hoping that her event is going well. This week I've been trying to follow up leads on good, kind folks who might contribute bits and pieces to the social sciences PP section. I'm also trying to keep people on board for the assessment bank and seeking some SMT approvals, though it is not moving altogether as fast as I'd hoped - ah lumbering bureaucracy.
I've been checking up on resources and hopefully not creating too much work for Murray. After chatting to Claire at last week's meeting at Telford, given that her meeting at Langside to show off PP went so well, I thought that I'd start touting for business along those lines too. So I've made a few suggestions of visits to various colleges - I'll see if there are any takers.
I've also been following up on matters arising from the QST (qualifications support team) meeting that I attended last Wednesday and I'm still trying to follow up on Uni contacts.
Jings: lots of following up.
I'm about to head out to a meeting to try to get most of the SOLAR project I've been working on completed. Soon it should just be the psychology element to be finished and those involved are due to have a meeting with Graeme Clarke of SOLAR to 'generate tests'. Sounds a bit scary but I don't think there will be any medical experimentation involved.
That's it for now I think.
I'm thinking of Peggy and hoping that her event is going well. This week I've been trying to follow up leads on good, kind folks who might contribute bits and pieces to the social sciences PP section. I'm also trying to keep people on board for the assessment bank and seeking some SMT approvals, though it is not moving altogether as fast as I'd hoped - ah lumbering bureaucracy.
I've been checking up on resources and hopefully not creating too much work for Murray. After chatting to Claire at last week's meeting at Telford, given that her meeting at Langside to show off PP went so well, I thought that I'd start touting for business along those lines too. So I've made a few suggestions of visits to various colleges - I'll see if there are any takers.
I've also been following up on matters arising from the QST (qualifications support team) meeting that I attended last Wednesday and I'm still trying to follow up on Uni contacts.
Jings: lots of following up.
I'm about to head out to a meeting to try to get most of the SOLAR project I've been working on completed. Soon it should just be the psychology element to be finished and those involved are due to have a meeting with Graeme Clarke of SOLAR to 'generate tests'. Sounds a bit scary but I don't think there will be any medical experimentation involved.
That's it for now I think.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Oops, I realise it's some time since I updated!! I was going to last week but the server was down and on that note, I've been trying to get the formative assessment project completed but both myself and my colleagues who are taking part in the project have experienced difficulties in accessing the package due to server problems. We're persevering and it's coming along.
I finally made some progress with the summative assessment bank with the SQA sitting up and taking a very positive interest, so things are finally moving on that project but a number of hurdles to overcome yet. I'm keeping in touch with practitioners who've expressed an interest and I'm trying to keep them on board.
I met with Alison Harold regarding sector skills. From an intitially unsure start we had a positive meeting, which certainly let me know a bit more about the sector skills councils and has got me thinking about that part of my sfeu remit.
What else have I been up to? A number of universities got back to me about information links on Practitioners Plus and I hope to 'action' this with the help of Murray this week.
That's all for now I think
I finally made some progress with the summative assessment bank with the SQA sitting up and taking a very positive interest, so things are finally moving on that project but a number of hurdles to overcome yet. I'm keeping in touch with practitioners who've expressed an interest and I'm trying to keep them on board.
I met with Alison Harold regarding sector skills. From an intitially unsure start we had a positive meeting, which certainly let me know a bit more about the sector skills councils and has got me thinking about that part of my sfeu remit.
What else have I been up to? A number of universities got back to me about information links on Practitioners Plus and I hope to 'action' this with the help of Murray this week.
That's all for now I think
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