Geological maps
The S260 map work is slowly sinking in - although I'm finding it difficult to relate features to the ground. Hopefully I will have a better understanding after the tutorials and summer school. The interactive cdrom exercises are ok, but I would prefer to have a map and compass and see features for real on the ground. I've ordered a book on geological structures and maps to give me some extra practice with drawing cross sections.

I've set up a wireless network at home, and I can now use my laptop anywhere in the house. I chose the Belkin ADSL modem / router, it was straightforward to set up and seems to work really well.
- posted by Bill @ 12:41 PM

 
Quiet weekend
I took the weekend off from studying and did a few odd jobs. We now have a BGS UK Geology map in a wooden frame over the bed - herself is convinced that it will fall on our heads during the night, yawn:-) My Laks 256MB usb memory arrived yesterday - ordered direct from the factory in Austria. It's really well made and a useful storage device to go with my laptop.

I had an email from the University of Portsmouth about the MSc I want to do, the provisional course fees seem reasonable - I'm on the mailing list and more details should be available in April.

March is going to be a busy month - I have a training course in France, and then a weeks holiday in Devon / Cornwall fossil collecting and visiting the Eden project. I also want to get stuck into my geology course and get the hang of the map work, before the first tutorial and assignment.
- posted by Bill @ 3:22 PM

 
Study routine
I'm starting to get into a study routine for this year. My fossils course material has arrived, and I've also set up a S193 web page for the course. I'm slightly ahead on S260 geology, but I have a lot of different resources (books, cdroms, etc., external to the course material) to organise and bring together. I'm finding it really helpful to re-read the Sciences Good Study Guide, and relate it to the way I use my PC to promote active learning.

The Open University FirstClass conferences are as fascinating as ever, there has been an emotive thread in the Technology conference about alt.* newsgroups - opinions range from "remove the thread it's disgusting" (sad that people want to bury it under the carpet), to "the Internet should be policed to remove these groups" or "you can't blame technology for the sick elements of society". My own view is summed up by a quote someone posted from Vint Cerf (known as the father of the Internet):

"The Internet is a reflection of our society and that mirror is going to be reflecting what we see," he said. "If we do not like what we see in that mirror the problem is not to fix the mirror, we have to fix society."
- posted by Bill @ 9:21 AM

 
Feeling restless
I can't decide on my long term study plans, now that I've completed a degree. I always wanted to go on to do a MA in online and distant education, but the fees for the OU course shoot up to £2435.00 per module. I've also considered an MSc in Science, which I'm also really interested in, but as my first degree doesn't contain much science, I had planned on doing some science courses first. My study plans for 2004 are set with my geology courses following my interest in geology and fossils, but I may reconsider my long term plans.

Portsmouth University offer a distant learning MSc in eLearning Technologies - all about creating and managing online course material. This three year course suits my own skills, experience and educational interests, and could lead to employment in this area. I've emailed them for more details, and provided that the fees are not prohibitive, this may be the route I take.
- posted by Bill @ 8:05 AM

 
Making a start
My geology course doesn't officially start until next Saturday, but I've made a start and done the first two sections of block one. The map reading and working with geological maps is slowly coming together - there's a lot of new stuff to learn, and I'm having to slow down and make sure I do everything as accurately as possible. The home kit has arrived and contains an impressive microscope, slides, rocks and a selection of fossil casts. I've almost finished reading the first of the additional books I bought - 'teach yourself geology', it's really good and gives a feel for the overall subject. I'm also re-reading 'The Sciences Good Study Guide', to help get back into the swing of studying.

And I've registered on S193 'Fossils and the origins of life', a short course to give me some background as fossils are covered later in S260. I've also decided to do the geology summer school at Durham University in August, as everyone seems to recommend it to bring the S260 course together.
- posted by Bill @ 7:29 PM