Blown it

Well, it looks like I've blown this module for any sort of decent mark.  The trouble is that I get so many complicated emails over time that I lose the thread and don't follow them up.

I remember being told quite a while a go that there was a 'g' drive being set up to enable students to submit work electronically as well as by hard copy and memory stick.  What I didn't get at the time was that eventually you would only be able to submit stuff on this 'g' drive and memory sticks wouldn't be acceptable due to transmitting viruses.

Thinking back to when I applied for this module Gesture& Meaning to be moderated it would have helped if there had been a 'to do' and 'not to do' list.  It's only now the deadline of May 31st has passed that the assessment team let me know that I haven't complied with the electronic requirements for moderation. 

A short list of things to do and not to do would be so helpful.  It might be that I missed it but everything comes wrapped in so much verbosity that it's difficult to pick out the essential items such as:

• no memory sticks admissable
• hard copies and/or work uploaded to 'g' drive only acceptable before 31st May, nothing afterwards
• where to find the 'g' drive, it took me over 20 minutes to track it down and I've always considered myself computer literate as I used to teach MS Office and basic website design to further education students.

I'm trying to think of ways to get my work in front of the judges as they won't look at my memory stick where all the excess images and work is stored.

This is seriously putting me off going for level 3 as, from what I've heard, there's masses of reading and research to go through.

Tidy up

Well, I've managed to complete all my assignments including assignment 6 (my most dreaded) the critique.  Everything is now packaged up and sent off recorded delivery to Yorkshire for moderation.

My real dilemma now is whether to go on to level 3.  A degree is something I've wanted to achieve for many years but I wasn't in a position to do anything about it until 2008.  Then in 2009 I retired and we moved to Lyme Regis when I found I had the time to get started.

I think when I analysise my feelings when I discussed it with the OCA Photography Level 3 Facebook students, that I have leanings to carry on.

Neglected to update here

I've been working through all the assignments in the Gesture & Meaning module and realised that I had failed to keep my home page updated.  As I've got several learning blogs on the go it can get a bit overwhelming to keep everything up to date.

I am pleased to say that I have managed to complete this module in the extended time and have applied for moderation in the July assessment.  Now I have the task of making sure that the reprints/rethinks are available for me to send off to arrive by May 31st.

I tried my best to update the suggestions made by Katrina, my tutor, but got a bit behind with Assignment 4 as there wan't much in my calendar that she liked.  This meant I would have to rethink the whole thing and go back to take more pictures. 

I had also printed my original calendar at A4 size but done the 7 prints at A3 and it was only after a final check that I realised what I had done wasn't acceptable.  So, almost back to the drawing board for this assignment.

Katrina also felt that my presentation for Assignment 5 was too wide spread and it needed more focus.  I've been thinking about this and have decided to focus on royal photographers from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to the present day and include selfies.  It's all churning round in my head and just needs to be put down on paper as they say.

To my surprise, the assignment I find the most difficult, the critique, was probably my least

censured one.  This type of assignment gives me weeks of head aches as I struggle to write in photo language.  So to get faint praise from my tutor was a real plus.

Anyway, back to the drawing board and to putting together the new work in the hopes of getting a good mark.

Extra time to complete module

I've had to apply for extra time to complete this module.  It's all been a strange tale and it all started when I bought my second level 2 module 'Landscape' but due to being severely ill with Shingles I was unable to get going with it. Five months later, as I'd made no progress with it by October I decided to pay £250 to change over to Gesture & Meaning which would really interest me.   Unfortunately as a side to shingles you can be inclined to depression and that's what happened to me. 

I'm much better now and want to get on with my studies but received an email from student services saying that if I hadn't finished by mid June I would have to pay again. Luckily I could supply a doctor's note confirming my illnesses and can be awarded a further 9 months to complete. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.  

Short holiday in Sorrento

I've just got back from a week's holiday in Sorrento, Italy where we had a real mixture of weather.  Absolutely chucking it down on the first day to sunny and warm and cloudy for the remainder.
Talk about tourists, I've never seen so many Japanese/Chinese people walking along small pavements, giving way to no one.  Another noticeable thing was the driving, on the right, of course.  What with large taxis, buses, big cars and Lambrettas zipping in and out of the traffic, it's no wonder that most cars have dents in them somewhere.
The light was fantastic being strong instead of the wishy washy light we get in England on poor days.  We stayed at an hotel right by the water in Marina Grande (only problem was a steep walk up into the town) but caught all the water traffic along with marvellous cloudy skies.  On our first day there seemed to be an eruption happening over Vesuvius but on following days it was beautifully clear, not even the wisp of smoke everyone predicts.

Vesuvius 'Erupting'

 Not sure I'd go there again but it was an interesting experience whilst it lasted.  Now I'm working hard to complete my Gesture & Meaning assignment 3 which will go off to my tutor either this afternoon or tomorrow morning first thing.

Back to work

I've had the summer off (with the consent of my tutor and 'the office') due to an overwhelming personal life which dragged me down into a fit of depression.  I'm back now and keen and eager to resume this module. 

I still think it's unfair that when you decide to change to a different module you keep the original start date.  I started Level 2 Landscape in June 2015 but found it wasn't for me.  I changed to Gesture & Meaning (after paying £250 for the privilidge) in October 2015 but have to retain my original start date.  This means, due to my 6 month layoff, that I have until June 2016 to complete 5 assignments giving me approximately 2/3 months for each.  I've set aside 3 2-hour sessions per week to work through the projects and assignments.  Luckily I have taken all the images that I need for assignment 2, and even continued whilst on sabatical.  They just need organising and captioning.

What is research?

I've always like to read the We Are OCA weekend emails and often find items included that really interest me and relate to my learning struggles.  Although I'm not studying advertising I find that the items regarding the theory behind adverts is fascinating.  The latest WeAreOCA on advertising can be found HERE

Last weekend's bulletin (March 5th) included an item which highlighted a subject that I find most difficult - that of research and how to go about it.   OCA Course Leader Rebecca Fairley explains what research in the Creative Arts is all about.  You can read her article  HERE.  Her recommendation was to:

Look. Think. Write.

Look. Think. Draw.

Think about your thinking.

I think this is essential reading for me as, although working in further education and gaining a marketing and further education teaching diploma, I'm sadly lacking in researching adequately and being able to write a critical review almost kills me.  I put it off as long as possible and use every excuse under the sun to leave it until the last possible moment.  My assignment 4 critical review in Progressing with Digital Photography was not received well and I lost even more confidence.  I've read all the stuff issued by the OCA support group but it still sits uneasily with me.  So I have high hopes that I can get rid of the 'elephant in the room' by reading and inwardly digesting Rebecca's article.