1st Day back at Uni

I generally use facebook for everything including notes, but I did start a blog on this last year, so I've set it up for all my notes to pump through to facebook too. Anyone wishing to comment/give feedback please feel free. 

Til's lesson 'Multi-media' we were set the task of 'again' completing a group project. We were all sent away for half an hour to discuss what we wanted to do. Dave and Jaime went to the bank and Richard and I went to the College Cafe. We discussed the sorts of things we'd like to do with the project and/not want to do. It's no secret that there were problems with the previous year. Dave returned and we talked about perhaps doing an interactive DVD or a game. I said I didn't feel we had the time or the skills to be able to achieve a game, but a DVD sounded good. Jaime then came back from the Bank. I asked what do we want our target audience to be, the other three were keen on, 'young people'. I asked if that meant 16-25 yr olds as that is what Connexions class as young people and it may be nice to tie in with them. As an after thought I wonder if we should make it 18-25 in case having under 18s restricts any of our content. 

Jaime wants to cover 'fun things and music'. Richard talked about study and travel/gap year. I mentioned the element about work and welfare, as not every 16-25 is having it easy or going along a conventional route in life. I mentioned that perhaps we could each take an area and do all we need for each area. So that we are able to do useful research and some work alone without having to rely on the group, but also to get chance to commission people to help film/photograph/record audio etc for our areas of interest, should we need to. I feel this is a big mistake the last group made and contributed to the quarrels and back-biting which ensued. Til also mentioned this when we returned to class and we're all to bring in ideas for roles and their salary within industry each one could expect. 

Hierarchically there are two ways we could go. 

1) an Editor - someone who takes group consultation, but with the power to have overall say for the look and content of the site/project. Then each of us are like team leaders for our own area, commissioning others to help with filming/audio/photography, but the content for our area is directed by us (again in discussion with the Editor). OR

2) we have an Editor - each of us has a role or roles (as there's only 4/5 of us), for example filming, writing,research,text,photography,interviewing, editing,web-site input and management etc.  

3) we have a 'collective' approach, no leader and we agree as a group what each of us is to contribute, then we go away and do it - with regular meetings to ensure each of us are on track and not having problems which will later hold up the project. 

I feel that we must have a leader/Editor of some sort from day one, not just because of the problems last year, but this is a task focused project with a deadline. This is how it would work in industry - so it is how I feel it would be best to work in the group. There are drawbacks for some people, one person has final decision, so there is little room for ego. The person who is the leader is probably in for a shed load of grief which s/he may not want whilst trying to get other modules of the course finished at the same time. 

We also discussed how we could get enough content for a site - eg. customer participation, photo competitions etc. 

HOMEWORK:

Research multi-media - what does it mean? 

Research roles for the group and current salaries? 

Research if in-design can be launched made up as a web-page? 

Research different ways/programmes to create a website .. dreamweaver, indesign etc? 

Do a short case-study for a website we like the look of. 

Research which platforms we could aim product to which would reach 18-25 yr olds. 

Set up a possible schedule to ensure all tasks are completed on time. 

Tree diagram for website headings/content etc. 

Just a few things then .. and it's only our first lecture lol. !!

Second lecture was with Russ, work based learning, based in the Metro Centre. This used to be where people could update their CV and IT skills, but I don't know if they've left and it's now leased by Exeter College. Must find out. 

Anyway, good news, no real work until next week. Bad news, so many things to do to prepare for the work that got to start now anyway. We're meeting tomorrow to discuss, 'Where we want to be in a years time - education/work?' and ... something else I've forgotten now and will refer to notes lol. Also forgot to ask Russ if we can use In-Design to put a website together. I've put a note on facebook for Mary to say we're meeting at 10am Bostons. 

Work experience: 

Although I did do some work experience last year I've lost contact with the person I was working with, so will have to see if I can locate her and get her to fill out the w/exp forms for me.  

HOMEWORK: 

Get in touch with D&C PR Office - w/exp. 

E&E - w/exp. 

D/County Council PR poss, but I don't fancy this particularly. 

Email Pheonix Centre again - w/exp. 

In other news: 

Well... lol. What can I say. Good and bad. 

When conflict has arisen in the past I've often been known to ignore it - let it be - it'll sort itself out or in extreme cases such as last year withdrawn myself from the whole situation. I can't always change how people react to or treat me, but I have the choice to withdraw from the situation altogether, which in the past on this course I have had to do. 

I have been told today that someone on the course who is also repeating their second year has told everyone they, 'Can't stand me'.  Day 1 ... Nice. So it appears the swords are already drawn and at least I am under no illusion as to what the rest of the course members now think of me lol. I withdrew last year without a fight, without getting my side of the story in or defending my innocence and thought, with the health issues I was having at the time, it would be best for ALL concerned if I just wasn't there. Now, it seems I will be made to deal with that scenario once and for all. For my part, I will do my best to heal the 'rift' and not let it interfere with my studying or anyone else, but I will fight for my right to be on the course and pass this year without being marginalised. 

In summary, my lesson for today is:  deal with conflict at the time it arises. Fight (mentally/emotionally) for your position as hard as you can with everything you can, because even if you lose the fight it will then be done and finished. It does not matter if you win or lose, just that you fight. If you side step an issue/withdraw without fighting for yourself, karmically you will be given that lesson again.