From the end back to the beginning

If you are reading this as your first post, you are actually most likely reading my last one for this blog!

This blog will be active for at least 6 months from this date but will then close as an exercise comprising of my learing journal for Digital Video at the University of Newcastle. The following is for anyone just staring out as a few study tips and hints and for the rest of you I invite you to follow my ramblings on www.rocketdogbulldozer.com
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I have been thinking about how I am going to approach my third trimester into the Masters degree in Digital Media.

This might be of help to those of you who are brand new and just starting out in the Digi Cert or Masters course and have just started out, but I must say that they are my opinions only and do not reflect that of the University!

Before you start on the course.

• Be prepared
• Have a really comfortable place to study setup ready to go and plan not to have a social life for the next 13 weeks. The social media aspect of this learning experience balances that out, dont worry its only 13 weeks.
  
• Setup folders in really accessible places on your machine whatever it be, Mac or PC
• These folders should be use a consistent naming convention so you can easily cross reference past units
• setup a consistent naming convention for all subjects whether or not you set them up now or as you start each one, just be consistent
  
• Mine go something like this:
• CMNS6410
  
• Learning Journal
• Major Practical Project
• Research, Modules & Lectures
• Written Reports
• this will pay dividends in the long run trust me
• READ as much as you possibly can but don't despair if you cant cover everything, make rationale decisions about what is appropriate learning for you and be prepared to just move on if it is information overload
• setup your templates for your learning journal NOW, and duplicate it for each unit. A simple Word doc with consistant header and footer with relevant details make it easy to complete this task
• write in your journal all the crazy thoughts you have along the way, be verbose, be loose and conversational, it helps form thoughts and provides your lecturerer with an excellent idea of how your progessing. It is also an excellent cathartic way to dump stuff and reflect upon on the way. I have scored 2 HDs now with this method and found it really helpful
• RESEARCH endlessly and document it upfront. This is hard if you arent academic and used to it, but a good tool for harvard referencing is online here: you enter the details and it provides a Harvard Reference you can cut and paste. I use this constantly in a template setup like my journal but called Bibliography and just record EVERYTHING I read with relevant references in case I can use it in an essay or report in the future
• Dont be afraid to drop stuff and go in a differenct direction. I have changed my mind so many times during study that it is pretty funny. Instead of getting bogged down in an project or concept brief and staring at a blank page, branch left of centre and start again, it can produce excellent learnings and great success.
  
• Breathe
• Join the discussion forums as much as possible and dont be afraid to use StudentMail to reach out to anyone studying with you and your lecturer, its really important to get feedback in as close to realtime as possible when you are working in isolation, the forums and email provide so much relief just when it all seems hopeless that you shouldnt underestimate it at anytime of the day or night you will never know when someone else is on line!
• This one is absurd maybe but I keep a pencil and notepad by my bed. I will never ceasr to be amazed by when inspiration for that all illusive major practical will hit you. Most likely at 4am when you wake in a cold sweat...
• Make sure you backup your files! OMG I lost a 12,000 word learning journal in my first trimester and if it wasnt for a portable hard drive setup as a time machine on my Macbook I would have most certainly jumped in a warm bath with some razorblades. Backup at least every month, if you dont have an external drive, burn CDs or DVDs regularly

So that is my approach at least and a few ground rules I laying down for myself, sorry if it is a bit verbose!

If anyone is totally new to this way of study I invite you to have a look at my Blogger learning journal from last trimester at http://uondigivid.blogspot.com/2009/01/gettings-started.html?zx=1739d3dc7915abb4 which I have lifted all restrictions on (it was a Uni only blog last trimester) for inspiration and my crazy ramblings during Digital Video.

Good night, and good luck...

Dan