And To Continue

This Blog was created as part of this years Journalism Skills unit (University of Lincoln BA(Hons) course). As such it is part of my marked work for the year.

BUT...

I am continuing with this Blog as I find that writing about my experiences as a mature student helps me to make sense of the academic environment that I now inhabit.

Today I had my last seminar of the year. Well worth attending as we received some excellent tips and advice for our last assignment. Only four people turned up but I'm now getting used to the idea that most of my peer group don't turn up to a lecture or  seminar unless they consider it absolutely necessary.

I have recently received an email from one of the academic staff in the Lincoln School of Journalism appealing for students returning for their second or third years to work as "study buddies". To mentor and advise the new intake of students next September. I must admit that I'm very tempted. I remember clearly what it was like during my first few weeks at university. If I hadn't been briefed by my wife, and others, concerning the attitude of the students towards a mature student then I might have taken some of their behaviour personally.

Perhaps what I need to do is create a FAQ/Briefing document for mature students? A crib sheet that can aid the mature student to navigate the Byzantine world of drunken parties, negative attitudes and half empty lecture theatres. Why do this? Well I know of at least one example of cyber bullying that has occurred at Lincoln. It was targeted at a mature student. Why? Because that person wanted to learn, to contribute in seminars and to squeeze the maximum value from their course. A small group of "younger" students didn't like that and so Internet based unpleasantness followed. As far as I know this situation has been remedied, the university authorities were involved and took action, but for it to occur in the first place is very concerning. 

If another mature student were targeted like this then it might make all the difference if they have someone to turn to or a crib sheet with tips on what to do. Being a mature student can be a lonely experience, especially for those who might expect a warmer welcome to academia.

The Easter Holiday

It's the Easter Holiday and there are only a few months of the academic year left. It's time to review the year so far and think long and hard about what I've learnt and how I will put it to use.

From a purely personal point of view I have made a few friends and acquaintances from amongst the student body. I'm reminded of my first week at Lincoln. Frequently we were told that the friends we made at University would be with us for the rest of our lives, or words to that effect. From the perspective of a mature student this was obviously not going to be the case. It was apparent from the first day that I was about as popular as a pork chop at a bar mitzvah. I was lucky in that I had been prepared for this unwelcoming reception.

Another observation was that there was little in the way of a culture of learning amongst my peer group. Foolishly, I expected that my fellow students would be keen to learn and to explore the rich academic world on offer. The actual situation was that the majority of students acted as if they were being forced to learn. Coerced to attend lectures and seminars. Enthusiasm was very much in short supply.

The actual teaching has been, for the most part, excellent. My only complaint is that there needs to be a stricter approach to the students. If they don't turn up, don't do the expected pre-seminar work or contribute then they should be penalised for their lack of effort. Effort is the keyword here. I'd rather see people try and fail than not even try in the first place. The other comment I'd make about the teaching side of things is that sometimes the feedback could be more detailed. On a couple of occasions I haven't even been able to read the feedback comments due to illegible handwriting. Perhaps the university could drop the archaic hand written forms and go over to typed responses?

The facilities offered by the university have, so far, met my needs adequately. The Library does seem to be dominated by people fiddling (Facebook/Habbo etc) on computers rather than working, or dare I say it, seeking and reading books. The newsrooms in the MHT building are well stocked with PCs, telephone lines for our use and suitable printers. Suitable locations for team meetings abound. The refreshment facilities are acceptable. Not exactly designed to stimulate the taste buds of a gourmand but the food is edible and reasonably priced.

Car parking is a problem but, thanks to the Lincoln Big parking scheme, I'm able to park in Lincoln for the low price of £50 a month. It also offers me greater flexibility over when I can attend university.

So what have I learnt since September 2009?

• A better understanding of the principles of marketing. Useful in my own business activities going forward.
• I have acquired an improved knowledge of the advertising world, its workings and structure. Everything from the power of semiotics to measures of advertising effectiveness. I also find myself now automatically breaking the elements of advertising down to analyse the techniques used.
• Media Law and Public Administration have opened my eyes to how our nation is run and how it's reported to the masses. The threats to our basic freedoms and how important the media is in the eternal battle between the political classes on one side and the people on the other side.
• On a more prosaic subject, statistics in the business world, I've had a thorough refresher course in statistics and data analysis.
• The Journalism Skills unit, the actual nuts and bolts of journalism, has sharpened my writing skills and brought into sharper focus the actual processes involved in the production of the global news feed.

In my opinion this year has been a beneficial experience. Now I must continue to revise for my upcoming exams and prepare for my second year.