What have I learnt so far?

A fairly lengthy post but this summarises my handwritten learning journal for the first module.

29 Sept - concerned about Plone fortunately Anthony (my LF) steers me in the right direction regarding presentation. Have learnt to ask plenty of questions

04 October - pulled together LA1 - A day in my working life. Kept a work diary for 3 days and was hoping to have shown all 3 but this proved to be too big a task. Therefore literally drew one date out of the hat! Have learnt I should keep a work diary more often - this proved quite illuminating because of making me reflect on each activity I undertook. Have determined to try and repeat the exercise 4 or 5 times a year. Have noted the tendency to waffle (why use 1 word when you can use 10!). A colleague was puzzled when he saw me taking a photograph of my office - explained why. He now thinks I am doing an OU Degree!!!

08 October - getting access to the PC at home is proving to be a headache. Not only is 1 son wanting to do his homework on it but the other seems to be constantly 'talking' to his former Uni friends. Have agreed a protocol - let's see if it works.

09 October - tried to invoke protocol to be met by some hostility by elder son. However, eventually he relented after I threatened to pull the plug - literally. Now reflecting on the organisation and where I sit in it. Again an interesting exercise. Quite pleased because I have now uploaded photographs from the digi-camera - didn't realise how easy it was.

12 October - was able to use the work I had prepared on the organisation to some effect in a regular budgetary review meeting at work. As ever we were being challenged on central office costs - I referred to a project I had undertaken to, hopefully, prove the point we were a lean and efficient administration.

18 October - sent my first general response on First Class. Had previously limited FC communication to my LF, the Technical Team and Tony Browne. However, I felt a great empathy with the post "Schoolies Free Zone". Not certain if my level of humour would be appreciated by everyone but was glad I broke through my natural shyness (how can you be shy when using e-mail but I am!).

21 October - beginning to panic somewhat - am on holiday next week and still not finished my skills evaluation. Am learning to try and work in a structured manner. The skills question is fascinating. Have also done 1 other technological thing I have never done before - scanned a document! Elder son cannot believe how such a simple thing (to him) can be such an achievement to me. I've threatened I'll be able to programme the video recorder at this rate.

22 October - probably spent too much time at the keyboard yesterday. Need to follow the guidelines we have at work re taking breaks but am happy with the skills evaluation. Now to start thinking of personal development.

22 October - contributed to another discussion on FC re MindMaps. Have learnt the basics of MindMaps determined to try and follow this through. There are a number of different areas of my life (not only the day job) where the MindMap approach may be useful. I read FC pretty regularly - at least every day if not more than that. Notice the same names keep cropping up. I know we are encouraged to help one another but at present I don't feel I have the knowledge to expound on everything.

29 October - back from hols - well away from Plone, FC, UV and everything else and quite relaxed. Personal development has proved an interesting exercise. At work personal development is normally a paragraph at the end of the Annual Perfomance Review. When I have looked into this further there are several suggestions for personal development plans and I have selected one with which I am comfortable. Have therefore learnt about PDPs and am determined to have this in place for my own review which will take place in the next 6 or so weeks.

06 November - more FC contributions - this time is response to a researcher who teaches Pilates, yoga and dance to adults. As I tutor adults (wine appreciation) I was interested to read the skills this researcher felt were key. No disagreement - have learnt that I'm not as way off the mark as I originally thought.

08 November - heard myself in a meeting state - "we need to reflect on this carefully" - is UV getting to me or have I started to learn about formal reflection. For the benefit of doubt it is the latter.