By tim, on January 16th, 2012 at 10:28 pm I’m not what you’d call a football fan. Yes, I always listen out for Derby’s result and occasionally listen to Radio Derby’s commentary, though it really hasn’t been the same since Graham Richards retired. But I’ve probably been to fewer than 10 professional games in my entire life.
One of the reasons for my disenchantment with football is the constant nonsense spouted by many of the people running the game. Such as Paul Jewell’s recent pronouncements on female assistant referees or the ludicrous assertion by Adrian Bevington of the FA (and many others) that the next England manager should be . . . → Read More: Arsene Wenger and the fundamental attribution error
By tim, on January 11th, 2012 at 10:16 pm In some ways I’m rather encouraged by today’s announcement by the education secretary that he wants to see a greater emphasis on the teaching of computer science in the schools curriculum. But I think the suggestion that he seems to be making, or at least the media interpretation of it, that teaching someone how to use popular computer programs like office suites (his definition of ICT) is no longer worthwhile and what should be taught instead is how to program them (his definition of Computer Science) is an unproductive dichotomy. Let me explain.
Back in the mid to late 1980s, . . . → Read More: ICT bad, Computer Science good – an unproductive dichotomy
By tim, on January 8th, 2012 at 9:23 am … to everyone who’s sent me a note of support this week, either by leaving a comment on my last post, through twitter, facebook or by sending me an email. It’s been somewhat overwhelming to be honest!
It’s also been my first week back at work after the Christmas and new year holidays and I’ve been very busy, so I haven’t (yet) been able to reply to everyone who’s contacted me and I apologise if you’re one of the people on that list. I will try to get my act together over the course of the next few days.
By tim, on January 4th, 2012 at 9:22 pm tenpencepiece.net is my second attempt at blogging. My first, which was created during the early days of blogger, ran out of steam at some point during the early 2000s. I eventually deleted it and I don’t have a backup, but I know that it wasn’t very good. Fortunately, I’m certain that almost no-one read it.
It wasn’t until late 2008 that I started again. I was between OU modules and was due to start ED209, but I didn’t start this one with any particular intent to blog about my OU experience. However, for most of the last 3 years that’s . . . → Read More: Why this blog went dark over Christmas
By tim, on January 2nd, 2012 at 3:24 pm A look back at the eleven most read posts on this blog from 2011, in 2011.
Open University students in limbo over fees until spring 2012 (1,397 views) From 2nd May, when the OU’s own (now defunct) fourinten campaign was suggesting that OU students would have to wait until the spring of 2012 to find out what autumn 2012 fees would be. I calculated £4,965 as being the likely 120 credit equivalent for students in England – not too far away from the £5,000 eventually announced. A headline no-one wanted to see – OU fees to rise to £5,000 in . . . → Read More: Eleven from eleven in eleven
By tim, on December 20th, 2011 at 8:44 pm … has just arrived in my inbox from the Faculty of Social Sciences. It confirms what I’d been told by the Yorkshire region a few weeks ago, with the merest hint that something may be resolved in time for late 2012. The email is reproduced below, with my thoughts in italics.
Dear Tim Holyoake
I understand from PGSS colleagues in Region 07 that you have enquired about studying psychology at postgraduate level with the OU/Faculty of Social Sciences. I note from your academic record that you have recently achieved a first class honours degree in psychology with us. Warmest congratulations . . . → Read More: News from the OU about postgraduate psychology provision
By tim, on December 15th, 2011 at 10:37 pm One of the entitlements a degree gives you is the ability to use post-nominals after your name. In the case of my recent Open University degree an email I’ve received today tells me that once the degree is conferred on me (31st December) and I have received my certificate, I will be able to put BSc (Hons) Psych (Open) after my name.
Except, of course, that very few people do so – especially if they have other post-nominals from other academic study and professional memberships. It would just make the whole process of writing your name too long and tedious.
. . . → Read More: Fun with post-nominals
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