Courses May to July 2022
Jul. 16th, 2022 04:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitI'm continuing to do roughly two courses a month - it depends how long each course lasts how many I can do.
But first, one that was left off an earlier list, as I completed it in March:
The Power of Picture Books (University of Waikato) This was a good course, and I enjoyed looking at picture books and particularly learning about 'Hairy Maclary from Donalson's Dairy', by Lynley Dodd, herself a New Zealander - and seeing how the book tied into New Zealand culture. There was also a section on bilingual books, looking at English/Maori books.
Pictures of Youth: An Introduction to Children's Visual Culture (University of Youth) By contrast this wasn't particularly interesting. Although it began with picture books, it then moved onto comics, with a greater emphasis on older children/teens, films, and in particular Studio Ghibli films, rather than a more general look, and finally television concentrating on recording teens learning Shakespeare. I had expected something which would be more relevant to my granddaughter as she grows up in the next few years, but here the emphasis was on youth rather than children.
Archaeology and the Battle of Dunbar 1650: From the Scottish Battlefield to the New World (Durham University) The battle was not one I'd heard of before, and was interesting given an understanding of the times as well as the specific battle. It begins when the bodies of some soldiers were discovered in Durham University and traces their history, and the fortunes of some of their companions. Well presented, and, although some sections were personally of lesser interest, overall it was well worth taking.
Why Do People Migrate: Theories (European University Institute) The course assumes people migrate for specific economic reasons. Almost certainly simplistic, but designed to prove a point. [My 100th course!]
The Museum as a Site and Source for Learning (University of Glasgow) The sections looking at the different ways people learn and the various needs of different segments of the population was interesting. Sadly, there was one presenter who was convinced his way was right, and that how he wrote descriptions was the best for everyone - needless to say, his were the sorts of descriptions I dislike in museums.
West Indies Cricket: Our Story (The University of the West Indies) The sections I liked were those which placed cricket within the historical context, and I learnt more about the West Indies. Although I remember many of the cricketers of the 1970s and 80s (my dad was keen on cricket), the discussions about the game were of lesser interest.
Travel Books: History in Europe and Japan (Keio University) The course was produced in co-operation with the British Library. The first week, talking about early Japanese books wasn't particularly interesting, but once it began to look at European books in Japan and the opposite it was a fascinating introduction to something I have very little knowledge of. There was discussion of the different forms of printing and lots of demonstrations of different books. Probably the best course of the last few months.
But first, one that was left off an earlier list, as I completed it in March:
The Power of Picture Books (University of Waikato) This was a good course, and I enjoyed looking at picture books and particularly learning about 'Hairy Maclary from Donalson's Dairy', by Lynley Dodd, herself a New Zealander - and seeing how the book tied into New Zealand culture. There was also a section on bilingual books, looking at English/Maori books.
Pictures of Youth: An Introduction to Children's Visual Culture (University of Youth) By contrast this wasn't particularly interesting. Although it began with picture books, it then moved onto comics, with a greater emphasis on older children/teens, films, and in particular Studio Ghibli films, rather than a more general look, and finally television concentrating on recording teens learning Shakespeare. I had expected something which would be more relevant to my granddaughter as she grows up in the next few years, but here the emphasis was on youth rather than children.
Archaeology and the Battle of Dunbar 1650: From the Scottish Battlefield to the New World (Durham University) The battle was not one I'd heard of before, and was interesting given an understanding of the times as well as the specific battle. It begins when the bodies of some soldiers were discovered in Durham University and traces their history, and the fortunes of some of their companions. Well presented, and, although some sections were personally of lesser interest, overall it was well worth taking.
Why Do People Migrate: Theories (European University Institute) The course assumes people migrate for specific economic reasons. Almost certainly simplistic, but designed to prove a point. [My 100th course!]
The Museum as a Site and Source for Learning (University of Glasgow) The sections looking at the different ways people learn and the various needs of different segments of the population was interesting. Sadly, there was one presenter who was convinced his way was right, and that how he wrote descriptions was the best for everyone - needless to say, his were the sorts of descriptions I dislike in museums.
West Indies Cricket: Our Story (The University of the West Indies) The sections I liked were those which placed cricket within the historical context, and I learnt more about the West Indies. Although I remember many of the cricketers of the 1970s and 80s (my dad was keen on cricket), the discussions about the game were of lesser interest.
Travel Books: History in Europe and Japan (Keio University) The course was produced in co-operation with the British Library. The first week, talking about early Japanese books wasn't particularly interesting, but once it began to look at European books in Japan and the opposite it was a fascinating introduction to something I have very little knowledge of. There was discussion of the different forms of printing and lots of demonstrations of different books. Probably the best course of the last few months.
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Date: 2022-07-16 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-07-16 04:44 pm (UTC)