Courses - March 2025
Mar. 23rd, 2025 04:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitFutureLearn
Communication of Chinese Costume Art (Communication University of China) Some of this was really good, other parts I just looked at the pictures. All the pictures of the costumes and artifacts were lovely, many were fascinating, some beautiful. The downside was some of the translations from Chinese (I assume it was Mandarin) was ropey and must have been done by AI without a native English speaker to check it. In addition the speaker was AI generated, but I muted the sound as everything was written on screen. The best sections were the later ones, looking at traditional dress for the 24 solar terms. I was amused at points when the reference pictures they showed were taken from C-dramas.
Writing About Music (University of Leeds) The introduction said the course was designed for students who were thinking of taking a music course, but I had hoped it would have wider relevance. At first it seemed to, but then the emphasis became purely on how good Leeds would be as a course provider. I'm not convinced that this was the right platform for the course.
OpenLearn
Animals at the Extremes - Hibernation & Torpor
Animals at the Extremes - Polar Biology
Like the previous course within this topic, it assumed a lot of knowledge I don't have. I also discovered that although defined as Intermediate courses (which I should have been able to follow reasonably well) they were in fact Advanced courses (not a hope). I did understand some of it as it built on areas I'd previously read around, so I don't regret following them.
Contemporary Wales
Looking at what makes Wales different and how it relates to the rest of the United Kingdom. We do go to Wales three or four times a year, so the subject, especially the more historic aspects were interesting, but it was an older course, dating from 2016 and I'd have liked more up-to-date details.
Everyday Maths 1
I wouldn't normally have taken this course, since I knew the ground well, but it has a pretty badge I wanted to earn!
Croeso: Beginners' Welsh
A very basic course, which convinced me there was no way I was going to learn Welsh. However, it did give me a slightly better idea of how Welsh is pronounced and how the sentences are constructed.
Mental Health in Society
A very short course on the treatment of mental health and how it has changed over the last 300 years, plus a quick look at the different ways mental health issues can be treated. I really needed a more in depth look.
And that means I have taken 102 OpenLearn courses and now have lots more information in my head, most of which has no particular relevance to anything I'm doing, but I remain fascinated with the world around me in all its complexities.
Communication of Chinese Costume Art (Communication University of China) Some of this was really good, other parts I just looked at the pictures. All the pictures of the costumes and artifacts were lovely, many were fascinating, some beautiful. The downside was some of the translations from Chinese (I assume it was Mandarin) was ropey and must have been done by AI without a native English speaker to check it. In addition the speaker was AI generated, but I muted the sound as everything was written on screen. The best sections were the later ones, looking at traditional dress for the 24 solar terms. I was amused at points when the reference pictures they showed were taken from C-dramas.
Writing About Music (University of Leeds) The introduction said the course was designed for students who were thinking of taking a music course, but I had hoped it would have wider relevance. At first it seemed to, but then the emphasis became purely on how good Leeds would be as a course provider. I'm not convinced that this was the right platform for the course.
OpenLearn
Animals at the Extremes - Hibernation & Torpor
Animals at the Extremes - Polar Biology
Like the previous course within this topic, it assumed a lot of knowledge I don't have. I also discovered that although defined as Intermediate courses (which I should have been able to follow reasonably well) they were in fact Advanced courses (not a hope). I did understand some of it as it built on areas I'd previously read around, so I don't regret following them.
Contemporary Wales
Looking at what makes Wales different and how it relates to the rest of the United Kingdom. We do go to Wales three or four times a year, so the subject, especially the more historic aspects were interesting, but it was an older course, dating from 2016 and I'd have liked more up-to-date details.
Everyday Maths 1
I wouldn't normally have taken this course, since I knew the ground well, but it has a pretty badge I wanted to earn!
Croeso: Beginners' Welsh
A very basic course, which convinced me there was no way I was going to learn Welsh. However, it did give me a slightly better idea of how Welsh is pronounced and how the sentences are constructed.
Mental Health in Society
A very short course on the treatment of mental health and how it has changed over the last 300 years, plus a quick look at the different ways mental health issues can be treated. I really needed a more in depth look.
And that means I have taken 102 OpenLearn courses and now have lots more information in my head, most of which has no particular relevance to anything I'm doing, but I remain fascinated with the world around me in all its complexities.
