Courses - November 2025
Nov. 29th, 2025 10:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitFutureLearn
Discover Contemporary Chinese: A Taster Course (Chinese Plus)
Following on from the OpenLearn basic Chinese course, I thought I'd look at this one. I had hoped it would be a good introduction, but it was well over my head, concentrating on the main courses which the taster was promoting, without providing any assistance. Even if I'd had some basic Chinese I doubt this would have persuaded me to take a further, paid, course with them.
OpenLearn
Getting Started with German 2 and Getting Started with German 3
Continuing with my aim to at least understand something of German when we're there. Some of the sections were interesting and helpful, others were not within my general interests, so probably irrelevant, since I'm unlikely to want to know the German for something I don't talk about in English.
Introduction to Planetary Protection
I found this very interesting, although why astronomy appeals to me I have no idea. It covered all sorts of areas: avoiding bringing potential contamination back from other planets and similar bodies, together with not contaminating planets our spacecraft visit. In addition there was the clear thought that what we learn from these planets etc should be knowledge available for all and not simply exploited by the powerful.
The Gut Microbiome: Balancing the Body
The importance of what we consume and how it's important to maintain a good balance in our gut microbiome. Apart from the general biology (which begins to go over my head), there's the effect that other areas can have, including genetics and ageing. I need to tweak my diet, I think.
Discover Contemporary Chinese: A Taster Course (Chinese Plus)
Following on from the OpenLearn basic Chinese course, I thought I'd look at this one. I had hoped it would be a good introduction, but it was well over my head, concentrating on the main courses which the taster was promoting, without providing any assistance. Even if I'd had some basic Chinese I doubt this would have persuaded me to take a further, paid, course with them.
OpenLearn
Getting Started with German 2 and Getting Started with German 3
Continuing with my aim to at least understand something of German when we're there. Some of the sections were interesting and helpful, others were not within my general interests, so probably irrelevant, since I'm unlikely to want to know the German for something I don't talk about in English.
Introduction to Planetary Protection
I found this very interesting, although why astronomy appeals to me I have no idea. It covered all sorts of areas: avoiding bringing potential contamination back from other planets and similar bodies, together with not contaminating planets our spacecraft visit. In addition there was the clear thought that what we learn from these planets etc should be knowledge available for all and not simply exploited by the powerful.
The Gut Microbiome: Balancing the Body
The importance of what we consume and how it's important to maintain a good balance in our gut microbiome. Apart from the general biology (which begins to go over my head), there's the effect that other areas can have, including genetics and ageing. I need to tweak my diet, I think.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-30 01:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-11-30 01:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-15 04:05 pm (UTC)I would have thought that Discover Contemporary Chinese: A Taster Course (Chinese Plus) would have been a good introduction to Chinese considering that "taster" is in the title but, apparently, not. I'm glad that Getting Started with German 2 and Getting Started with German 3 was easier to follow and had more useful information.
Introduction to Planetary Protection sounds quite fascinating, though I think The Gut Microbiome: Balancing the Body course might go over my head because of the biology. Still, it sounds like it was a worthwhile course if it made you consider tweaking your diet.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-15 05:33 pm (UTC)