Various ramblings by the small hobbit

Bringing the list up to date for the year:

FutureLearn

Exploring Scottish Catholicism: Education, Philosophy and Literature (University of Glasgow)
It was interesting to see some of the contribution Catholicism had made, but with only one week per subject this really was a very quick look at the three topics.

The Forbidden City and its People (University of Stirling and Palace Museum)
The forbidden city has a lot of interesting artefacts, and was the centre of government for both the Ming and Qing dynasties, with many notable emperors during that time.  But somehow the course seemed to be mostly a series of pictures, and a confusing list of emperors, and more something simply to be looked at.


OpenLearn

Intermediate German: Understanding Spoken German
The German level was above what I am capable of, although I could understand some of what was said.  But much of the vocabulary is not relevant to my needs - there was a lot of sport, which isn't one of my interests.

Understanding Dyslexia
This was another 8 week badged course.  The first four weeks were very interesting, the second four less so, as they seemed to be extended simply to qualify as an 8 week course.  I passed the test, so earned my badge!


In total this year I have completed 18 FutureLearn courses and 47 OpenLearn courses.  The latter is a reflection on my intention of reducing the number of courses on my wish list, and I was successful in completing everything I had at the beginning of the week.  Looking forward, I am partway through one FutureLearn course, being on week 2 of a 5 week course.  And I have 5 courses recently added to my OpenLearn wish list, which I shall be starting in the new year.  I shall also be continuing my German.

FutureLearn

The Power of Languages (University of York)
A look at how languages shape culture and identity.  Of reasonable interest, but I found I already knew quite a lot of what was said, having picked it up from other courses and elsewhere.

Critical Approaches to Film (Film Distributors' Association)
Although I don't go to the cinema very often, I do find the FDA's courses very interesting.  This one looked at film criticism, not just at the critics who recommend (or not) a film, but also the analysis of films.  My own feeling is that if I'm analysing a film as I'm watching it, it's not the film for me, but having a better idea of why certain things worked or didn't work when I look back afterwards is interesting.


OpenLearn

Getting Started with German 1
Basic revision prior to going on holiday next April.  It never hurts to be reminded of things.

Citizen Science & Global Biodiversity
An eight week badged course.  Having been doing a few things which can be called Citizen Science (bird counts and butterfly counts) I thought taking the course might be interesting.  There were a number of areas which would be more applicable if I had more time for commitment, but it was worth taking to understand the relevance of counts by citizen scientists.  And I joined Zooniverse, so I now participate in Penguin Watch - counting penguins via the computer.

Beginners' Chinese: A taster course
I have no wish to learn Chinese (far too complicated), but I have a course on China coming up, so I used this to provide background information.

Neighbourhood Nature
A really short course which was signposted from the Citizen Science one.  Really about the age of plants, especially trees, in various locations, and the importance ancient trees have in promoting biodiversity.


Deutsch fur dich

My main German studies have been concentrated on short teaching videos by the Goethe Institut.  I've taken 20 of these videos and have some more lined up for when I've finished the OpenLearn courses.

FutureLearn

Imagining York (University of York)
Taking various time periods in York's history and looking at them from a sociological viewpoint.  The details of the time were interesting, but while I accept that people's behaviour was affected by society etc, I think some of the suggestions were reading back more modern ideas.  And using a wealthy woman in a particular social stratum as an example really isn't representative of the majority of the population.

Italian for Beginners - Part 5 (Open University)
Some things are making more sense and I'm working things out reasonably well, even though it's all very basic, so I'm pleased with my progress.

Myths of the Mongol Empire (Nat Tsing Hua University)
This was a very interesting introduction to the Mongol Empire and in particular its beginnings with Chinggis Khan.  Although I had taken a previous course looking at the past nomads of the Mongolian steppes, I knew very little about the Mongol Empire.  Well worth doing.


OpenLearn

Women Transforming Classical Music
Primarily aimed at musicians, it was worth taking to consider the wealth of musical contribution, mostly unacknowledged by women composers and seeing some of the problems in performing them for an audience.

Exploring Data: Graphs & Numerical Summaries
I was interested in this from the viewpoint of maybe sharing data to do with the charity I volunteer with.  Although it really only touched on this, being more on interpreting graphs and also scientific use of data it was good for exercising my brain.

FutureLearn

Italian for Beginners (Part 2 & Part 3)  (Open University)  I'm definitely learning something.  If I really worked at it I'd learn more, but learning lots of vocabulary no longer appeals, so I'm working on the general repetition basis and some of it is going in.

Film Audience & Spectator Experience  (Film Distributors' Association)  I don't go to the cinema very often, although this year I have seen 'Conclave' and 'Mr Burton', but nevertheless this is a well-presented course, which I enjoyed doing and from which I learnt a little.  It's also improved by having the main tutor responding to comments.


OpenLearn

Transport & Sustainability
A Level 2 science course, which I was delighted to be able to follow and do the calculations.  An interesting look at different forms of transport and their relative sustainability, including being realistic about the current greener options.

Basic Science: Understanding Numbers
Continuing with the Maths theme.  Quite interesting, but covers a lot of the ground I've done previously.  I'm now looking at taking some Level 2 Maths courses, which should require rather more mental input, which is one of the reasons for my taking courses!

Understanding Autism
Another badged course.  Well worth doing.  Although I've had contact with people with autism and their needs before, I felt the course taught me a number of things.  Within a church setting, it doesn't hurt to be aware of needs and be as accommodating as possible.

FutureLearn

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.

OpenLearn

The Frozen Planet
This course looks at both the Arctic and Antarctic and considers both plants and animals, as well as how the regions are defined.  It was interesting to build on what I'd already learnt about mammals in the regions and more generally about the two polar regions.

Aquatic Mammals
Similarly this course was looking specifically on mammals which have left the land and returned to the sea, and the challenges they've had to overcome in the process.  It looked at seals, manatee and dugongs and onto whales, and their differences.

Getting Started with Spanish 3
The last of three basic Spanish courses, which I'd begun last month.

In the Night Sky: Orion
I enjoyed the first week in particular, looking at where Orion can be found in the night sky, and, on one of the few clear bright nights finding Orion for myself.  Later weeks moved onto stars and galaxies more generally.

Succeed with Maths: Part 1
Revision of things I already knew, but interesting to take a different (and more practical) look on the subject.  And, importantly, I earned a badge!

Animals at the Extremes - the Desert Environment
By contrast, this is definitely challenging.  The first course on animals in the next level, which requires quite a lot of knowledge.  There's two more, which I shall be working my way through, but only taking in a proportion of the information.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post each quarter I plan to list 6 things relevant, either to the quarter or for the rest of the year.

2 Drink at least one litre of water each day
Now I know the recommendation is two litres, but I'm being realistic - make the target too high and I simply won't try.  When I mentioned this when we met The Daughter for pre-Christmas lunch she promptly ordered me a water bottle, so now I have plenty of encouragement.

3 Replace my current laptop
I need to upgrade to Windows 11, before Windows 10 finally gives up, and my current laptop is getting slower, so I can't put it off any longer.

4 Replace my current mobile
Again, although I still like my current phone, it has got to the point where it no longer receives system updates which I need to use banking apps apart from everything else.
Two expenses, but I have been preparing for them for some time so it's time to do something about it.

5 Use Library Plus
Our county library has recently introduced a new system where borrowers can sign up to access the library outside staffed hours.  I have done this, but haven't yet worked up the courage to use it.  It's probably not essential for me, but it will show support for the system.

6 Facilitating birthday celebration
We have a major birthday in the family coming up, so I need to make suggestions and do some sorting while making sure it's what the person actually wants.

7 Halve my current list of OpenLearn courses
I have 19 courses on my list and I aim to complete 10.  This, of course, takes no account of any I might subsequently add!

FutureLearn

Robert Frost: The American Voice (Ralston College)
I had come across a couple of Frost's poems before, but never really thought about them, so as an introduction to Frost this was quite interesting.  Jay Parini, the lecturer, has written a biography of Frost, so was knowledgeable, but a couple of week's into the course I was reading the transcripts and not listening to him.  In the end I wasn't taken by Frost as a person and doubt I'll be returning to his poems.  One disappointment was that despite being a new course, there was no interaction from the lecturer with the comments.

The Significance of Whales to Aoteoroa New Zealand (Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa)
By contrast I found this an excellent course, with plenty of response from Mel, the main tutor.  I took the course purely because I'd enjoyed the other courses run by Te Papa and found learning about various whales, together with the history in ANZ fascinating.  It also encouraged me to do a bit more to maintain the ecology of the oceans and particular to try to reduce some of my plastics use.

OpenLearn

Studying Mammals: Chisellers
Studying Mammals: Plant Predators
Studying Mammals: Meat Eaters
I'm now halfway through the series and continuing to both enjoy it and learn new facts.  Relying on both book and television programme, there's plenty of material drawn into the courses.  Once I've finished this series there are some other courses on mammals which I anticipate taking.

National Gallery of Singapore

As We See It: Visual Analysis Through Southeast Asian Art
A fascinating course covering the basic principles of looking at art, including colour, perspective, size and media.  I also learnt a lot about the recent history of Singapore and the other countries in that region.


OpenLearn

Beginner's Italian: Food & Drink  Covers some basic information regarding ordering food and drink in cafés, as well as some history of famous Italian cafés.

Getting Started with Italian, Parts 1, 2 and 3  Part 1 mainly covered the same information as the above course, Parts 2 and 3 are devoted to times and train and boat timetables.

Introducing Mammals  A look at what makes mammals different from other living creatures.  I found it very interesting, looking more deeply into areas I vaguely remember from school.  There's a whole series of courses on different types of mammals, so having done Classical summer an an early autumn Italian, the next few months will be all about the mammals.

Five more courses:

FutureLearn

Heart of Scotland: History & Heritage of Stirling at 900 Years (University of Stirling)  A very interesting look through 900 years of the city of Stirling, beginning from its foundation by King David up to the current time.  Having visited Perth and Dundee last year I can see Stirling being on the list to visit next year - there would be plenty to see.

Tracing the History of the Italian Language (University of Padova)  I knew nothing about the formation of the Italian language and only know a very limited number of words but that didn't matter as I found this a fascinating course learning how Italian grew from being a purely written language to one that is spoken throughout Italy and by Italians throughout the world.  One of those course which I think I'll try out and was very pleased to have done so.


OpenLearn

Introducing the Classical World
Exploring Ancient Greek religion
Introducing Homer's Iliad
Three more course in my Classical summer.  As ever I find the interpretation of what people thought at the time rather narrow - especially when views change over time.  However, it's interesting to look at a way of life that has had an influence on Western civilisation.