Mid Point Review: Text

The following paragraphs includes:

1. Evaluation of my project proposal as a part of a self-directed programme of study

2. Where I need to develop my study plans in relation to the Unit 1 Learning Outcomes

(please refer to handbook pages 41 and 43 )

1. My project proposal is about the lack of handwriting in a digitalized world, and my aim is to put focus on handwriting. I had some problems with the project the first three months (oct – dec), I could not really get it started. I was unmotivated because I was unsure whether I had picked the right subject, and I was also not used to the working methods. Making my own projects was new to me, and I found it difficult to find the motivation. Being in a “new” city and speaking English was also unusual, I was actually a bit confused. It was hard to find joy and inspiration working on my project.

After Christmas I had the courage to ask David and Sigune if I could change the subject, and that day was really helpful to me. They, and people in my class, gave me lots of ideas and inspiration, and advised me to continue on the handwriting project. Things are going much better now, and I have many ideas to new projects. One of the methods that I find very useful is to work on several projects at the same time. I have also read many books about the historical aspect of handwriting.

2. Looking at the Learning outcomes plan there is some points that I feel that I need to work on:

I have recently read many books about the history of handwriting and I feel that I am starting to know the background information very well. Now I need to focus on the present time, and as I wrote in the Context and Methodology part in my Study Proposal, I have to contact some people working with handwriting, and maybe most relevant: read studies and text from present time.

Under the Technical Competence point there is also room for improvement. I am confident using InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, but I have never been good at drawing and my handwriting is rather poor. By doing a project about handwriting, I think it is important to be able to know all the opportunities and be able to try things out, so I need to work on this. I will try to improve my own handwriting, and it would be nice to be able to do my own drawings and writing in some of my projects.

I also think that I should be a bit more experimental about my project, maybe take it to a bigger scale. I tend to think a bit too straight forward, I am not taught to be very creative, so a big (possible public) project scares me, but I definitely have to look closer at this point.

My debate and discussion skills (Learning outcomes, page 43) need improvement. I am a bit shy when it comes to discussions and presentations, and it has also been a struggle for me to have to do that in English. I feel that I am getting better, especially during the recent workshops (Sam, David: Research Question Workshop, Ana: Website). Please give us more sessions like that. I think that I am not the only one who find them more interesting and engaging than some of the other stuff we have been doing.