This is not the end. This is not the wrap-up blog
- John Mugumya
- Mar 27, 2021
- 5 min read
The sun is setting on my MA journey at UL. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Winston Churchill, 1942.
This is not the final blog post. This blog is not going to ending here. I am not signing off. Not yet.
First, this MA program has not ended. We might be nearing April and closing in on the sunset and the home stretch but when I look at my schedule there are a couple of corners ahead.
If you visualise a marathon, there is enough distance to win it. If you imagine a sprint, there is a lot left to lose it all.
However, the module that led to this blog has ended and after today, after this very posting, everything that is published here will no longer be subjected to a specific requirement leading to academic assessment.
I enjoyed writing these weekly posts and I hope to continue with the blog. I just need to work out a suitable schedule.
But to conclude the assignment, it is only fair that I look back and reflect on the journey I have covered so far.
Trepidation
When I signed up for this MA program, I had no idea that it would be ending without me stepping into a lecture room or physically meeting with any of my classmates or lecturers.
I had been out of school for close to 20 years and had a bias on what I thought studying online involved. I am kind of old school and for my undergraduate program lectures were often delivered in crowded rooms with poor or no public address systems.
The pandemic hit us with such force; I did not have the time to fully research how online studying is conducted. Maybe that was a good thing because I started this MA with limited expectations. When you start with few expectations, it is very difficult to be disappointed. But when you do not fully know what to expect, it is also very easy to be overwhelmed.
Initially, I thought doing a master’s degree would be a walk in the park. I imagined I would dedicate a few hours a day. I even contemplated taking a job despite choosing to do this course full time.
I worried about getting bored. I have been working every day for as long as I remember, and I thought I would get demotivated without the routine of work.
I had no idea how the lockdown would impact my life, my studies, and my young family in a new country without the ability to meet people and make friends.
Starting out in September 2020, I had so many worries about so many unknowns. I am writing to you right now because most of those worries never came to pass. It has not been easy, but I am here.
Abstract Teachings
For a large part, the lectures on this program have been mainly theoretical as is expected in academia. I have worked in the media before, and I have a rough idea about some communication concepts but not technical communication and not to this level of detail. Reading about fellows like Benjamin Bloom, Robert Gagne illuminated some of the concepts that are cardinal in journalism. As someone who didn’t have formal journalism training but who worked in the industry for close to 20 years, so many things started making sense after reading about these theorists.
I taught myself some bits of graphic design and EL6041 Instructional Design was a very helpful module in establishing the knowledge behind the concepts.
Peer Review Exercise
The program did not only dwell on theory. The assignments were majorly practical and emphasised putting into practice the theoretical concepts learned. The most interesting exercise was the peer collaboration on TW5211 Theory of Technical Communication. We had to write a research proposal (I had never written one) and post it on a class forum and classmates would advise us on how to improve it. Then we would improve it and submit the final document for assessment. It was the closest thing to face-to-face learning and yet it was 100% online and I must say that I learned a lot from reading comments about my draft work by classmates and reading their work.
I believe my research proposal for RM6031 Research Methods was a better document because of this exercise.
Learning From Others
Because of the physical absence of classmates and the lack of lab sessions, we have been forced to learn practical skills on our own. Working on the podcast assignment was like diving in at the deep end without knowing how to swim. David Deutsch the famous physicist once said that anything that is possible can be accomplished with the right understanding and for me that can be best exemplified by my learning from zero, how to use the audio editor and recording program Audacity. And not just learn how to use it but how to create a podcast on it.
It is incredible how much instruction is available on platforms like YouTube. Some of the videos are complex but some are very good, easy, and very instructive. You just need a bit of patience and a lot of commitment and you will have the right understanding to accomplish anything.
Learning From Practitioners
The lecturers give us the knowledge base, but it is when you listen to someone working as a technical communicator, that you truly appreciate what it means to be one. I said last week that listening to someone on the job you are training to do helps you visualise your future role. We have had many former students, now working, coming to talk to us and their webinars have been very enriching.
Working On a Resource
The assignment to develop an interactive resource on EL6072 pushed me out of the comfort zone I had managed to create for myself. That meant that I had to learn how to use another software tool. Last semester, I learned how to use Audacity now, the program that many seems to be talking about is Articulate 360 and its derivatives. To develop the resource, we could use any tool of our choice and classmates made numerous suggestions, but I determined that I would develop my resource using Articulate, just for the heck of it. The team at Articulate has an unbelievable collection of instructional videos on their online community website and on their YouTube channel and again, if you are patient and determined, every tool is learnable.
Regrets
Regrets are part of learning. And looking back, if I could do this all over again, I would do proper research about the program and what is required. I guess it was because I had been out of school for a long time, but it took me a couple of weeks to fully appreciate how hard I needed to pedal.
A Better Me?
The program is not over yet, but I think I am a better version of myself.
I have a clearer understanding of the role of a technical communicator.
I now appreciate podcasts better when I listen to them.
I can tell a good graphic from a poor one.
I can use tools like audacity and articulate which I had never used before.
I understand why lessons at school are structured the way they are structured.
I can now write a research proposal and literature review chapter.
I could design but now I can design with confidence and support my design choices with theoretical evidence.
Learning never ends and there is still a lot to discover. I think Aristotle put it best when he said, “the more you know, the more you know (that) you don’t know.”
Till next time.
John
NOTE: I may not post a new blog for a few weeks as I work to reduce my assignment load, or I may pop in with a brief post. Am not making promises for now.
But you can help review this blog. Tell me where I can improve in the form below.
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