COLLABORATION+REPORT+1

IHS Collaboration Report 1 Nicky Robinson 8802


 * Collaboration is viewed widely and can include contributions to forum discussions, collaborations with other students on projects, assistance with technical difficulties with the unit, voluntary contributions to other organisations outside IHS, arising directly from and linked to IHS studies, contributions aimed at improving IHS units and the programme, voluntary action relating to the programme and the IHS mission. Comment on activities within forum posts and what you believe was the most useful of your contributions. Use this report to reflect and perhaps act as a basis for future collaborative activity.**


 * REPORT:**

The first half of Semester 2 and ‘Emergence of 21st century humanity’ opened some exciting new doors for discussion and consideration amongst students.


 * Forum contributions.**

This semester we seem to have fewer students actively participating in forum discussions. I’m not sure if this is because everyone else in my 8801 unit was actually completing two units at once last semester and I’ve therefore been left behind? In any case, there is a noticeably quieter space in forum discussions and this does make it more challenging to engage. That said, I have noted a couple of familiar faces and am focussing on encouraging quieter, more tentative students to make their voices heard by responding to their forum posts in a relevant, meaningful way.

What continues to impress me, is the depth of interest and knowledge brought to the forum table by all students: Coming from such diverse professions and walks of life, we are fortunate to be exposed to so many experiences and perspectives in these discussions. I am always aware too, of the universal agreement to remain constructive in all input and to avoid being defensive when different or opposing views are presented. There is such a skill to be learned in the art of //receiving// information - I continue to seek greater understanding of this and to contribute, as I can, the best of my own ability to receive as I absorb and process the content of other posts.

It was put to me before I began IHS studies, that one goes to university to learn, not to tell everybody what you already know. This advice rings in my head often, as a guide to why I’m here. But I am also aware that online study is a little unusual too, as it seems to invite views, especially in areas of philosophy and ethics, which are not black and white, for which there is no right or wrong answer. We are collectively seeking to address challenges for which there are no definitive answers. It stands to reason therefore, that our exchanges would mirror that.

Tim Long from 8801 and I remained in contact and in particular, shared information when it became apparent (thanks to Angela Janz’s assistance) that neither Tim nor I had completed our UWA required Academic Conduct Essentials component within the prescribed Semester 1 deadline. Knowing Tim was an intelligent and equally dedicated student, I was reassured that if he’d found it difficult to navigate the UWA student pheme as I did, that perhaps I was not alone.
 * Collaboration with other students**

After some exchange with UWA online student help, I arrived at a response which, though not exactly pleasing, resolved the situation for at least this unit. I passed this information back to Tim who seemed to have arrived at a similar conclusion: We will be automatically enrolled in ACE NEXT semester and must complete our assessment by the new deadline. We have the one chance to do so - but that should not be a problem, now that we are looking out for it when the next semester commences. It may be that the two of us are the only students to have encountered this road block, and therefore we have been duly warned. Or perhaps this highlights a gap in the sharing of information between UWA on campus structures, and the information and support provided to online students. We will continue to keep our tutors posted, but Angela did observe the issue and will no doubt be alert to any problems in our next attempt.

In addition to the above issue regarding the ACE module, I contacted tutors on a couple of occasions regarding technical challenges. My first contact regarded some of the links to the unit through the Moodle. I suggested the reason tutors may be experiencing a dearth of contributions to the 8802 General Discussion forum and to Tutor Feedback and Alerts, was because there was initially no reply button available. This has since been addressed. I have also had ongoing difficulty with access to eLecta online tutorials. Though Skype testing has been simple and effective, I am missing out on collaboration due to what appears to be incompatibility with my Mac (the only computer I can access). This is yet to be resolved - I am not in a position to buy a PC, therefore may be stuck with the problem, but hope to find a way around it that does not involve buying anything.
 * Assistance with technical difficulties within the unit.**

I also raised with tutors, some concern regarding the split between deadlines for forum posts and assignments. It appeared to me within the first couple of weeks, to be illogical that we would have to submit posts a week before our assignment, when quite often the question posed in the forum required us to have largely completed our assignments beforehand. Both this and the issue of a lack of forum posts with which we can engage before the weekly deadline have since been addressed - which is a terrific demonstration of the organic nature of this course, and the potential for students to constructively contribute to the evolution of a study - about evolution.


 * Voluntary Action contributing to the IHS mission.**

As part of an ongoing dialogue with the Australian Conservation Foundation, I was invited to assist with a project for Climate Reality Project Presenters in the wake of the Australian Government’s rollout of a price on carbon.

I spent most of the first half of this semester (from just prior to the July 1 introduction of the new tax) researching and developing text which addressed a number of key community concerns and misunderstandings regarding carbon pricing and surrounding Government plans. I named it ‘Clearing the Air’ and last week, a completed paper was released to Australian TCRP Presenters, for their use in media releases, community engagement programmes and presentations. I attach a copy of this work and draw particular attention to the application of IHS skills in structuring the document and properly referencing it - new skills for me! (Please note, the report is NOT for public dissemination).


 * What has been the most useful of my forum contributions this semester?**

I have felt the forums to be a little more reserved this semester. To that end, I’ve consciously worked at investing in a little more light and shade in my posts - responding with researched and considered posts but also at times, adding a little upbeat engagement, in an attempt to encourage and reassure newer students that it is not a space where anyone will be shot down in flames or intimidated in any way.

I have also adopted this approach consciously as the subject matter we’re dealing with is sometimes quite daunting - not in its content, rather, its implications. When you view the history of the universe across an entire timeline, you cannot help but note the rise and demise of species with relatively clinical analysis. There is the potential to view homo sapiens’ 21st century challenges therefore, with the cool, calm detachment of a scientist witnessing the coming and going of yet another species in the line up - until you realise that’s //us//. I don’t step away from the gravity of this possibility for one moment. Rather, I seek to make it more engaging and less daunting by injecting some optimism and even a little humour into the mix. It is imperative however, that an optimistic approach does not overshadow the academic process, and to this end, I have endeavoured to research thoroughly and contribute meaningful findings and points of view for discussion.

In the remainder of the unit, I seek to advance my connections with other students, as familiarity with the online learning process grows, and we develop a greater understanding of and interest in each others’ respective pursuits.


 * End of report.**