Amy Woodgate

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  • Well, I've already learnt something new! Magistrates are laypeople, rather than lawyers, and they are called 'Justice of the Peace' in Scotland. Cool!

  • Interesting that there was a focus on 'financial gain' - can fraud not include indirect benefits such as power or access to assets that don't belong to them, e.g. pretending to be from a particular organisation or to have particular qualifications that you do not technically possess. If you impersonate someone, isn't that a fraudulent act in itself?

  • Culture is the product of entrenched experience in a particular environment - it's more difficult to realise a need to accommodate when you're in your home environment as you usually operate without a huge amount of awareness. When the "sojourner", you are very aware of differences as you are not in your natural environment. (is that close?)

  • Excellent 'see also' video!! Well worth a watch

  • 'Beyond bricks and mortar' was a fascinating read, compounded by the fact the government policy link was broken (and universal design not a term found at all on their new site) and a bit of follow up research into my own government's (UK) policy for school building standards: (a) there are two policies, one for mainstream and another for 'SEND and alternative...

  • Also, there is no requirement for them to provide a varied curriculum beyond what internal resources will allow.... innovation within the content matter is different and often research based; innovation within the delivery methods is dependent on student expectation and resource to upskill the academics and provide time + space to experiment/fail. Most are...

  • Too often strategic decisions of non-teaching HE leadership are passed directly onto teaching staff without acknowledgement of the new 'accommodations' required. Most are at breaking point. Innovation is often one of only a few options: innovate to survive; strike to make a point; get a doctors note for burnout.

  • If it is a human right to inclusive education, which means inclusion within mainstream schools, and 'special needs' is largely deemed a derogatory phrase to be phased out, with 'special schools' also seen as exclusionary - what is the correct language to use for those that might need a bit more support or is this something we shouldn't refer to in a collective...

  • I've always found the idea of 'visiting > residence' particularly interesting, especially when there are stark differences between the cultures. If you are visiting a community or country that identify with a different culture to your own, it is typically expected that you will accommodate to them, e.g. taking your shoes off in a Japanese household and wearing...

  • I guess I found it most surprising that these cultural elements came as a shock to Markus - as a student of the language, usually you get fairly familiar with the cultural aspects too (if only on paper or through cartoons/films/etc.). For the future, I probably would expect Markus to be more accommodating of the culture he has moved into or be more explicit of...

  • Everyone jumped to the conclusion that the other understood their cultural 'requirements' (default) without checking in or testing the assumptions. They had both only just met and jumped fully in. Hopefully it won't be the last of their interactions together, and as the PDF says, hopefully provides a nice source of conversation for the future. However, when...

  • I'm not sure my point was clear - I am not pointing at educators being greedy, quite the opposite, rather the institutions they are part of more often that not are over-recruiting to courses without providing proportional resource to (a) redesign the course to support scale or (b) appoint tutors to support the new volumes. Sometimes 'innovation' is a...

  • ... I was talking about personas. I wasn't knocking H880. I was making an observation based on my experience with initiatives using personas, particularly in web-design contexts, where developing the persona is given more time than the doing the design work. You can argue that persona development IS design work, but in workshops I have attended it often felt...

  • I tend to only use it at conferences as a back-channel - it's too easy to get addicted to so I've rationalised a few digital mediums over the years for my own 'sanity'

  • Visitor >> Resident makes a lot of sense however it is one set of parameters to look at digital interactions - it is highly likely that those with low levels of digital confidence will struggle with either analogy, seeing the digital as like receiving a postcard from a place you've never been before (everyone is talking about this 'digital' but it seems scary)...

  • Often academics (much like many public sector workers) put disclaimers on their social media handles saying 'these are my own views and do not represent the views of the university/employer'... however, there are still examples of academics getting into trouble for sharing views and values the institution does not agree with, online in their spare time....

  • I really dislike personas. Always have, probably always will. I like the idea of putting yourself in the shoes of a given target audience but, more often than not, more time is spent on the persona images than the learning design and then they are never cross-referenced later. Universities have a really well-tuned habit of just adding more and more and more...

  • I enjoy seeing all these tools developed to 'speed up uptake of information' - it's interesting because we think we're being super efficient but human learning is slow, needs time, needs reflection, and without that you'll quickly forget the book you read in 3-minutes flat! ;)

  • AI could be valuable if applied with the correct values - it could be used to scrape content already out there in MOOCs to help identify the best resources for students - but it could also be as impactful as online worlds (thought to be game changers, much like AR/VR, but quickly dispelled as the next shiny thing comes along or you get bored building the...

  • Those who dabbled with SecondLife will likely be the ones dabbling with VR and AR in their teaching. Different environments can be valuable, especially where there are finite opportunities for skill rehearsal in real (e.g. medical procedures or flying an aircraft) or the notion of environment is of review (e.g. digital cultures research or building something...

  • Lolz. I love this course already.

    Innovation in education: appropriate resource allocation with less greed for international student fees... dare I say, capped numbers, or at least an appropriate ratio so educators can actually build a learning relationship with their students.

    Sadly, the rhetoric of MOOCs has infiltrated resource allocation "but Ms...

  • If resources keep getting cut, and staff undervalued, no amount of online replacement will save the broken system. As is the case with many forms of innovation, it is at its most transformational when there is a solid foundation first. Cutting corners doesn't make it better. Half a text book isn't a good learning experience, so why do so many institutions...

  • I think the difficulty with many of these 'future projections' is it suggests international, equal uptake rather than the fragmented (at best) reality. Sure, all of these things will happen (they are already happening) but it's the wide-spread uptake that is most interesting and, at times, troubling.

  • Amy Woodgate made a comment

    Would have been interested to hear a bit more about the application to older learners, especially in challenging situations such as prison or schools with a high level of violence - surveillance and searches in absent of trust due to a system that has not gained the trust of the individuals. How could trauma-informed approaches influence these environments to...

  • MOOCs only really started in 2011 - they are still typically "free at point of contact" and as you've demonstrated you've been able to engage with the vast majority of the course. Just because you don't find the certificate valuable, many many others do. There are lots of anecdotal examples of people getting scholarships or work placements, not to mention just...

  • All scenarios highlight the importance of additional context - the more information you have about a given crime and the factors that led to and resulted from it are crucial for coming to a final verdict of sentencing.

  • I think they need to be spoken more about. Apparently Scotland uses a lot of community payback orders (CPO) which are effective but I hadn't realised the extent. I guess the issue is that too much public awareness might be (naively) seen as a promotion of crime, e.g. park where you like and only pay £30 fine rather than £50 long stay or £40 cancellation charge...

  • The national press have a lot to answer for regarding public perception and skewed facts (not naming names but Daily M* et al) - wouldn't it be wonderful to report on non-click bait positive stories, such as the positive effects of SSOs? Storybook dads? Pen-friend initiatives? *sigh*

    In other news, apparently Scotland has implemented non-custodial sentences...

  • £40-55k a year pp does not sound like a good use of funds, especially if they are in for multiple years and then have a high reoffending rate. Surely spending that money (in the majority of cases) on stipend, CO and required education would be a better use of public funding...

  • Education, education, education.
    As David in the top video said, many can not read or write, so it's not necessarily their fault if they miss an appointment when they can't read the letter sent.
    "... if you suffer your people to be ill-educated then punish them for what their first education disposed of them, then what are we to deduce then that we first...

  • With appropriate funding, there is no reason why prisons can't act as agents of reform but it is difficult to to this when service provision is constantly cut and resources stretched.

  • Amy Woodgate made a comment

    It seems the easiest way to find out about conditions in a national prison system is where there has been controversy over standards and it has been covered by the national media.

  • The Norwegian social services and education investment plans differ from the UK in many ways - the prison format no doubt contributes but the wider liberal approach to national support environments no doubt contributes significantly too to low offender and reoffender rates

  • I don't think it's a case of either building more or sending fewer to prison - austerity measures have caused a general crisis in all social services, which is just crazy. Cutting back on youth services, activities, education, health care, lighting and security on our streets etc. all has a direct impact on the number of people in our prison system.

  • To be honest, given our current political climate, the disproportionate BME numbers and those over 70 does not surprise me at all but it is crazy to see it in the data!

  • Prison provides an environment within which reflection on previous wrong doing can be facilitated and action plans to reduce repeat offending developed with professionals

  • I have no issue with a few home-comforts - a radio could be a valuable source of company and education. TV, on the other hand, is so bad these days, a series in to 'Love Island' seems enough to encourage anyone to (re)offend ;)

  • The CPS do look into a series of different punishments, fit for the crime. If they are not dangerous will depend on the evidence provided rather than a gut feeling - you can be easily fooled by the charm of some offenders so it's important to not cast judgement without hearing all the evidence.

    Pregnant women in prison I feel is dependent on the facilities...

  • I'm from Edinburgh (Scotland) but have family members who used to work in law enforcement. Keen to learn more about the prison system and its impact on society.

  • Apple Apps often only consider the user experience for those with the latest model - at times it feels a deliberate ploy to make the experience annoying enough on an old device that you'll want to upgrade. iMail (odd header display) and Camera (lag when taking a shot) are repeat offenders, as they are the most commonly used apps on your phone. In this case,...

  • Amy Woodgate made a comment

    A really excellent course, both for content and design. News items were great!

  • No.1 Ginger Kombucha (UK) - "naturally rich with live cultures" no health claims

  • The position initially surprises until you consider all the other factors involved in a boycott, then suddenly it's not surprising at all. I think the difficulty is people often think they want to see immediate change enacted overnight - boycotts can be helpful for this immediate gratification.

    However, whilst the logo looks 'real', there is no information...

  • I'd eat anything (within reason) - it's a good way to open your mind and keep learning! :)

  • I think there is a growing acceptance and desire for alternatives that don't stray too far from typical expectations of a given food stuff e.g. burger patties that still can be put in a bun and eaten like-for-like. Humans are fairly adaptable providing it doesn't suddenly crunch or move when it didn't before!

  • Scandal - pizza express risotto containing 'lobster' but turns out it was only 33% lobster containing reformed seafood meat rather than pure lobster. It's a scandal because they are misleading the customer (consumer law)

  • There doesn't seem to be a feedback survey at the end of the course...

  • Curiosity is key >> interest to know more is more critical than what is currently known (as what is currently known can quickly be rendered obsolete in a fast moving digitally-shared knowledge economy)

  • 'The more you learn, the more you realise you don't know' but the more connections you see between subjects. Everyone I'm sure has had a Baader-Meinhof moment - read something or hear a new word then hear/see it everywhere in new and exciting places. That's what networked learning means to me.

  • Educators need to adopt a growth mindset themselves before engaging with students to nurture their own growth mindsets in turn. It's super difficult if you've been exposed to a culture of 'not everyone gets/likes maths' or you thrived in a subject in spite of your own educational experience, but the joy and enthusiasm you have in a subject is the most...

  • The infographic is really difficult to read - not the most effective or accessible graphic for understanding the subject

  • Many arranged marriages are based on loyalty and companionship, rather than love. Seiichi and Rosemary might be very liberated by the arrangement that they don't have to love each other as love is what got her in this mess in the first place ;)

  • Sven and Hernando are the two top offenders for me, only if 'spend the night' is sexually motivated. If Sven were lonely and just wanted some company, fine, but requiring sex as a form of currency from a woman without an alternative seems poor form. Hernando, on the other hand, would likely have been hurt but to go from love-to-loathe so quickly seems a bit...

  • I don't think Mahle had any empathy, especially once she decided to avoid the situation multiple times.

  • Not the most inspiring resource, nor the most informative. Other than interacting with other cultures requires you to suspend judgement, I'm not sure what else the video offered.

  • Language is one of the most fascinating artefacts of a culture as it is shaped by your world view, as Michael highlights in the TedX talk. Sadly, for hundreds of years, linguists would go to learn languages for the sole purpose of translating the christian bible into their language and expose them to the 'one' culture (so ultimately they would find a 'better'...

  • I don't think Mahle was open at all to interacting with the woman after the critical incident - initially, maybe, when the interaction was familiar to her own world view.

  • In my own culture, I feel I am strongest at empathy. However, to empathise is to understand and I feel it would be wrong to say I can empathise to the same level with cultures I am less familiar. When meeting new people, I am definitely curious and keen to know more about what their culture is like, plus open without judgement wherever possible (although, as...

  • It feels like you need to know the rules of the game (in a given culture) before you can engage. His experiences are unique in having many international experiences and being able to embrace them (and even code-switch) regularly. Most people will not have this level of immersion and need to know what they can do to engage successfully with a culture they 'do...

  • Yeah, maybe it was the eye contact that was taken as offensive, or offensive only after she hadn't gone over to say hello!

  • Yeah, either that or some 'desk research' - I'd be curious to better understand why, for sure!

  • Amy Woodgate made a comment

    If I were Mahle, I'd initially be shocked but curious about what changed and why... I might change my route to work for a few days then see if it happens again. It's only natural to try and avoid these situations you don't understand but for all you know the woman is just trying to get her to buy something or a nod is offensive. However, she'll never know if...

  • Good fun but easy to get carried away and then realise you have a lot of content to create!!

  • Uncanny valley (things being similar to real life but the differences hijack the example) e.g. if it's too glossy or actors aren't believable

  • Great exercise. Good acting too (can sometimes be the make or break of a virtual scenario!)

  • Sully is a fascinating example of when scenarios can be used against you when those providing the materials are not adequately considering all the variables. The simulations were largely conducted (during the court hearing) without many of the additional considerations he had to take into account at in a split second. When other pilots were tested under the...

  • I'm part of a forum for dog owners - the number of times people justify not doing something by finding a Daily Mail style cancer claim in a questionable article is mind-blowing! It takes a lot more time to research a subject from both for and against positions (or even neutral academic papers with inconclusive conclusions due to a need for more research)

  • A Christmas Carol (2019)
    - Even though based on the book, this new version added a few twists and historical artefacts of the characters' lives to help flesh out the story and encourage you to empathise with them. Adding these twists and sub-plots had me on the edge of my chair as I was guessing what might happen next and making my own predictions (must to my...

  • Last breath (film)
    True story of a saturation diver who lost his umbilical to the ship and oxygen supply was cut. I won't spoil it for people who haven't seen it before but it is a MUST WATCH! ... especially for anyone involved in oil rig maintenance!

  • I've predominately seen it used in medical and legal education. Almost every subject could use them, especially to apply abstract or theoretical concepts to real world problems but typically uptake seems to be dependent on organisational culture (i.e. use of and support for scenario based development) and course creator exposure to SBL as a potential...

  • SBL could be used in an online engineering Prof-Dev setting - outline a process and ask what to do next, for example just using an MCQ format. This could be applied to health and safety too. I saw more really nice branching structure video ideas a little while back (might be of use for inspiration): https://www.wyzowl.com/best-interactive-videos/

  • Amy Woodgate made a comment

    "They Shall Not Grow Old" provided a fascinating insight into British WW1 war effort, largely showing the lives of the normal man on the front line. An everyday hero. The sentiment of the film title indicates the truth of their smiles, many of whom will not have the chance to grow old or live beyond the war. It was a gentle film, largely depicting young men...

  • Red Baron emphasises 'war against the machines' rather than people, whereas Joyeux Noel highlights these were real people and the difficulty to shoot when the human connection is established. White ribbon seems to focus on the development of people. An interesting comparison - might have to watch them all!!

  • Amy Woodgate made a comment

    He was an embodiment of the German people but potentially seen more as a political tool than as an individual.