Hello everyone and happy new (Gregorian calendar) year. Happy Chinese new year too!
It's been a while since I've posted anything here so I just thought I'd let people know that I am alive and well, but have been trying to take some time out from internet use. I spent a lot of time over Christmas and the new year working hard on assignments for my MA course, which was quite stressful and very draining. I have some strong procrastination genes somewhere in my DNA and everything was a bit last minute! So after that, I really needed to take a break from thinking about anything to do with work or studying.
Now the second semester of the MA has just begun and I've got a distinct 'back to school' feeling which is never good. Perhaps it's just because my mum didn't buy me a shiny new pencil case.
Another reason for avoiding the computer is that fact that I've been suffering from some strange and sometimes painful sensations (and creaking and clicking) in my wrists, elbows and shoulders, a reminder that this technology malarkey is not entirely good for your health. Spending long periods in front of a computer screen can damage joints, your back and your eyes, not too mention the headaches. I think it's important that this health and safety stuff, regardless of how boring it is, should be taught to the learners we work with, particularly younger learners. We often discuss how important it is to guide learners in internet safety, but we should remember that physical and mental health and safety is important as well.
Anyway, there you go. I'll be trying to put up some new posts when inspiration strikes.
Cheers.
Good luck with everything.
ReplyDeleteCheers David, thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteHi Richard,
ReplyDeleteJust discovered your blog :-)
Good on you for taking a break. I was almost completely absent online last summer and didn't do anything work or study related. I wanted to spend time with my family and it was also good for my health.
Nergiz
Hi Nergiz! Thanks for visiting. I felt good about having a break from 'connectedness', but I've found it tough to get back into it, wondering how much I really want to.
ReplyDeleteRichard,
ReplyDeleteI think that's a healthy sign. When I started connecting more online, I didn't reflect about it. I got drawn in more and more. It was and is kind of the think to do. Disconnecting for a while takes a lot of courage. There is always this "fear" of being out of the loop, not knowing what's going on, and being left out. Overcoming this fear is not easy but worth it.
I know for sure that I don't want to be back at that level of connectedness I was before. But I also still recognize the value of being connected and engaging in a Community of Practise or PLN. So keeping it balanced is what I am working on :-)
Nergiz
I think it's a twitter thing. A never ending background noise. If you take time out, there is a feeling of being out of the loop once you've been sucked in. I spent so much time out I realised that I didn't miss it, I wasn't losing touch and I have no real desire to dive back in. I'll drop in occasionally, but I have actually decided that I would advise any teacher to be wary of the idea that twitter is this great thing for teacher development. I don't think it is.
ReplyDelete