Online course at Oxford University

[carmay]

So much for excitement and anticipation. I just got an email from Oxford that not enough people signed up for the "Using the Victorian Census" course and it's been cancelled I am so upset right now as I bought the textbooks and have been doing background work so that I'd be able to do a good job. The options they gave me were to wait for the course in September and see if that runs, take another course, or get a refund.

I really don't want to have that kind of money just sitting there waiting for September as it was £285.00, which is about $465 in US dollars. And I really wanted to go back to study. So my only two options are to either take another course - the only one I was interested in was the one on Henry VIII, or get a refund and sign up for the genealogy courses at the University of Dundee. They have two called Beyond the Internet I and II, which if I sign up for both at the same time are only £175 and cover various aspects of genealogy. At this point, I am thinking that if I take the ones at Dundee, I could possibly teach an adult ed class here. There isn't a whole lot I could do with the Henry VIII course.

Carole

[millymcb]

That is such a shame... but you have probably learnt something from reading the books...no learning is wasted!

The genealogy course sounds quite good value as long as it is teaching you things you don't already know. And it would be good background for the adult ed class.

Good luck with the adult ed class idea.  I finished my little teaching course and before I knew it my friend had stuck me in front of a class of  16-19 year old college students every tuesday till the end of summer term.  Bit of a shock - but seems to be going ok. ...Well only half turned up for the second week but I don't think that was particularly anything to do with my teaching (at least I hope not)


Milly

[carmay]

That is such a shame... but you have probably learnt something from reading the books...no learning is wasted!

The genealogy course sounds quite good value as long as it is teaching you things you don't already know. And it would be good background for the adult ed class.

Good luck with the adult ed class idea.  I finished my little teaching course and before I knew it my friend had stuck me in front of a class of  16-19 year old college students every tuesday till the end of summer term.  Bit of a shock - but seems to be going ok. ...Well only half turned up for the second week but I don't think that was particularly anything to do with my teaching (at least I hope not)

Milly

Yes, I was upset yesterday. I kind of felt like the wind had been taken out of my sails. I had ordered the books and started doing the reading, and then yesterday received the email.

I've been seeing a trauma specialist (I had a horrific car crash last September, when a huge truck, or as you would say lorry, crashed into my car and tore the entire passenger side off). I talked this all over with her yesterday afternoon at my appointment and we both agreed that I should go for the Henry VIII course. When I first found the online classes at Oxford, it was the course I was going to take. Then when they added the Census course, I decided to go for that. But I've always found the Tudor period fascinating and we agreed that since I was looking so forward to taking the course at Oxford, I should do it and just choose the other course. I can re-apply for the Census course in the fall and hopefully there will be enough registrants. In the meantime, I can just enjoy learning more about one of my favorite historical periods and it will give my mind something positive to focus on.

So Oxford U, Henry VIII, and I will be spending ten weeks together

Carole

[millymcb]

I just read all teh Philippa Gregory Books (The Other Boleyn Girl etc) and loved them. They are basically fiction but do have lots of facts in there too. I was never particularly interested in this period of history but learnt a lot. I never knew I didnt know so much!

Enjoy the course

Milly

[carmay]

I just read all teh Philippa Gregory Books (The Other Boleyn Girl etc) and loved them. They are basically fiction but do have lots of facts in there too. I was never particularly interested in this period of history but learnt a lot. I never knew I didnt know so much!

Enjoy the course

Milly

Thanks, Milly. One of the important things I've learned from reading proper history books on Henry VIII is just how many facts were left out of the movies. Or how things were embellished.

I saw the Philippa Gregory books at the library and I think once I finish the course, I'll give them a read. Maybe I'll even write a novel

Carole