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Reflections On Online Learning [LIBR203]

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I was an online student for 2 1/2 years at the University of Colorado, Denver. The first year was so frustrating that I nearly left off trying to do an online masters at all. After encouragement from my wife, I resumed the program and had some of the best learning experiences I've known. Despite being very literate in computers and their use the biggest difference between those two terms was understanding how to communicate online. This was a skill I took for granted coming from an IT background. I knew e-mail, I knew team meetings, I knew setting goals and priorities, I'd done it all before, etc, etc. The biggest shifts for me came in embracing the limitations of how I related to the teams and being much more careful in how I communicate in writing. Relating to teams for me was very difficult. Most of my peers in the first term were all in the same timezone and would only do team meetings in the evening their time. This was unworkable for me, coinciding precisely when I

New Year, New School

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January 2012 and wow. I'm starting a new masters program and finishing my first year in Abu Dhabi in about three months. As they say, time flies. I'm posting here because I need to for a class assignment. Hopefully this will get my fingers used to writing again and I can start new posts on this sadly neglected blog. In answer to a request, a photo for the blog as well! Shisha the cat, enjoying the window and the rain in Guimaraes, Portugal about a year and a half ago.

Shangri La

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Shangri La waterfront The waterfront at the Shangri La hotel, with the Sheikh Zayed mosque at center.Was there the other day to pick up a picture I had framed. Beautiful area. Dragon Boat festival is there next weekend.

Coffee & Chicken Sandwiches

I suppose it's time to start writing about Abu Dhabi. Well, to start writing something at any rate. It's Thursday morning here, the last day of the work week. I'm on break between classes having a coffee and chicken sandwiches for "tea'. The fog that surrounded the campus this morning as I came in is gone. The temperature is good. We're planning to do some driving tomorrow. Should be a good day for it. Need to make some playlists for the drive tonight. Where to begin with Abu Dhabi? I can't, really. We're living in a great condominium provided by the company. Well, picked out by us but paid for directly by the company, which makes a lot of things easier. Three bedrooms, with a nice rooftop balcony that I want to start using as the home gym as the weather gets to something tolerable. The house is in order, and last weekend I replaced the mirrors on the bike. I need to get out on the road and comfortable with how people drive here. After that, I should
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Dave Dale & Nadaji "Om Namah Shivaya" (mp3) from "Mantra Rocks" (White Swan Records) Buy at Napster Buy at Amazon MP3 More On This Album
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Letícia Scarpa "Toma Lá Dá Cá" (mp3) from "Lê" (Tratore) Buy at iTunes Music Store More On This Album
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Marianne Dissard "La Peau Du Lait" (mp3) from "The Rough Guide To Paris Lounge" (Rough Guides/World Music Network) Buy at iTunes Music Store Buy at Amazon MP3 More On This Album Playing around with IODA Promonet music resources and how their code generation works. Nice little song. Nothing grand.