My background and introduction
I worked for The Open University, assisting the delivery of vocational qualifications by distance. I offered learner support including IT support, communications and maintenance of our customer-facing website, learner resources website and e-portfolio. Since leaving The Open University, I offer ad-hoc photography and WordPress design.
What do I hope to achieve through my postgraduate studies?
My aim for this MA is to create for passion’s sake. I don’t hold any expectations for the future. I have been drawing, writing and creating my entire life, and I know that after this MA, I will continue to develop, story-driven games for the love of doing so. What I expect from this MA is to grow personally, creatively and academically.
An experience that has been instrumental in leading me to study the MA in Indie Games Development
The experience that made the most profound change in me is graduating from The Open University. I studied and practised while pregnant and working, and later taking care of a newborn. The degree gave me confidence in myself that I had always lacked. I learnt that I am smart enough. Most importantly, I developed resilience, the resilience to face challenges head-on.
Time management and Agile development
While working at The Open University, we had access to all modules free of charge, as part of that advantage, I studied Web Technologies. We covered the Waterfall and Agile methods of working, researching case studies of each. So I have a basic understanding of Time management and Agile methodologies. I am excited to learn more about working Agile. I have read The Agile Manifesto and applied principles like “customer collaboration over contract negotiation” in my career as a customer advisor, assistant and freelancer:
“Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Working software over comprehensive documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to change over following a plan”
(Beck et al. 2001)
Research: I’ve assigned myself Being Agile in Business by Belinda Waldock (2015) for this weeks reading, so I can learn more about ‘Being Agile’.
Challenge Activity
“Use objects from around your home to create a custom avatar of yourself. The objects selected should not be random: they must tell a story or mean something to you. There are no other rules and you are encouraged to get visual and have some fun” (Falmouth University 2020).
My Avatar description:
Hello everyone,
I’ve included books and games. Dixit is one of my favourite games and the illustrations are beautiful. I studied Classics and Creative Writing with The Open Univerisity and I have an interest in ancient cultures and literature, so I included works like The Odyssey, The Aeneid and Metamorphoses. My poster in the background says ‘I like books and wine’ in Italian which is also fairly telling. The Art of Point and Click is another really fabulous book I’ve included.
My beloved Fuji camera, the xt-2 is present although I am hoping to upgrade to an xt-4 soon. Flowers for Lisa by Abelardo Morell is one of my favourite examples of creativity by a photographer, in this book Morell photographs the same vase of flowers in many different ways. You can read more about it at https://www.lensculture.com/articles/abelardo-morell-flowers-for-lisa.
I am a PC-gamer at heart finding many hours of solace in playing games in childhood, so I have included my mouse. And finally, I’ve added my iPad at the top, I joined the WIG (Women In Games) game jam and the picture is a character based on my son, who plants some flowers.
Open Forum and Webinar
SMART GOALS
- Specific – Create a study and reading schedule
- Measurable – Have a plan set out on paper
- Attainable – In five minutes or less plan your week’s activities
- Relevant – A schedule will keep me on track
- Time-bound – Avoid over-planning
- Specific – Brush-up on Academic Writing and Harvard Referencing Styles
- Measurable – My blog should reflect my study on Academic Writing and Harvard Referencing styles
- Attainable – The Falmouth University Student Hub offers guidance on Academic Writing and Harvard Referencing styles
- Relevant – Academic Writing and Harvard Referencing are a requirement of the Academic Journal
- Time-bound – I will brush-up on both now to save time correcting my referencing at a later date
List of figures
Figure 1. Photograph of objects from around my home. October 2020. Photograph by Author.
References
BECK, K et al. 2001. ‘Manifesto for Agile Software Development’. [online]. Available at: https://agilemanifesto.org/ [accessed 23 September 2020].
Falmouth University. 2020. ‘Week 1: Challenge Activity’. Falmouth Flex [online]. Available at: https://flex.falmouth.ac.uk/courses/872/discussion_topics/17759?module_item_id=44791 [accessed 23 September 2020].
Lens Culture – ‘Flowers for Lisa’. Available: https://www.lensculture.com/articles/abelardo-morell-flowers-for-lisa [accessed 23 September 2020].
WALDOCK, Belinda. 2015. Being Agile in Business: Discover Faster, Smarter, Leaner Ways to Succeed at Work. Harlow, United Kingdom: Pearson.
