ULearn07 (3 - 5 Oct)

[www.ulearn.org.nz]

MF (via video-conferencing) and I took two breakout sessions at ULearn07, titled "Accelerating Student Engagement in the 21st Century". Haha I guess it's pretty vague with regards to our focus, which was TIG development, the TIG community [www.takingitglobal.org] and TIGed [www.tiged.org]. Anyway, they were two 1.5-hour-long sessions, with MF presenting for about 30 mins and me running the hands-on workshop for the remaining time, showing them features of TIGed and some of the general TIG features.

Even though it was a bit stressful at first - because I was unfamiliar with the administration of TIGed - it was actually really fun! I enjoyed "teaching the teachers" again and watching them become inspired and enthused. I really love explaining things to people - I think because it allows me to 1) inspire and 2) use my imagination to come up with all sorts of analogies to aid their understanding. It's a really worthwhile and rewarding challenge.

I also enjoyed catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. The organisers (Core Ed [home.core-ed.net]) made me feel very welcome and even made the conference dinner very homely for me - even though I only knew a total of about 2 people to start off with! Anyway, I met some really interesting people and had some really interesting conversations - with quite good music and excellent food. So conclusion? YAY! Anyway, I had great fun presenting and dressing up for the dinner and chatting away to people about philosophy, teaching, learning, technology, leadership... =) ... and all this enjoyment despite being heavily sleep-deprived!

Anyway, I'm really happy that I could "slip back" into this crowd of warm, lovely people.

Honours Presentation (12 Oct)

Well, that was today - and I must say I had a great time!!! I know I've been super nervous for well, at least two weeks and I've been taking a while to amp up to it, but the day came and went and I had a great time presenting "High-resolution imaging and detection of calcium sparks in heart". My session was chaired by DL, who I think is an excellent lecturer and fascinating person. Anyway, let's cut to the chase. Out of every session, two people win "best presentations", summing to 6 prizes in total. I did not win. It would have been cool to win. But I didn't. And. I'm. Cool. With. It. Seriously. I think my lab is worried that I'm gutted or disappointed (MC printed out this certificate for me - which is the CUTEST THING EVER) ... but I'm not even that disappointed (truly), which I'm surprised with. I mean, "solace" came pretty quickly for this one and I just wonder why.

Firstly, I don't really care all that much about prizes and awards in general anyway. That is, as accolades or credits to my work - I only care about certain prizes. For example, the only ones I really remember having really wanted were Dux and Service to the School at the same time. Those meant something to me in themselves - I semi-understood the selection process and what it meant to be chosen by staff and to be applauded by your fellow students. But I think (and I don't know if it's dangerous to say this), but other prizes and awards have been to forward what I'm doing by offering financial aid. What they're called, what they mean - I can't really remember now. But I still remember Dux and Service to the School. I remember what it means to be the Head Tech Angel of 2003. I remember what it means to be daughter of NK and MK. I remember what it means to be student of MC.

Nonetheless, I did work very hard on this presentation to try make it interesting-in-itself and not a I-tried-to-fit-everything-I-did-this-year-into-10-slides. Still, deep down I knew that my deviation from the "formula" would lose points. However, I reconciled this in my mind and decided I would rather travel this road. It feels more right to me. Anyway, despite these opposing arguments, I still expected to be a bit more disappointed than I am now. So, why am I not disappointed? I conclude that it is because I'm just too content with being here to care. I just love this lab and this type of work too much. I remembered today that it was the first summer studentship that pushed open the closing door of science for me. It was the second studentship that made science punch me in the face and say TAKE ME! I'm sold. So what did this presentation mean to me? I wanted to do well as a reflection of how good my lab is and good my lab has been to me and how much I've appreciated and enjoyed them. So did they like it? Yes (or so they tell me :P). Did I enjoy giving the talk? Yes. Did DL say he liked it (bonus)? Yes. Done. I'm sold. 3 out of 2 ain't bad. I think it's because I CHOSE this lab group - i.e. I chose to stay for a reason. I choose to strive for their respect for a reason. I chose to strive for Dux from that school for a reason. To strive for respect/recognition from a blackbox system with faceless people? Well, if it was attained, ok. But if not - why worry or be disappointed?

On the other hand, I'm really happy for those who won the prizes and I think they're so cute being all nervous beforehand and then being so pleased at having achieved something to be proud of. I also think it's super cute that our class had a class photo after the whole thing and it was just fantastic. We are such a bunch of nervous, stressed-out cuties! :P

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From Cherrieland