What has it been like? And what have been the best things about retiring?
Tag: MOOC
‘Helen and the Mentors’: life in a MOOC
The last thing I did at The Open University before leaving was to produce a MOOC, a Massive Open Online Course (still available here). I'm so glad I did this, because the challenge of writing around 35,000 words that took advantage of the FutureLearn platform - arranged in 'steps' of 750 words or five minutes… Continue reading ‘Helen and the Mentors’: life in a MOOC
Ten days of retirement
Naked Minotaur, ancient and modern science, and a MOOC - and no REF in sight!
Approaching the exit door
So, I'm entering the final stages of the official side of the process. My P45 has arrived (for non-UK readers, that's the form which ends an employment and states the tax paid in it, so that if you were moving to a new job they could see your tax status) and tomorrow I have my… Continue reading Approaching the exit door
Down the pan: universities and toilets
In a previous job, when I was Head of Department, I carried out one of those required induction meetings for a new colleague. We went through various aspects of his first few weeks as a lecturer and reached the point where I asked 'And what about you; do you have any questions?' There was… Continue reading Down the pan: universities and toilets
Traitor to the cause? Why I wrote a MOOC
After I handed in my notice, I could have let things wind down gradually. The Open University requires a long notice period, six months, but unlike brick universities it doesn't have just a couple of days in each year on which you are allowed to go, so I could pick my time. However, I delayed this… Continue reading Traitor to the cause? Why I wrote a MOOC
The retiring academic 