MA Adult Literacy, Numeracy & ESOL
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The Department is not currently recruiting to the MA in Adult Basic Literacy and ESOL.
Marion Casey
Reflections on the Life of a Distance Learner
For
the last 2 years 'Lancaster' has been part of my life. In a virtual sense
you understand. I have done termly trips via South East and Virgin trains
to Lancaster University for the induction days for each of the now 6 modules
I have managed to complete. And there are the Lancaster University logos poly
bags stashed under the sofa with each module stored inside. In between trips
north my contact has been through the LUVLE site -for the fortnightly formal
real-time on-line discussions and logging on to other parts of the site for
asynchronous contact with fellow students.
Somehow I have arrived at a point where I am busy tracking down and reading documents for my final piece of work to complete the MA. In between I have worked full-time in the Skills for Life area and changed jobs rather dramatically - a direct result of LSC funding cuts! Policy and national strategies affecting me and students personally.
Occasionally I think how lovely it would be to have the luxury of being
able to devote myself fully to studying the fascinating area of literacy and
numeracy. But when I did have the opportunity to do that, in between jobs
last year - the purpose and point of doing the studying was gone from my life
as well. For two weeks I did not touch the Lancaster module materials - so
still ended up doing my write up at the last minute - as usual. Though when
I went for a job interview the panel were very impressed with my links with
Lancaster and I'm sure the connection helped me secure the job.
The alternative way for me to study for an MA would have been through the
OU or with the Institute of Education in London. The former did not offer
the subject specific courses that attracted me to the Lancaster format, and
as much as the trips back from Lancaster are always 'experiences' - for me
they are preferable to making weekly trips to London. Something I would find
very difficult to fit into a packed work schedule.
Studying with Lancaster has given me a new circle of friends, who 'pop'
up at the national events I manage to get to. The depth of knowledge and experience
other students bring to the on-line discussions is invaluable in what is a
relative small field.
I once boasted that I must have travelled the furthest to be at a Lancaster
induction meeting. Having set off from the south coast at crack of dawn to
be in Lancaster for lunch time on a Friday - wrong! One student had that morning
flown in from a project in Uganda to join the course. To have an international
perspective put on literacy and numeracy learning was both fascinating and
valuable. On a subsequent journey to Lancaster I was privilege d to travel
with another student from Uganda - on his first trip to the UK. To 'see' the
British landscape through the eyes of a stranger was something very illuminating,
which also fed back in to the research I was then doing. We also linked up
virtually with students on a similar course in Canada. We discovered some
fascinating similarities and differences in our practice.
I can't say I've loved every minute of my time studying with Lancaster University - but I have certainly got out of it as much as I have put in. Fitting in time for the readings is always a problem and I seldom have time to read more than the course material itself. I always finish the assignments right on the deadline and get frustrated that the final document is never quite as polished as I know it could be - if only I had another two evenings to work on it... I have learnt a lot about Skills for Life and adult literacy and numeracy in their broader sense; have made many good friends across the country and have learnt a lot about myself as well as, hopefully, in about a year's time having some more letters to add after my name! Amongst my new friends I would number the staff at Lancaster University who do their utmost to make students feel welcome and settled in the brief time they spend on campus, but are always on hand to help out with any problems once we are back on home ground.
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| Research & Publications | News and Events | Resources for current Students |
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