Entering 2013 - or where my head is at.

Starting off 2013 

I've had an incredibly sad start to the new year 2013 - losing my beloved mini-schnauzer Octavian - too young and suddenly to an aggressive blood cancer on Jan. 7. He shared two homes - making both me and my parents' his castle.
He was supposed to come back to us on Jan. 25 to stay for the winter. 
Sadly, he will not.

Octavian Reinsalu July 7, 2000 - January 7, 2013

He's been my best buddy, supporter and of course, listener as I made the transition from journalist to educator a decade ago. He's been part of so many milestones. It feels weird to be motivated to learn, motivated to do anything actually. 
But here I start the MOOC without him sitting by me and my husband's side as we both tinker on the computer.

#etmooc  - it's the Massive Open Online Course regarding educational technology and media.

I am interested in learning - always - and during this time of grief, I hope that I retain the information and incorporate it into my best practices. I think learning, reflecting and writing is quite therapeutic and helpful. Photography helps too. But I'm sad to realize that my favourite subject won't be posing for me again. 

Time moves on and that is difficult.

Change / MOOC / Through My Lens (exhibit change)

Just registered for my first Massive Open Online Course - or MOOC, if I've got the acronym correct.

It's very exciting as I love learning, discovering and reflecting. I heard Steven Downes, one of the moderators of the course, speak at ECOO two years ago. Details of the talk have been forgotten but the overall learning and ideas have been absorbed.

It starts on the week of Sept. 12.

To register go to: http://change.mooc.ca/index.html

Then there's the link to the weekly schedule for this Sept - May online experiential learning.
Change curriculum here.


Wow!

Not AS massive, I've also started the Through My Lens collaborative on-line photography collective today. Run by Exhibit Change, this on-line exhibit runs nine days, from Sept. 7 - Sept. 16. Each day I receive an e-mail about a theme to photograph. Today was What is green?
One photo with a brief description is uploaded to either flickr, facebook or e-mailed to the organization. The coup de gras (sp?) is during Toronto's Nuit Blanche, with a photography exhibition.

Flickr Through My Lens page here.

My first photo: We are green? (uncropped)

Super cool and great learning process. It IS a great way at looking at the world through a different or changed perspective. :)