Lois+2nd+attempt!

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Hi this is Lois. I just spent over an hour doing my 1st page, saved the draft and then noticed a spelling mistake, tried the edit tab and it deleted all of it!!!! Hmm ... isn't digital technology grand.

Anyway a shorter version now. As you know I work at the UNSW Institute of Languages in a new role as the Manager of Teaching and Learning support - which seems to cover just about everything. We have over 1,100 students this term so it keeps me busy. We intend to get "digital" this year and I will need to manage various projects including creating digital supplementary learning materials for students and coverting our teaching materials to a digital format. Students wonder what century we are from when we bring out cassette tapes!

I feel a bit daunted by getting up to speed in the Web 2 world but am determined to do so. I have only been in the education sector for 7 years after many years as a communications manager and policy adviser for various governments and 10 years ast SBS as a policy analyst and Program Manager for their Sydney Radio station.

I'm a bit skeptical about the digital revolution as a teaching tool - is it just new technologies doing similar things as in the past but with new formats? Plus I don't feel a strong personal need to be connected all the time - having said that I do love the internet, get tired of work emails, and love my mobile phone and digital camera. However, I can see the potential for some things and I am particularly interesting in developing podcasts and online lesson materials for listening lessons. Perhaps because I am a trained radio producer the idea of creating digital audio is a bit less intimidating - I think I will be able to wrap my head around it to begin with.

I'm enjoying the class - I love learning and often dream of being a fulltime student - I've never had the privilege - I did my degrees hard slog as a part-timer!

Outside of work I am a woman of many passions, travel, textiles, food (cooking and eating) and a recent one is learning to play tennis down at the Coogee club. I live close to the UNSW campus with my cat Rufus.

I'm also a failed language learner of many languages including French and Italian, but have been trying to learn Spanish for a couple of years and seem to be getting there this time!!! Hence the link on this page - it is to a website for learning Spanish and it uses all types of digital stuff - I love it and wish I could create something like it for our students. It's a subscription site (sorry about those Web 1 paradigms Matthew) but you will be able to watch a demno on the link.

Enough of me ... I'm off to watch the Australian Open on TV for some tips, I have a mean forehand, but my backhand needs all the help it can get. A glass of wine wouldn't be half-bad either..adios amigos!