Author: Alison

Nous nsommes pas fatigués

Nous nsommes pas fatigués

My experience with online learning began about 26 years ago as a recently divorced, mother-of-three (in those days), with the CNED (Centre national d’enseignement à distance). My aim was to, once the kids had gone to bed, prepare for the French competitive teaching exam. Back in the days before online learning platforms, this entailed receiving…

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Diary of a creative writing class 2

Diary of a creative writing class 2

Free-write 10 minutes. Prompt ‘Skin’. By the hair of my chinny chin chin I will not let you come in. For I intend to stay alive. In my very own skin. I will not to be skinned for your pleasure.  I will hunker down into my skin. This skin of mine. Take this skin. And.…

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Anecdotes to Troubled Times (Blogging Course 2022)

Anecdotes to Troubled Times (Blogging Course 2022)

It is with great pleasure that I publish the links to this year’s student blogs. They are remarkable individual and collective journeys into creativity and the multi-faceted nature of culture. Enjoy their delicious shared moments. Take hope from their energy and optimism and generosity. And don’t hesitate to join in the conversations. Alibabatheater Another Way…

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Diary of a creative writing class 1

Diary of a creative writing class 1

Once they are seated I begin: “Zanzibar, Shimmy, Shiver, Core, Strength, Fuck, Whatever” Question to class: What do you think this is? Silence. Then timidly. A list.  A twirly-keep-going movement with my right hand. A list of words… What sort of words? My favourite words. Question to class: What does this say about me as…

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Merry Moodling

Merry Moodling

‘Oh, how lovely… Oh my God, where do I start?’ This was my reaction on reading an email from an M1 distance-learning student, a couple of weeks ago. It was one of those emails that you know composing a reasonable answer to, is going to take up more time than you can sensibly dedicate to an…

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