Hello all!
I’m writing this from a country I was not meant to be in by the time this course started. My husband and I came to Germany in March for a 2 month trip, and have now been “stuck” here due to COVID-19! We were meant to return to South Africa 2 weeks ago, but our home country’s border is still closed, we’ve been unable to get hold of our countries consulate’s here in Germany, and there are no repatriation flights organised… So I guess we’re gonna live here for a little while! These are very interesting times, and I’m curious to see how the next few months go and how the world changes. This is me, by the way, eating an apple in the Hout Bay harbour in Cape Town.
I’m doing two courses this semester, and they are my last two courses of my MET! I was initially signed up for both summer institutes on campus in July, but decided to shift back to regular courses when they got cancelled/moved online. It’s been a really incredible journey, and I’ve absolutely loved all the things I’ve learned.
I have a relatively diverse working background, especially considering I’m still only 26. I have worked in creative fields as a film producer, photographer, graphic designer, and website development. I’ve worked in educational fields as a junior lecturer at the University of Cape Town, an english teacher in China and Thailand, an assistant in a private practice for play therapy with down syndrome and autistic children, a lecturer at art colleges for design and website development, and a curriculum developer and consultant for corporate learning environments or ed tech companies. I’ve worked in other inbetween corporate and business environments as well, but those I don’t really like at all!
Recently, I made partner at a visual communications and creative research company. It’s been interesting because I joined the team just before global lockdown began, and we’ve been running out entire office remotely with much success. We also launched our educational division a few weeks ago! So we’re now helping schools, universities, corporates, and everyone who needs it with pedagogically sound visual communications strategies and well designed materials. A super fun job!
Anyway, I think I’ll push pause on the ramble for now. We’ll catch up with one another on other pages and activities as we go! Looking forward to meeting you all.
-J
Jamie! It great to see you again and I am very excited to work with you again. I have fond memories of the lively discussions in 512. I hope everything goes well for you and you are able to make the journey home soon.
Take care
~ The other Jamie ~
Same! I was thrilled when I saw your name pop up 🙂
Looking forward to chatting and learning and all the things in this course again.
J
Hi Jamie,
Nice to meet you. Congrats on nearing the end of the program! Though it’s not the ideal situation to be stuck in a foreign country, it’ll make for an interesting story someday. Germany is definitely on the list of places I’d like to travel to. Were you enjoying your trip prior to the global lockdown?
Hey Rav,
It’ll certainly make an interesting story, and I’m making the most out of the European spring. I was definitely enjoying the trip – got to spend a week in Prague and see the astronomical clock, visit Berlin, walk through Munich… lots of wonderful things!
Love your photo, J! Eating an apple by the shore is so pleasant. I’m so glad we’ll graduate together 🙂 Got to do something together!
Ceci
Dreamy end of summer days.
Graduation together is happening for sure! Hooray!
🙂
I see that there are some graphic designers here. Maybe I can go back doing some graphic design. Maybe you can share some of you graphic design work. I would love to see it.
I think you should definitely go back to some graphic design. Pondering putting up some of my work on an instagram account, will send through the details if I ever get around to doing that 😀
Hi Jamie, it looks like we’ll be taking the same two courses this term. I just sent you a message on your blog site for ETEC 540 asking whether you’re still in Cape Town. Reading your post here- I got my answer! I’m sorry that it’s been such a struggle to try and get home, I can imagine that it must be very frustrating and stressful not knowing when you’ll be able to come home. Reading your post, I have to say I agree with you, it’s quite a CV you have built up and it looks like the MET has truly helped you on weaving that journey together into what you are doing now. Very inspiring! 🙂
Hello again Jamie,
Looks like have overlapping interests, and I’m enjoying learning more about design and design thinking principles as I put them into practice through my MET assignments. Would love to see your work and hear more about it!
I thought the same thing whilst reading your posts! I’m sure our work will pop up throughout the course (I’ll post stuff if it gets relevant). Really looking forward to sharing and hearing insights and ideas from you during this course 🙂
Oh wow, that’s super cool that your company has an entire division doing visual communications strategy for education. I’ve been a graphic designer / creative director for 15 years and have been a college teacher for 5 so that is a nice meld of my interests 🙂
Hi Anne,
It’s a really wonderful combination – design thinking and visual communications adds so much richness to ed tech efforts, strategies, and processes! I have noticed a few people across both courses mentioning it, so it is clearly becoming a more prevalent intersection which is awesome.