It's funny, how it's called a "year", when in fact it's only 8 months. On the other hand it does feel like quite a long time because so much stuff has happened in it's span.
Our course after all doesn't really look like a traditional academic program. Usually people attend lectures with hundreds of other people that may even attend a different course. They mostly study theory, and practical application of the skills they learn is only a minor part of the time they spend. Game Art DMU, on the other hand, looks like a mix of computer courses and an art school, where the proportions of theory and practice in the curriculum are reversed.
Still, despite all the resemblance to a vocational school, it has something in common with traditional academic courses besides costing 3.5 grand per year. It is creation of connections with people in the field students want to work in. They attend lectures that are given by accomplished adults, and work together with people who might one day give them a job. It's also a possibility to immensely expand ones knowledge on the subject you study - after all, every day you talk to people who are interested in the same thing as yourself. Many pairs of eyes can see so much more than just one.
Personally, I think it's the main reason for the success of this course. We have highly motivated people charging other people with their enthusiasm, sharing their knowledge, discussing their problems and solving them together. Don't get me wrong, it wouldn't be possible without the hard work of the tutors, but the main amount of knowledge students gather themselves through each other and the internet. We need to due to the nature of our work, with nuances changing with every software update.
And because University education is a social process, we inevitably learn social skills as well. Language skills in my case as well. I can say with certainty that I've changed the way I communicate with people since September.
Group project was a major turning point for me. I am a straightforward person - if I don't like something, I will let the person who causes the problem know it. It's probably a cultural thing, but it's a part of my life philosophy. What's the point of trying to conceal the message in the hint, when it can be delivered directly?
Well, apparently this is considered rude around here, and irritates people when done repeatedly over the course of a couple of months. So, even though I meant no harm, I had to change my ways for the sake of comfortable work experience. That, and not getting punched in the face eventually. As Russian people say - "you don't go to someone else's monastery with your own charter".
But let's get back to the topic. I've got what I wanted from the course in full. I've made connections I wanted, found interesting people that helped me to improve my skills. I like this creative environment quite a lot, despite quite weird distribution of projects over time. ("Hey, they're working on the group project non stop, 24/7. Let's give them three more VD projects to complete on top of that!")
But apparently I failed to get more. I really wanted to get an internship over the summer. A real work with real game artists at a studio. I shiver when I think about the amount of knowledge I could get from them. However, it's nearly the end of May, and I only have outsourcing propositions. A man takes what he can get, of course, but it doesn't mean I'm too happy. Hopefully, I'll get a non-negative reply in the next week or so, but I can't say I have a lot of hope for it.
Well, it was an interesting year. Let's see what the next one brings, with the FMP, new building to work in, and a hundred first-years to welcome.
Our course after all doesn't really look like a traditional academic program. Usually people attend lectures with hundreds of other people that may even attend a different course. They mostly study theory, and practical application of the skills they learn is only a minor part of the time they spend. Game Art DMU, on the other hand, looks like a mix of computer courses and an art school, where the proportions of theory and practice in the curriculum are reversed.
Still, despite all the resemblance to a vocational school, it has something in common with traditional academic courses besides costing 3.5 grand per year. It is creation of connections with people in the field students want to work in. They attend lectures that are given by accomplished adults, and work together with people who might one day give them a job. It's also a possibility to immensely expand ones knowledge on the subject you study - after all, every day you talk to people who are interested in the same thing as yourself. Many pairs of eyes can see so much more than just one.
Personally, I think it's the main reason for the success of this course. We have highly motivated people charging other people with their enthusiasm, sharing their knowledge, discussing their problems and solving them together. Don't get me wrong, it wouldn't be possible without the hard work of the tutors, but the main amount of knowledge students gather themselves through each other and the internet. We need to due to the nature of our work, with nuances changing with every software update.
And because University education is a social process, we inevitably learn social skills as well. Language skills in my case as well. I can say with certainty that I've changed the way I communicate with people since September.
Well, apparently this is considered rude around here, and irritates people when done repeatedly over the course of a couple of months. So, even though I meant no harm, I had to change my ways for the sake of comfortable work experience. That, and not getting punched in the face eventually. As Russian people say - "you don't go to someone else's monastery with your own charter".
But let's get back to the topic. I've got what I wanted from the course in full. I've made connections I wanted, found interesting people that helped me to improve my skills. I like this creative environment quite a lot, despite quite weird distribution of projects over time. ("Hey, they're working on the group project non stop, 24/7. Let's give them three more VD projects to complete on top of that!")
But apparently I failed to get more. I really wanted to get an internship over the summer. A real work with real game artists at a studio. I shiver when I think about the amount of knowledge I could get from them. However, it's nearly the end of May, and I only have outsourcing propositions. A man takes what he can get, of course, but it doesn't mean I'm too happy. Hopefully, I'll get a non-negative reply in the next week or so, but I can't say I have a lot of hope for it.
Well, it was an interesting year. Let's see what the next one brings, with the FMP, new building to work in, and a hundred first-years to welcome.
I know what you mean in regards to slight misunderstandings. In the states, the British are always misunderstanding us, so you're not alone!
ReplyDelete/Maybe they should consider/ their demeanor more often in a global light.