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Digitally Ready...

2011, September 26 - 18:52 — PatParslow

 I'm really happy to be involved in a new JISC project here at the University of Reading, called Digitally Ready.  We've got the first programme meeting coming up soon, and the programme managers at JISC want an 'elevator pitch', which should be 'creative' and 'definitely no powerpoint'.

That's a challenge for a Comp Sci Engineery type.  No Powerpoint? What can these people be thinking? ;-)

I spend too much of my life trying not to humiliate myself.  OK, actually that's a lie - most of the time I fail to take it into account.  But on this occasion, as I almost seem to be deliberately trying to embarrass myself, I thought I would share a preview of my elevator pitch for the digital literacies project. 

I'm relatively happy with the lyrics.  Generally, I would say I prefer to sing... but this seemed a bit clearer, and I originally thought of this as a 'beat poem'.

So, here it is - lean back, and enjoy the smooooth stylings (heh).  Send me your comments on Twitter.  I can always block you if you really hurt my feelings ;-)

(Oh and I will post the lyrics after the meeting)

 (and, another Oh... it is in wma, as it was created in MS SongSmith. If your OS can't handle that, count yourself lucky)

PS COTS = Commerical Off The Shelf packages

PPS yes I do say 'the twitter' - I was being ironic, me being an old fogey, an' all.

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Comments

2012, May 18 - 18:35 — Fiona Maddock (not verified)

Exploring Blogging Apps and Musical Talent

Congratulations with the Digitally Ready Project. I had a look at the blog the other day. Shirley tweeted the link. I looked at this to see if you were working in BlogEngine.NET (which I'm having a look at) but I see you created it in Drupal, then I found your musical presentation. Brilliant! Very Ian Dury. Is it up on YouTube?

2011, October 4 - 19:16 — PatParslow

Lyrics

A number of people said they would like to re-use the poem (or song, depending on point of view) so here are the lyrics.  This is under a Creative Commons SA licence.  Please attribute as "by Pat Parslow for the University of Reading 'Digitally Ready' project funded by JISC"

 

Using the Twitter,
Facebook or email,
Doing our best,
So we don't fail.

Finding the data,
Joining the dots,
It's all about makin'
Best use of the COTS

Whether you're a student,
Or in your career,
You need ICT skills,
So people don't sneer

Skills for the future,
They matter to me,
It's all about being,
Digit'ly Ready

Evaluate these systems,
learning with friends,
picking the best ones,
it's a means to your ends

Excel, Google, Apple or others,
You need all your bases pretty well covered,
Picking the right tool for the job,
No point in being a software snob

Skills for the future,
They matter to me,
It's all about being,
Digit'ly Ready

Grab your mobile,
Your laptop or phone,
Learn in the classroom,
Or even at home

No-one can see the future for you,
So learning how to do it is cool,
We all need to know how its done,
And learning about tech can be lots of fun,

Students, professors,
And lecturers too,
Try some new tools,
Get a new view

Skills for the future,
They matter to me,
It's all about being,
Digit'ly Ready

So come on in and tell us what's best,
You'll find we'll listen with interest,
What helps you learn,
How you use your computer,
Do you play an iPod while you're a commuter?

Audio, video, making and using,
Working real hard, or maybe amusin'
If it helps you learn things
We wanna know,
And maybe put your ideas
In their very own show

Skills for the future,
They matter to me,
It's all about being,
Digit'ly Ready

We need to build
A plan for us all,
Learning together,
picking our tools

My story's near done now,
I'm no Ali G,
But we can build our
e-Strategy

Skills for the future,
They matter to me,
It's all about being,
Digit'ly Ready