Ways 2 Interface was...

Ways 2 interface was a transdisciplinary research project, study log and personal journal I oversaw from 2014 to 2016.

I had planned to carry it over and expand it within the research focus of a traditional master’s degree in Creative Technologies and Enterprise, which I had originally signed up to undertake at the end of 2014.

Ways 2 Interface picked up where the research concerns of my BA (Hons) theoretical dissertation, Ways of Being: The Spectator and the Spectacle, had left off.

Hence the name of Ways 2 Interface, a.k.a. Phase 2.

Ways 2 Interface reconsidered the study of the content and the consumer in relation to a wider spectrum of knowledge and holistic considerations.

The fundamental focus of the project was the idea of an interfacing process – the introspective and expressive capacity inherent to us all – that we have always interwoven throughout our day-to-day existences and that we continue to do so at a formidably greater capacity in our contemporary digital realities.

By examining the habits and manifestations of our cognitive, corporeal, cultural and connected ways to interface, Ways 2 Interface aimed to build a unified understanding of this interfacing process.

Ultimately, I decided against undertaking a traditional master’s degree and instead opted to build my own master's degree which I went on to call my MTA Portfolio.

As my MTA Portfolio grew, the drive to pursue a research project to suit the requirements of a traditional master’s degree became less relevant and Ways 2 Interface transitioned away from being a research project in its own right.

It then morphed into a study log for my MTA Portfolio and then became a more general personal journal of mass communications and media studies 2.0.

With all its focuses, Ways 2 Interface accompanied and influences the construction of my MTA concentration in Multimedia Studies and Creative Technologies.

I stopped updating Ways 2 Interface in 2016.

I have since published all the unfinished and unpublished posts I originally wrote back in 2014 and 2015 in conjunction with presenting Ways 2 Interface as a component of my Creative Technologies Sandbox (which is one of the final projects for my MTA Portfolio).

I have also re-posted most of the content of Ways 2 Interface on my MTA Portfolio blog.

The Master's Degree Behind Ways 2 Interface

Ways of Being: The Spectator and the Spectacle, the theoretical dissertation I completed for my BA (Hons), was a big deal.

It was a big deal for me personally because it was a breakthrough in terms of my skill as a researcher and writer.

But it was a big deal academically too because it was a 30,000 word thesis that received the highest mark of my graduating year and was also bestowed with a research excellence award.

I had put a lot of work into and had planned to achieve a solid first from it, but I had never envisioned attaining the result I ultimately did achieve with it.

The success I achieved with Ways of Being came as a huge surprise and it opened a lot of doors; particularly regarding the undertaking of a master’s degree, which was something I had not previously given serious thought towards.

Ways of Being was a consideration of the epistemological, ontological and metaphysical downfalls of film theory’s understandings of the spectator and the spectacle; with particular emphasis directed towards the neurobiological implications of the spectator’s body.

The research focus of Ways of Being was something that I was passionately interested in and which I had only scratched the surface of within the submitted thesis paper.

There were a great deal of loose ends, both in the main body of the work and also in the appendices, that I really wanted to continue further.

In particular, Appendices A, F and I (which had once been the basis of another chapter in the main body) were two of the key sources of continuation.

I couldn't squeeze Chapter 3 into the limited word count of the main body, so it ended up becoming Appendices F and I

Ultimately, Ways of Being and its success ended up becoming the main driving for behind undertaking a master’s degree; with the potential of undertaking a PhD further down the line.

But deciding what master’s degree I wanted to pursue and how I was going to fund it took a very long time for me to figure out.

In the meantime, I decided to keep my research focus active and created the Ways 2 Interface blog where I could record my latest findings and theorizations.

As much as Ways 2 Interface was a continuation of my theoretical dissertation, it was also a continuation of my practical dissertation, EYES.

EYES was a web series concept proposal package that was a reflexive expression of contemporary networking attitudes and their implications on our ways of being.

The proposal package included a produced pilot episode, a series bible and a producer’s planning portfolio document.

The package also included a blog, EYES of a Storyteller, that I used to chronical the development of the project and Ways 2 Interface very continues in the same vein of its loose and transdisciplinary blogging style.

Ultimately, while I didn’t end up continuing my research in a traditional master’s degree, Ways 2 Interface did serve much the same bridging purpose between my BA (Hons) and the creation of my MTA Portfolio.

The curriculum of the traditional master’s degree I had planned on undertaking, Creative Technologies and Enterprise, but ultimately abandoned was also absorbed into the makeup of my MTA Portfolio.

Ways 2 Interface had a huge part to play in to create of my MTA concentration in Multimedia Studies and Creative Technologies and, for a time, very much serves as an adjunct blog to it.

When Ways 2 Interface became a Study Log and Personal Journal

The focus of the Ways 2 Interface blog naturally shifted as my time and attention gradually moved more towards the building of my MTA Portfolio.

For me, I had a deep and keen interest in researching how we interface with reality (I still do now) but it all boiled down to being able to perform legitimate research to explore those concepts.

In my mind, legitimate research requires the backing of a fully accredited master’s degree which I didn’t have and wasn’t likely to have anytime soon because I elected to construct my own master’s degree.

Therefore, if I was not going to pursue a fully accredited degree, preparing the research for one was largely a waste of my time, which was already being eaten up with the task of building my own master’s degree from scratch.

For a time, Ways 2 Interface served much the same role as ibuiltmyown.education, it held the identity and progress of my MTA Portfolio (or Postgraduate 2.0 Studies, as it was then known).

Ways 2 Interface studies progress page

The studies page is no longer present as a page on the Ways 2 Interface blog, but I have re-posted it as a blog post.

I also used Ways 2 Interface to blog about the MOOCs I was studying (something I have not really done on ibuiltmyown.education as I implemented its blog after I had completed the majority of the study component).

Parallel to this, and partly because many of the MOOCs I was studying delved into this, I was continuing to dabble with post about my interest in mass communications and media studies.

So, in addition to it being my study log, I also increasing viewed Ways 2 Interface as being the wider media focused blog space to cover anything that Something to do with Film could not cover because of its film-centric focus.

But eventually even its more general media focus fizzled out.

In hindsight, I wish I had kept Ways 2 Interface going a bit longer because I could have used the blog to document the further development of my MTA Portfolio and the building of ibuiltmyown.education and then handed over the duties when ibuiltmyown.education.

I’ve properly tied up the blog now that I have written up this component page as part of my Creative Technologies Sandbox.

But will I ever pick up the research I started first in my Ways of Being dissertation and then in my Ways 2 Interface blog?

Possibly.

It all really depends if I ever do get around to studying a fully accredited master’s degree.

Posting the Unfinished Posts and No Longer Used Pages

I'm adding Ways 2 Interface as a component to my Creative Technologies Sandbox, which is one of the final projects of my MTA Portfolio, 

As part of this wrap up process, I have posted all the unfinished/unutilized posts I originally wrote in 2014 and 2015 that I never got around to exhibiting.

Just note, I haven't bothered to polish the unfinished posts, I have just be posted then up in their original unfinished and unproofread forms.

I have also posted up some of the information pages of Ways 2 Interface which are no longer available via the page tab bar under the blog banner.

Unfinished/unutilized posts...

Welcome to Ways 2 Interface: My Credentials and Reasoning for Orchestrating this Project

Something #2dowithfilm: My Story, My Path and My Research Web

The Interface of Reality: Spontaneous philosophizing about the nature of what is real in the 21st century

The Interface: Reconsidering the Terminology and the Perspective of Understanding

The Network-Narrative: The World Wide Interface

Unfinished Business: The Story of the Interface

Film and Media Studies Redux

An Ambitious Project: Understanding the Interface of the Spectator and the Spectacle

No longer used pages...

My Postgraduate 2.0 Studies Page

My Research Interests Page

My Coaching Page

My Postgraduate 2.0 Studies Page

The following is the studies page that was originally accessed via the page tab under the banner for the Ways 2 Interface blog. 

The studies page listed all the MOOCs I was studying between 2013 and 2015 as part of what was then known as my postgraduate 2.0 studies. 

It also included my education prior to my postgraduate pursuits.

My postgraduate 2.0 studies later morphed into my MTA Portfolio which is now housed on its own website: ibuiltmyown.education. 

 My Studies: thinking outside of the box 

What follows are mainly all the MOOCs/online courses I have been taking since October, 2013. Additionally, there are details on my education prior to undertaking my MOOC studies and other independent research.

Some courses were completed in a fixed time period and others I am still dipping into on a self-paced basis.

Current priorities...

University of Maryland on Coursera, 01/12/2014 - present
Entrepreneurship: Launching an Innovative Business
A specialisation sequence comprised of:

1. Developing Innovative Ideas for New Companies: The First Step in Entrepreneurship, 01/12/2014 - 12/01/2015 & 23/02/2015 - 29/03/2015, completed with distinction: verified certificate awarded
2. Innovation for Entrepreneurs: From Idea to Marketplace, 05/01/2015 - 15/02/2015 & 25/05/2015 - 05/07/2015, completed with distinction: verified certificate awarded
3. New Venture Finance: Startup Funding for Entrepreneurs, 09/02/2015 - 22/03/2015 & 29/06/2015 - 09/08/2015
4. Entrepreneurship Capstone, 28/09/2015 - 08/11/2015

Yonsei University on Coursera, 28/07/2015 - present
Emerging Technologies: From Smartphone to IOT to Big Data

A specialisation sequence comprised of:

1. Smartphone Emerging Technologies
2. Big Data, Cloud Computing & CND Emerging Technologies
3. Internet Emerging Technologies
4. Internet of Things & Augment Reality Emerging Technologies
5. Wireless Communication Emerging Technologies
6. Emerging Technologies Capstone

University of California Irvine on Coursera, 03/06/2015 - present
Career Success
A specialisation sequence comprised of:

1. Project Management: The Basics for Success
2. Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time Management for Personal and Professional Productivity
3. Finance for Non-Financial Professionals
4. Communication in the 21st Century Workplace
5. High-Impact Business Writing
6. The Art of Negotiation
7. Fundamentals of Management
8. Effective-Problem Solving and Decision-Making
9. Essentials of Entrepreneurship: Thinking & Action
10. Career Success Capstone Project

In addition to all of the research and work I am conducting around these specializations, I consider these programs of study to be equivalent to the effort I would have put into undertaking a traditional masters degree, hence why these are my current study my priorities.

Dabbled & Ongoing...

Loughborough University on FutureLearn, 25/07/2015 - present
Numeracy Skills for Employability and the Workplace

Wesleyan University on Coursera, 05/06/2015 - present
Social Psychology

Headspace, 14/02/2015 - present
My Headspace Mindfulness Meditation

Copyblogger, 18/02/2015 - present
My Copyblogger Training

A copywriting course comprised of:

1. Copywriting 101: How to Craft Compelling Copy
2. How to Write Magnetic Headlines
3. How to Create Compelling Content that Ranks Well in Search Engines
4. Content Marketing: How to Build an Audience that Builds Your Business
5. The Business Case for Agile Content Marketing
6. A Content Marketing Strategy that Works
7. How to Create Content that Converts
8. How to Effectively Promote Your Content
9. Content Marketing Research: The Crucial First Step
10. How to Build Authority through Content and Google Authorship
11. Email Marketing: How to Push Send and Grow Your Business
12. Keyword Research: A Real-World Guide
13. Landing Pages: How to Turn Traffic into Money
14. 10 Rock Solid Elements of Effective Online Marketing
15. Internet Marketing for Smart People: Classic Edition

The Open University on FutureLearn, 19/08/2014 - present, incomplete and open
Managing my Money
#FLMyMoney15

University of East Anglia on FutureLearn, 06/04/2014 - present, incomplete and open
The Secret Power of Brands
#FLbrands

University of Southampton on FutureLearn, 11/02/2014 - present, incomplete
Web Science: How the Web is Changing the World 
#FLwebsci 

The Hague Institute for Global Justice on iversity, 10/12/2013 - present, incomplete 
Public Privacy: Cyber Security and Human Rights

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid on edX, 17/02/2015 - presentDocumentary: New Trends, New Formats

McGill University on edX, 25/02/2015 - present
The Body Matters

The University of Chicago on Coursera, 23/02/2015 - present
Understanding the Brain: The Neuroscience of Everyday Life

Filmmaker IQ
Filmmaker IQ Courses

The University of Sheffield on FutureLearn, 29/09/2014 - present, incomplete and open
Exploring Play: The Importance of Play in Everyday Life
#FLplay

National Film and Television School on FutureLearn, 02/02/2015 - present
Explore Filmmaking: From Script to Screen
#FLExploreFilm

University of London on Coursera, 26/06/2015 - present
The Camera Never Lies



Completed...


Ball State University on Canvas Network, 05/06/2015 - 03/08/2015, completed: certificate awarded
TCM Presents Into the Darkness: Investigating Film Noir

Yonsei University on Coursera, 24/07/2015 - 28/07/2015
Emerging Smartphone Technologies

University of California, Irvine on Coursera, 22/07/2015 - 25/07/2015
Fundamentals of Management

University of California, Irvine on Coursera, 13/06/2015 - 18/06/2015
Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

University of California, Irvine on Coursera, 03/06/2015 - 10/06/2015, Passed
Finance for Non-Financial Professionals

Wesleyan University on Coursera, 02/02/2015 - 11/03/2015, completed: certificate awarded
The Language of Hollywood: Storytelling, Sound and Colour

Wageningen University on edX, 08/01/2015 - 16/03/2015, completed
Introduction to Nutrition: Food for Health
#NUTR101x

RMIT University on Open2Study, 05/01/2015 - 03/02/2015, completed: certificate awarded
Foundations of Psychology
#IntroPsy

RMIT University on Open2Study, 05/01/2015 - 03/02/2015, completed: certificate awarded
The Art of Photography
#phot

University of Southampton on FutureLearn, 17/11/2014 - 12/12/2014, completed
Understanding Language: Learning and Teaching
#FLlanguage

University of Auckland on FutureLearn, 10/11/2014 - 15/11/2014, completed
Academic Integrity: Values, Skills, Action
#FLintegrity

University of Southampton on FutureLearn, 14/10/2014 - 30/10/2014, completed
Digital Marketing: Challenges and Insights
#FLdigital

The Open University on FutureLearn, 13/09/2014 - 25/11/2014, completed
Introduction to Cyber Security
#FLcybersec

University of California, San Diego on Coursera, 09/10/2014 - 09/11/2014, completed
Learning how to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects

Coursera, 28/09/2014 - 22/12/2014, completed with distinction: certificate awarded
Internet History, Technology and Security

University of Leeds on FutureLearn, 18/09/2014 - 29/09/2014, completed
Innovation: The Key to Business Success
#FLbizinnovation

Open2Study, 15/09/2014 - 15/10/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Big Data for Better Performance
#BigData

Open Training Institute on Open2Study, 11/08/2014 - 09/09/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Strategic Management
#StratMgt

Sydney Institute on Open2Study, 11/08/2014 - 09/09/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Financial Planning
#FinPlan

University of Leeds on FutureLearn, 19/08/2014 - 23/08/2014, completed
Starting a Business: Realise Your Vision
#FLstartup

University of Southampton on FutureLearn, 07/07/2014 - 18/08/2014, completed
Developing Your Research Project 
#FLcuriosity

Loughborough University on FutureLearn, 10/06/2014 - 18/08/2014, completed
Innovation and Enterprise
#FLinnovation

University of London on Coursera, 02/06/2014 - 04/07/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Understanding Research Methods

The University of Nottingham on FutureLearn, 21/04/2014 - 02/06/2014, completed
How to read a mind (cognitive poetics)
#FLread

ICMS on Open2Study,  22/03/2014 - 22/04/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Management for a Competitive Edge
#MgtEdge

MGSM on Open2Study, 22/03/2014 - 22/04/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

MGSM on Open2Study, 22/03/2014 - 22/04/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Leadership: Identity, Influence and Power
#LEAD

Polytechnic West on Open2Study, 07/02/2014 - 10/03/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Principles of Project Management
#ProjMgt

Open2Study, 07/02/2014 - 10/03/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Online Advertising
#OnlineAd

Macquarie University on Open2Study, 07/02/2014 - 10/03/2014, completed: certficate awarded
Financial Literacy
#FinLitrc

University of Birmingham on FutureLearn, 27/02/2014 - 13/02/2014, completed
Good Brain, Bad Brain: Basics (Neurobiology)
#FLbrain

Maquarie University on Open2Study, 03/01/2014 - 06/02/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Becoming Human: Anthropology
#BeHuman

Open2Study, 03/01/2014 - 06/02/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Food, Nutrition and Health
#FoodHlth

Open2Study, 03/01/2014 - 06/02/2014, completed: certificate awarded
Writing for the Web
#WriteWeb

iversity, 25/09/2013-24/12/2013, completed: awarded certificate 
The Future of Storytelling
#storymooc

Abandoned...

Creative Coding

Scandinavian Film and Television

Human Rights

Origins: Formation of the Universe, Solar System, Earth and Life

Northwestern University on Coursera, 04/06/2014 - present, incomplete and closed
Understanding Media by Understanding Google

MGSM on Open2Study, 11/08/2014 - 09/09/2014, incomplete and closed
Diagnosing the Financial Health of a Business
#FinHlth

University of Glasgow on Coursera, 07/11/2013 - 09/12/2013
E-Learning and Digital Cultures

Traditional education...

Bath Spa University, 2009-2013

First Class BA (Hons) Creative Writing with Film and Screen Studies

Modules:

• Writers' Workshop 1
• Introduction to Scriptwriting
• Explorations in Prose Fiction
• Introduction to Film
• Framing Film: From Silent Screen to World Cinema
• Writers' Workshop 2
• Film Theory and Criticism: Understanding Hollywood
• Planning and Making a Film
• Short Form Documentary Making - Fencing
• Creative Enterprise Project (practical dissertation) - E Y E S
• Film Dissertation (theoretical dissertation) - Ways of Being: The Spectator and the Spectacle

The Sixth Form College, Farnborough, 2006-08

A-Level Film Studies (B)

A-Level Photography (C)

A-Level Philosophy (D)
AS-Level Media Studies (A)

GCSE Mathematics resit (C)

Kings International College for Business and the Arts, 2001-06

GCSE Art (A)

GCSE English Literature (B) 

GCSE English Language (B)

GCSE Geography (B)

GCSE Food Technology (C)

GCSE Religious Studies (C)

GCSE Physical Education (C)

GCSE Mathematics (D)

GNVQ Applied Business (BB)

GNVQ Information Communication Technology (C)

GNVQ Science (C)