DOINEEDTOSPELLITOUTFORYOU

The Thundafund campaign has reached its first mile stone R 10 000.

The campaign has proved to be very challenging. I feel out of my depth.

I resent people selling me things, the pawing and nagging of friends to buy artefacts I find distasteful. And yes there is the poor self-esteem business, and the healthy self-worth in asking for help, developing community.

What I have learned is that this platform is not clearly understood in South Africa. Most people seem to think That Thundafund is a well of money. To set the record straight, a crowd-funder is merely a virtual organising space to articulate and collect money gathering activities, which the crowd-funder receives a percentage for.

I have encountered a social media phobia which I did not know existed. There are suspicions about Facebook and anything associated with it.

It seems that this kind of format appeals to a younger generation or people who are more computer literate and interweb integrated.

To get current:

I have 6 months full time employment at CPUT, lecturing Design in Surface Design. I have also started a master’s research on THEEDUCATORSNEWCLOTHES, the title: ‘’Unpacking THEEDUCATORSNEWCLOTHES”

My plate has become very full; lecturing, studying, performing and asking people for money.

Because of the Crowd-funding THEEDUCATORSNEWCLOTHES is able to travel to Johannesburg. Train tickets have been booked; leaving 23 February, returning 3 March! Yahooo!

A recent conversation explored the issues around maintaining standards in qualifications. A new lecturer comes into a situation and has to conform to the given context. There are unspoken agreements about levels and desired outcomes. This is a very tricky area to write and talk about as its all unspoken, subtext stuff. External examiners are chosen specifically for their reputations and biases. This all has much human politic packed into it. The conversation seem to conclude that these issues have become more pronounced in recent times, since education is treated as a business. With the client/student situation the laws of commerce apply. How does an institution maintain its reputation and satisfy its client? And how do academic standards fit into any of this?