At the start of this year, alongside planning for work and life, I set out some small changes for myself, intentions to do things a little differently in 2025. I wanted to try to make more ethical choices and also to support local businesses more, as well as finding more joy in small things. It was a bit of an experiment of how much I could change things for myself, and also how to build…
Maren Deepwell Posts
Listen to OEG Voices 082: Amanda Coolidge, Marcela Morales, and Maren Deepwell on “The Small Things”
Listen to OEG Voices 082: Amanda Coolidge, Marcela Morales, and Maren Deepwell on “The Small Things”
I was super excited to be part of this podcast conversation during Open Education Week and this post is an invitation for you to tune in and explore this rich dialogue. Thanks to Alan Levine and the wonderful team at OE Global, the page where the podcast is available features a thoughtful mix of commentary and context alongside resources and ways to get involved. So make sure to check out the complete podcast post with…
This blog post is a professional fan letter, a heartfelt hat tip to Bryan Mathers of Visual Thinkery fame. Over the past ten years his creative genius has provided me with so much inspiration that when I started looking for projects I could refer back to by searching my blog and my archive for work we have done together, there were too many examples to count. From playful remixes and conference campaigns to organisational strategies…
This year I got back into running, and regular readers will know that this comeback has been years in the making. I started blogging about it in 2022.. and in 2023. So I am pleased to report that I have finally managed to get there! From a personal perspective starting the day with a morning run is a joy for me, and the photo at the start of this post is a snap shot from…
A couple of things that have been percolating in my mind over the past couple of weeks have come together: the reflective post in which I shared a story of my career prompted me to think more about where I am heading and why; then I completed the review of my tech stack which made me focus on whether I have the right tools for the work I want to do and what that is……
At the start of the year I undertook a review of my tech stack, i.e. the tools, platforms and services I use in my professional practice. My aim was twofold: first up, I wanted to make sure I am not paying for services or subscriptions I don’t actually make good use of, and secondly I want to make sure that the technology I do use is, wherever possible, aligned to my values including my commitment…
It’s been a lot of fun to help establish a new blogging community of practice with Jim Groom and the team at Reclaim since that start of the year, and you’ll no doubt hear more about blogging from me as the year goes on 🙂 Alongside that project however I have also had the opportunity to write some case studies based on interview conversations Jim leads, and the first of these has recently been published…
Next week sees the launch of new research into hybrid working, a new report commissioned by the National Digital Leadership Network in Ireland. Global Trends Towards Flexible, Hybrid Working and its Impact for Digital Leadership in Higher Education This strategic report will focus on the global trend towards flexible, hybrid working and its impact for Digital Leadership in Higher Education in Ireland and beyond. We examine the wider implications of hybrid learning and working for…
When I came across Kin Lane’s post Having a Career I felt inspired. His post prompted me to think about whether it’s worth having a career, and what that means, and if it matters. These words in particular chimed with me: However, now I see having a career is about me. It is about owning my own professional narrative as much as I possibly can. I consider a career adjacent to entrepreneurship or running your…
Since its launch, the new Blogging Community of Practice, AKA Bloggers Anonymous, has begun to grow. Community building is an art that takes time and patience and most of all presence. You have to walk the walk… you have to start spending time where you want to grow connections. Which is not all that simple in times like these. Many professionals in my networks are leaving social media and the toxic news cycle behind all…