Degree study

2003-12-20T14:34:00.000-08:00

LEARNING FACILITATOR

Comments

Select and negotiate appropriate tasks. Meet learning objectives.
This was done reasonably well. Obviously, the change of job made this a little more complicated than it would otherwise have been.

Ability to take responsibility for their own learning..
This is to a good standard.

Ability to relate theory to practice
There was little evidence of this, although in some ways this module did not particularly lend itself to this. The reference to the conference is a good example of how to access and use theoretical background without just using written literature.

Analytical skills.
Some analysis, but this needs to be clearly structured and 'critical'. Use the data (from whatever source such as learning journal, interviews, et) and link it together in analysis backing up points with the evidnce to prove it - that is not just opinion.

Reflect on individual strengths and weaknesses
This was done well.

Using appropriate techniques to communicate.
This is an area you are clearly progressing in. And it will get easier as you develop the required skills.

Targets

A few pointers: - a contents page would help a lot at the start - use Hravrad referencing protocols - remember, learning journals, interviews, observations are all sources of data. You need to use them to support the points you are making - in future modules, the use of published literature will be important to use linking it to your own experiences

Assignment % Mark

50

Please note that this is a provisional mark and is unconfirmed by the SAP (Set Assessment Panel) which meets in January. You will be notified when a final mark is available.

Excellent (70 - 100)
Very good (60 - 69)
Good (50 - 59)
Pass (40 - 49)
Fail (39 - 0)

2003-12-20T14:25:00.000-08:00

Attending another homeless mediation last night which involved a young person and the family made me aware of a direction I may be interested to follow in the future, youth counselling. As I already have some counselling skills I can see that there is a further need in the community for an easiy accessible youth counselling service.

2003-12-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

Just received report 1 results and feel disappointed. I feel that facilitator support was lacking. Had I been given that support I might have fared a little better.

How ever upon reflection and looking at it in a more positive light, 50% wasw not bad considering I started a new job which was a totally different role.

I have only returned to full-time work in the last nine months so I suppose I can not expect to be expert at what I do ..I need to lower expectations I have of myself and learn to walk before I can run. It will not be easy for me to do. Therefore upon reflection I have learnt more about myself than about my role at work.

2003-12-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

I attended a homelessness mediation today and it was very emotional. As time went on it became quite clear that neither of the parties wanted homelessness as an option. It seemed that they needed 'holding'. The relationship is very fragile but it is my feeling that with support they can become a family unit respecting each other's wishes once again. Family mediation will be set up for next week. This means that the whole family can have a say.

2003-12-08T03:37:00.000-08:00

Atlast I've managed to publish a profile of myself and My ILP. Shame I can't include pictures.

2003-12-08T03:36:00.000-08:00

I have studied and gained 230 level 1 credits at degree level but may like to continue degree study at the same time as working as a case officerfor a community funded mediation charity.(pasted from duplicate- mark 25/06/03) Working as case officer is a new post since my resignation from a challenging position as a learning mentor.

My Interests
I am an 'aphid' gardener undertaking large projects involving bricks and cement. I am the site manager and my husband obeys instructions. He complains about the liquid salary but the job gets done eventually.

I also enjoy poetry, especially by contemporary writers and was pleased to achieve 66% in the poetry module of my degree this year.

What do I expect from this course?
This course offers me the chance to continue studying and achieve degree status whilst working. As a mature student employment opportinities in the area that interested me would have been very limited to a person of my age. The opportunity arose as a learning mentor and I felt quite sure that it was the right thing for me to do. However that is now not to be.

I have now been in my new post for two weeks and am beginning to find my feet. As a case officer I work closely wih the Project Co-ordinater, however as there is only a small team everyone is expected to undertake any tasks.

I will have responsibilty of undertaking research into Restorative Justice and setting this up for the immediate locality. Along with the trustees of the charity and other members of the employed team the charity will undertake PQASSO (performance quality assurance system for small organisations). A bit like OFSTED,but for small businesses.

I have chosen to undertake this course as it has been my longterm goal to achieve a certain level of education as I feel it will enable me some credibility to my committment to learning and the learning of new skills.

What are your aspirations for the future?
It seems that there were limited training courses for mentoring in schools, so maybe it is an area that should be developed. I should very much like to be a part of the development of the charity for which I now work as at the present time it is in its infancy.
As a qualified tutor in adult education, I could envisage training others to be mediator of restorative justice or writing degree courses for mentoring as I feel the two are fairly closely linked

Higher Education Credits?
A mentioned previosly, I have studied at H.E level and achieved 230 credits at level 1. I have to resubmit as I failed one education module by 1 mark.

I am happy to say that I can use 100 of the 230 level 1 credits so I am now able to continue at level 2 whilst working a 20 credit It module.

created:
on Sunday 27 April 2003

last edited:
Helen Holyoake-Ward on Monday 17 November 2003

2003-12-08T03:32:00.000-08:00

Ultraversity Individual Learning Plan
2003, Term 1
for
Helen Holyoake-Ward

An enquiry into my workplace setting: Mediation
Learning Outcomes:
(Things you should achieve by the end of this term)
Identify the requirements for someone in your work role - the knowledge and skills they need.
Identify the main activities of your work context.
Carry out a personal audit of your knowledge and skills in relationship to the requirements you have identified in learning outcome 1.
Identify opportunities for your own learning within your work context - this is a workplace degree so make use of any training, meetings, or courses on offer.
Identify areas that may interest you for future research - these can be changed.
Negotiate and agree your Individual Learning Plan with your Learning Facilitator.
Contribute to an online learning community, and describe how different tools are used in an online environment.
Learning Activities:

Learning Activity 1 - Finding Out About My Work Role

I have a lot to learn about my job as it is a new role, however there are a number of things I could do to find out more.Such as:
- creating a list using my own experience of what I need to be able to do.

Research skills
Counselling skills for mediation.
Expert office IT skills.
Time management/prioritising work loads.
Enthusiasm
Team playing

I believe these are umberella terms that would cover other skill areas that are required for this post and will be added to as the post develops and further responsibility is given.

As the work I undertake involves research The internet and www. are a vast resource, however I have found much that is not relevant. I have only used information that I feel is particularly useful at the present time. As my research into Restorative Justice is in its early stages of development as the project develops so I will obtain more information by networking with other agencies, using libraries and attending traning courses and conferences.

As i work in a small office there are many opportunities to discuss with my line manager what is required in the information I have gathered. A there are two projects that are my responsibility, I am well aware of the dealines by which the research for both must be complete. It is in tis instance that time management is crucial. The project has received funding until 2006 from the community fund. As this is the second application made by the charity to the find they will be unable to apply again and funding must therefore come from another source. It will be crucial tat I understand therefore how to make a successful bid for funds.

I have spoken to former employees, in order to gain a fuller understanding of the post and I was disappointed by what I was told, however it will be my intention to commit fully to see a successful project up and running within 18 months. This is the timescale for both projects.

- have a discussion with colleagues I work with (recorded in my Learning Journal)
- get in touch with another organisation, or expert and ask them what they think they key things are that someone in my work role needs to be able to do.
Understand the context of the organisation.
Understand the context of my role within the organisation.
The aims and objectives of mediation.
The part mediation plays within the community.
Training and development that enhances my role.

Findings to be shared with your facilitator by: 05/10/2003

Learning Activity 2 - Using Self Assessment to Identify Learning Goals
IT Office skills
Time management/prioritising workloads
Research skill/ presenting information
Team playing
Counselling skills/communication
Mediation skills

The steps for carrying out my self assessment include:
through my self-assessment with a colleague at work
- discussing any major issues in the online community with other researchers
- produce a list of things I wish to research further (restorative justice, PQASSO, Pratical quality assurance system for smakk organisations.)

Findings to be shared with your facilitator by: 26/10/2003

Learning Activity 3 - Identifying Opportunities for Learning
I will start by finding out a bit more about the activities of my organisation. What are the different parts and what do they all do.

Secondly I will find out about any opportunities for learning in my work, thinking about how they could help me with the areas I wish to research further that I have identified in activity 2. The areas I will be looking into include staff appraisal, informal arrangements with colleagues and friends, staff meetings, work shadowing, mentoring programmes, etc.

Findings to be shared with your facilitator by:

Learning Activity 4 - Using my Learning Journal
I am going to try and use some technology in developing my learning journal. This is a totally new experience for me, but I will try to take some digital photographs that show the different ways in which I work with people. I will then upload them add some comments to them, identifying the points that I think are important.

Findings to be shared with your facilitator by:

Learning Activity 5...
I have no additional activity planned at the moment.

Findings to be shared with your facilitator by:

Assessment Products

Report focussing on learning outcomes 1-6 submitted by 23rd November 2003
Report focussing on learning outcome 7 submitted by 7th December 2003

Check this box to confirm that you have completed your Individual Learning Plan.
Date: ( dd/mm/yyyy )

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Facilitator Feedback

2003-12-07T01:07:00.000-08:00

Have a look at this site

http://www.holyokae.me.uk

2003-12-06T10:31:00.000-08:00

It's been a good learning day today. I've set up this blog and also made a link to my page. I did this by carefully reading the given instructions and trying to mke it work. As can be seen I eventuall succeeded. Hooray!!!!!! I feel have reaaly achieved today. The second report is finished and its been sent. How good is that? I've had problems saving it onto CD as my computer keeps telling me the document is 'read' only, I don't know wha this means.

2003-12-06T02:21:00.000-08:00

Its been a challenging week as the second report is due i non Sunday. There's been little contact with my facilitator and i am frustrated by that. I'm not sure what learning group I belong to as few have visited my guest book or it may be that I am not aware of another page. Some how I doubt that. I keep wondering why I'm doing this but then I have to look at the gaols I ve set myself.

On anothr note lots of questions have arisen in the light of the news regarding tuition fees. Who is sponsoring Ultraversity? Government? Will it be an attempt onbehalf of the governmet to say that university nu,bers haven't fallen due to the introduction of fees because we have all these students studying within online communities.

I expect more questions will arise as the months pass.

2003-12-06T01:57:00.000-08:00

This seems to have far more clarity than other sites I have visited and I will aim to keep my learning journals here. I also hope to arrange it to my taste so that it looks like a comprehensive piece of work.