PALS proposal

Earlier in January, Colin Munn and Andy forwarded me a message (independently) sent out from Lynda Rodwell about the SoMSE Teaching and Learning Awards. Ooo... I was tremendously excited by this and decided I was going to submit a proposal. It is my hope to see the PALS programme implemented within the marine biology degree programmes. So, after finally getting some expenditures from Carolyn, I put together a 1 page proposal. I asked Rikka for feedback and he provided some very constructive feedback for me. During a quick chat with him, he told me he thought that it was great that I applying for this award and that he had been at Plymouth for 5-6 years before he decided to apply for a similar award. That made me feel great in light of knowing how some of the others in my research group feel about me. Knowing that Rikka thought I was doing something 'right' was almost a sigh of relief.

So, after getting feedback from Colin, Jason, Andy and Carolyn, I sent the proposal off to Lynda with just about everything crossed. I will find out sometime in mid-late February whether or not my proposal will be funded. I'd really like to see this funded as it would be GREAT for all of our students!

Getting things done...

Well, after a bit of procrastination, I have finally managed to nail down a time for my PGCAP tutor to come and do one of my teaching observations. Jennie will be coming during one of the Threatened Aquatic Ecosystems pracs. Simon has said that if I want to lead that session I am more than welcome to. We'll see how I feel closer to the time.

As for other things, I have finished the award proposal to try and implement PALS into the marine bio degrees. I have given a copy to Rikka and to Andy to get some feedback. How awesome would it be to be allocated the funding?!?!?

Change is definitely afoot within MBERC... so many things that are coming that will have HUGE impacts on our group. It makes me sad... it also makes me a bit worried. It'll be interesting to find out what Pete has to say in the meeting on Friday. Perhaps my post is secure within the group, perhaps not.

I attended the PU Strategy 2020 Workshop today. It was an interesting experience. I don't find the VC an inspiring speaker, but I do like where they would like to see the university to be at in 8 years time. There is a lot of new thinking out there. It could be a great experience for students and staff alike. It was really great to get to speak to people at my table from very different backgrounds and roles on campus. More organic sessions such as this need to occur more often. Change could happen sooner, ideas could be more creative and the vision could be greatly expanded.... but perhaps I am bit too much of a dreamer.

The permanent full time LD post was advertised today. I plan on applying and see what happens. I feel so welcomed within LD. It's a nice place to work with really great people, but I am not sure that it can totally fulfil all of my career aspirations. I'll cross that bridge if I come to it.

And finally, very depressing news. I just found out that one of our lecturers will be leaving at the end of this academic year. That makes me sad as he was a good laugh and always fun on field courses. A big, big hole will be left in his absence. Damn...

But in other news, I had some really great experiences in Learning Development this week and feel so much more appreciated in my role as a Learning Development Advisor than I do as in my lecturing role. On Monday, I shadowed Joe on a Presentations workshop for 3rd year Environmental Science students... it was a nice mix of humour and good ideas on how to present data... and yourself! :-)

We also had quite a meeting about the PhD writing up workshop on Wednesday. It seemed I would play a greater role than originally expected, which was great. This was followed up by the weekly team meeting, which was also good to see the directions the group is likely to head in the future.

I had my first go alone in the Drop-In Zone in the library. Sadly, there were no students that came to see me. I am still pretty nervous about providing the right sort of feedback at the right level, but I guess that is something that will only come in time and with lots of practice.

This coming Monday I will start learning the ropes of the email submissions through the Learn mailbox. Should be good, but again, a little terrifying at the same time. All of the others in the group seem so eloquent in their replies to the students, but I must remember, they have been doing this for YEARS! I am new to this process, but it doesn't mean I am incapable. I want to work hard at making this job work for me!

Reflecting on the past week...

So, as with anything, time and distance helps to mend bad things and bad feelings. I feel like I am moving through the 5 stages of grief after the news from last Friday.

5 Stages of Grief:

1. Denial --  the world becomes meaningless and overwhelming. Life makes no sense. We are in a state of shock and denial. We go numb. 
2. Anger -- Underneath anger is pain, your pain. Anger is strength and it can be an anchor, giving temporary structure to the nothingness of loss. At first grief feels like being lost at sea: no connection to anything.
3. Bargaining -- We become lost in a maze of “If only…” or “What if…” statements. We want life returned to what is was…if only, if only, if only. The “if onlys” cause us to find fault in ourselves and what we “think” we could have done differently. 
4. Depression -- We withdraw from life, left in a fog of intense sadness, wondering, perhaps, if there is any point in going on alone? The first question to ask yourself is whether or not the situation you’re in is actually depressing. 
5. Acceptance -- Finding acceptance may be just having more good days than bad ones. Instead of denying our feelings, we listen to our needs; we move, we change, we grow, we evolve. 

I currently feel that I am in the anger phase... I want nothing more that show the doubters that they are beyond wrong in their thoughts.

MBERC teaching and observing...

On Tuesday I attended the 1st of 6 lectures given by Simon in Threatened Aqautic Ecosystems. These are the sets of lectures I am due to take over next academic year, breathing new life into the topic. :-) I have never seen Simon lecture before, but had heard comments from students through the years. It seems he doesn't get much joy out of doing it. He apologised numerous times during the lecture and said the word 'important' about 50 times! I hope that when I take over I don't do the same!

Self doubt....

I learned something in the pub tonight that is tremendously upsetting to me. Some folks in my research group feel that since I don't want to be a hardcore researcher, I have no purpose teaching, no purpose in being a lecturer. Talk about making me cry my eyes out... I want nothing but the best for out students and will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I am devastated. I have no idea how to manage how I am currently feeling.

Manu has been a super star in trying to fight my corner. I gave her several hugs at the pub tonight. It made her uncomfortable.... she had no idea that I would react the way that I did (letting the tears flow). After speaking with me and attending the PGCAP course with me last week, she now understands what I am trying to achieve and believes in me. She knows that I am striving to be an excellent educator. Perhaps she has persuaded one other to realise that is what I am trying to be. How many others need to be persuaded? Can they be? Should I even try? I feel so lost at this moment in time. All I want is to inspire, engage and help the next generation of scientists to find their way... and be successful in their journey. Is that so wrong? Is that not to be valued? I can't stop crying about this.

Writing skills...

One of the areas that I really want to focus my PGCAP assessments around is the lack of writing undertaken by undergraduates at Plymouth University. This goes hand in hand with the lack of good feedback received from the lecturers. The more involved I become in my LDA role, the more it is becoming apparent that writing, or the lack thereof, really does hinder PU students ability to be competitive on the job market. One of the things the Dean said in yesterday's meeting is that employers in and around Plymouth don't want to employ our undergrads as they are not prepared to lead and run projects, offices, and contribute in a valuable way. Partly this comes down to lack of communication skills.

After chatting with Pete about what the students undertake at St Andrews (loads of assessments and writing that makes our students look like they don't do anything), I find myself asking the question, why do some lecturers think that the students at Plymouth are over-assessed?

Meeting with the Dean of Students!

Thursday took an unexpected turn... I was to have had a meeting with the Dean of Students, Dr Maureen Powers on Friday morning, but arrived to an email asking that it be brought forward to Thursday afternoon. WHOA... I wasn't quite dressed for the occasion, but I believe that I was mentally and physically prepared for the meeting. I couldn't confirm with Andy until after the Natural History practical had finished so it was all a bit rushed.

The meeting started a bit late due to Maureen being off campus. She is a real whirlwind of energy. I liked her from the start. Maybe it's because she is an American and has her own vision that is very much in line with my own in looking at the UK system, specifically how things happen at Plymouth and thinking about ways in which it could be improved. It was an incredible meeting and I am so happy to have had the opportunity to meet with her and discuss ways in which to create a win-win-win-win situation for all at this university. There is tremendous potential for this university to go from good to great! I AM EXCITED!

I am now looking forward to see where she takes Andy and I's ideas and how the rest of the higher ups respond to it. I am hopeful that the marine degrees can form a pilot study to trial some of the ways in which we can improve teaching and learning for all!

Another great day!

Today was a whirlwind of activity. I shadowed Eloise during 3 one-to-one tutorials, followed by a 2 hour meeting about planning a PhD student writing workshop, and then shadowing Eloise on the Drop-In Zone. Really great interactions with the students during the tutorials. It is interesting to see and learn how Louise and Joe draw out the critical information that the student isn't exactly aware of being the real problem that they are struggling with. Students come to LD looking for feedback on referencing and writing when really they are having trouble with critical thinking and focussing their work. It may take me some time to get to grips with it all, but I feel that at least I may have something to contribute initially and build on my skills from there. It looks like Monday I may be covering the Drop-In Zone on my own for just over an hour.

Other good things... I had a productive meeting with Andy tonight regarding our meeting with the Dean of Students on Friday morning. I am looking forward to meeting Maureen Powers and hopefully we will have a good chat about how to move some of my ideas forward initially at the research group/school level so that we create a win-win-win-win solution (undergrad, postgrad, academic, & institution). I also came up with a possible solution about how to improve writing skills and provide opportunities for feedback (and developing the skills to critically assess work) for undergrads and postgrads without creating more work for academic staff. We'll see where it all goes. And with any luck all of this proposed 'work' can form part of my own PGCAP module requirements.

I have been lauded by John H. about securing a meeting with the Dean. He likes my style and finds my can-do attitude very refreshing. It is lovely to feel like I am going to make a positive contribution to the team.

So many good things...

Tuesday was fab! Had a good Learning Development (all team) meeting this morning followed by a productive lunch meeting with the group. Lots of ideas were batted around and all of them are quite exciting for students, their learning development and opportunities for them to really become 'students as partners'. There may be great potential in the development of one of those ideas to help me fulfil one of the Negotiated Study Topics modules I will be taking later this year as part of the PGCAP course. Exciting times indeed.

I also nailed down some more teaching commitments for this term today. It is looking to be a very full diary, but good to really hit the ground running in 2013. There are so many things to look forward to and be thankful for. Although I am and will be working many more hours than I am being paid, it's all about career development this year. And I know that this is only the beginning! Rock on!

Learning Development Advisor -- first day in the new post!

On Monday I had my first full day as a Learning Development Advisor. I had been anxious, nervous and excited about starting my new post. It was great and all of the people in LD are just fantastic. :-) The great news?? All of the resources one could ever need to complete the PGCAP writing assignment are literally next to my desk! Hurrah!

Favourite learning & exploring quotes...

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." — Benjamin Franklin

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." — André Gide 

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

"Failure is success if we learn from it." — Malcolm Forbes

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones that you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." — Mark Twain

PGCAP Mentor... sorted!

One of our first tasks after the completion of the first 3 days of the PGCAP course was to secure a mentor. After speaking with Andy, I decided to ask Geoff Wigham. Although he may be retiring this year, students really like him and he has YEARS of experience under his belt. I have enjoyed watching Geoff teach in the past and I am hoping that he can give me so tips and tricks to improve my own teaching. PLUS... he'll get to observe my teaching whilst we are in Sweden in March. All systems go it would seem!

PGCAP - Day 2: Micro-teach session

Today, the 2nd day of the PGCAP course, each of us had to present a micro-teach session. I chose to talk about completing the SWCP and how to successfully undertake a car-free long-distance walk using online planning resources. Despite running out of time, I received great feedback... passionate, enthusiastic, really engaged with my audience, people wanting to walk more, people wanting to discover new places, and even people loving my photography. What a great day! Now, to just tone down on the content and really focus on telling a CONCISE story!

PGCAP - Day 1

Greeted by 40 people in a classroom, the PGCAP (cohort C) course got under way. We started the day with an ice breaker task (good and bad personal experiences in education) working in groups (by table). It really set the tone for a very enjoyable day, learning about learning styles and teaching theory. There is going to be a tremendous amount of work involved in the assignment and making sure that all criteria is successfully completed, but I have a feeling I will have a great tutor, need to find a good mentor and have a fantastic peer in Manuela. This is going to an incredible year in terms of my career development!