Thing 23: What Next? A Final Reflection

The final note on the CPD23 course is to write a six word 'story' on my experience. So here goes:
Interesting, informative, steep learning curve.  I have found the whole experience enlightening and useful.Some of the tools are now part of my everyday working life, others I'm sure I'll get to in time. I do want to build on this knowledge as I'm a fiirm believer that you have to 'do' to learn, and if you don't use it you'll forget how. My employers are still undecided about using social networking from a departmental point of view but clearly use it far marketing purposes. Is this a bit of hypocracy, or am I wanting to run before I can walk?

I've put all of this into my Personal Development Plan. A wish list that you can aim for instead of drifting into things. I can see some gaps in my knowledge and they are in there too. The process of doing the plan is a bit like putting your CV together in reverse. Firstly, by identifying what you're good at and then what needs more work. I've tried not to be too ambitious because I know from past experience that plans rarely follow the route you want them to and have to be revised along the way. Time and money are significant issues, and opportunities tend to materialise where you least expect them.

In all the course has shown me that you're never to old to learn, and that you shouldn't be scared of technology and trying new things. After all the 'digital natives' take all of this in their stride.

Thank you CPD23. Can we do this all again in a couple of years time when things will have moved on even more? One request is that you do a 'thing' on teaching/training skills, not just presenting.

Thing 22 Volunteering

Yes volunteering is a good thing if you can afford to do it. In my school library I couldn't do my job without volunteers. My employers haven't taken on enough staff to do the job properly, and so I'm having to use volunteers more and more. However, I do agree with the premise that there should be payback, and that valuable experienced should be gained by those volunteering. I do my best in difficult circumstances. From my point of view, it's great to get an outsiders view. New eyes often hightlight issues that I may not have thought of. I train my volunteers to do the basics and they choose the hours that they can commit to. If they have particular skills such as artistic/creative abilities I use them to the full. I do try to make sure they aren't given all the boring jobs in order to keep them interested. Unfortunately, they do move on quite quickly, and the investment of time training is then lost and I have to start again. From the volunteers point of view, there are many hurdles still in place that have to be jumped over before they can work in our school. Not only do they have to the CRB check (as a given), the school insists on them filling out a FULL employment application form and then undergo an interview with senior management. I personally think it's a bit over the top and will put a lot of people off. Surely this red tape can be reduced for people who are doing us a huge favour?! But policy seems to be set in stone. As a means of gaining work experience I'm all for it. It shows intitiative, commitment to the profession and willingness to move forward. It bumps up the CV no end. So go for it!