Hello everybody.
I wanted to pop a few final words up on our blog where I can say what I feel about our class and you can add your valuable comments in too.
So here goes, right now, right here. We lecturers learn too. Never forget that!
Here are the questions I would like YOU to note in the comments section, and anything else you would like to add. Your words are really helpful for any future classes I may be asked to teach Academic Skills to. Thank you in advance. You decide what you want to write, but please write something.
- What skills have you developed by coming to my Academic Skills classes?
- Are you more confident as a person than you were in August when we first met?
- How has my teaching and feedback helped you?
- Did you like the variety of content we covered in the classes?
- What did you learn afterwards, that you didn't know BEFORE you started your research?
- What could you have done better in my class or how you approached your research project?
- Anything else you would like to write - positive, negative or somewhere in between!
Here is a selection of the things we did in classes, as a wee memory jogger. We did pretty well...
- Icebreakers - getting to know each other
- Looked at two oral presentations via TED and you gave them a score out of 10 using my prompts
- Short writing exercise introducing yourself to me - this was only read by me
- I provided individual feedback to you all on your writing
- Used the blog to choose subjects
- Group working activities
- Effective and ineffective oral presentation delivery techniques
- Planning a research project on a hypothetical subject (conflict, diversity, employability, equality, care)
- Report writing skills
- Time management discussion
- Referencing techniques - Harvard Generator
- Introduction to College resources with Dale from the Learning Resource Centre (library!)
- Choosing a suitable vocationally relevant subject and logging these ideas onto the blog
- Distribution of planning sheets and examples of how to fill them in
- One to one progress interviews with me to see how you might complete your research project
- Time to work on your presentation or report
- Feedback on your oral presentation delivery
- Feedback on your report
- Feedback on your planning documents
- Reflecting on what we have learned
I have been impressed how everybody has developed as learners. I have seen development in the way you have worked on your research, planning and seeing how a subject you THOUGHT you knew a lot about develops.
I have learned a lot about you.
I thought I might encounter a number of nervous learners at the start, and to an extent, that was probably true. But it is the development of you as individuals that has been the most evident thing to me. This has been really pleasing. The skills I have shown you are there to help you in the future, such as research, time management, oral presentation, writing skills, confidence and much more. Many of you really engaged with my way of working and that was fantastic to see.
I trust you feel that I gave you my very best attention at all times and that you enjoyed coming to classes at 9 on a Friday. Although I have to get up at 5.40am to get to college on a Friday from Edinburgh, I always looked forward to coming in to work with you. We had the added bonus that although I gave you tasks to complete, they weren't SQA assessments so we didn't have to rush them through. We also had to contend with train strikes, cancelled trains at times and my dental implant at the start when I was unable to speak, but we made all the necessary arrangements as soon as we could. Being proactive and providing effective communication is always at the heart of my philosophy when working with students. Always.
This has been a blast. I look forward to reading your thoughts and responding to them.
Please use Google Chrome to do so, that should be the easiest way to comment, and if you are posting anonymously, please say who are you at the end of your thoughts so I can reply by name!
All the best, and thank you for being a fabulous class.
Mark
I have found this class enjoyable throughout the semester. I was really nervous about returning to education but that anxiety reduced as the weeks went on and I realised that I can learn so much. During our academic skills class we have learned things that we will use throughout our education and career. I thought I would struggle with report writing but once I got started it became easier as I went along. Now going into semester 2, although I still feel a little anxious about it, it's no where near as much as the absolute fear I had starting semester 1 and that's because of classes like this that have taught us the basics but also the essentials and this class has been fun to be in, always a good atmosphere and help on hand when needed.
ReplyDeleteHi Christine, thank you for taking the time to articulate your thoughts. I am delighted that you have recognised why we decided to add this class in, and you are quite correct, the skills will help you in future classes. I will be using your report as an exemplar if I am asked to take a class like this again, so thank you for allowing me to do so, taking your name off of course. I think you have channelled any anxiety really well and you excelled in my class, well done. All the best for semester two. Mark
DeleteI never got the chance to do or present my powerpoint but i really enjoyed these classes and i really enjoyed having u as a teacher. I feel a bit more confident even though i didn’t present or do anything but i really enjoyed the openness of this class and the fact we got to pick our own topic and got to research it. I really enjoyed this class and hope to get u again.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelsie, I really appreciate your comments. I believe the flexibility of the topics was indeed a help to all the subjects chosen. I enjoyed working with you and I thought you contributed well when you were in class. Your comments are very kind, thank you. I am glad you feel your confidence is improving, which I am glad to hear. All the best for semester two going forward. Best, Mark
DeleteThank you Chloe McC, what amazing feedback, thank you. I really appreciate this. You have developed really well in the class, and you have got the right balance of self-criticism, without going overboard. Your presentation was excellent as we discussed in the feedback session. I wish you the very best for the future. I am smiling. Mark
ReplyDeleteHi Bethany, thank you. I am glad you feel you are more confident and you did a great job with your Social Care report and planning. I enjoyed the feedback session with you this morning. Well done and thank you for being such an engaged learner in my classes. You go well for the future. Mark.
ReplyDeleteAmazing class felt comfortable without being judged and was able to be myself. Mark is an amazing lecturer and takes everyone’s feelings into consideration and is hilarious aswell. Lol😹
ReplyDeleteHi Emma, how very kind. Absolutely no judging in my classes. I thought you delivered a fantastic presentation and I learned a lot from your research. It has been great working with you again, and thank you for your kind comments. This was a great class to teach. And I now have my cartoon to remind me! Well done, Mark
Deletewhat I enjoyed the most about this class is that it very laid back, yes we had a writing assessment that didn't go very well. Anyway I had a wonderful time working with you again. I also like the way you teach.
ReplyDeleteFatima Amin
Hello Fatima, thank you for these comments, much appreciated. Your writing was fine, you just had some technical difficulties! (Saving can be a pain, we know this). I liked how methodical you were in your research, taking lots of notes. It was great to reconnect after working with you last year and this time, in person. All the best for semester two. Best, Mark
DeleteI really enjoyed coming Fridays to your classes Mark. The atmosphere was always so nice and welcoming as you value everyone's opinion and listen what people actual are saying. I liked all the interesting, funny stories and anecdotes you brought to your classes too.I learned a lot new things and feel more confident now with my academic skills, report writing, planning and research. I feel the knowledge gained is really useful and I will benefit a lot. thank you
ReplyDeleteMartyna, thank you so much for your comments. I felt you developed well, and like Christine, I would like to use your report in the future as an exemplar; thank you for allowing me to use that. I always believe that respect is crucial, at every level and I appreciate you making that comment. I am delighted you will be able to use the skills we developed in the future. It was a pleasure working with you. All the best, Mark
ReplyDeleteThank you to everybody who has contributed to this thread. It really is most encouraging and I am sure Kathleen will be happy with the information too. All the best for the future, Mark
ReplyDelete