Hello everybody,
I would be grateful if you could add something to the blog below, in the comments section, using the following prompts if possible. This will help tie into your own learning and the self-reflection exercise that we will be doing next week.
In what ways have you developed as a learner / individual since you started the SWAP course in August?
What have been your highlights on the Programme so far? All subjects by the way, not just Communication, but feel free to comment on my unit as well should you so wish, ha ha.
What will you do better in 2023 moving forward?
To what extent is your time management improving since you started the course? What techniques do you use, which you can share with your peers?
What do you particularly like about the SWAP STEM course you are on?
If there is anything else you would like to write about regarding your learning journey so far, please feel free to note them. You can be critical too if you wish, but not too critical!
Everybody is doing really well for me, and it is a real pleasure to work with you all. Performance levels and focused learning is at an all time high with this class and you should all be very proud of your endeavours so far. When we are all engaged, we can take learning (and assessment) to the next level. And that’s something we (you) sure are doing.
See you all on Zoom next Monday at 13.30 - details to be sent on around Friday.
Take care, and I look forward to reading your comments.
Mark
I'm quite proud of myself, tbh at how well I am doing so far. At the beginning of the course, i was unsure and nervous if I had made the right decision going back to Higher education. Now, I wish I had done it sooner as I am able to achieve greatness and growth in subjects, I never really enjoyed or liked before I.e Physics and Comms. I have completely surprised myself by becoming more vocal in class and I see myself more so as a leader now. I'm no longer the shy girl who would sit at the back of the class and not engage with anyone. I have developed alot of independent learning by spending most time in the library and using all given materials to the best of my ability. My time management skills have been good with delivering assignments on time and balancing work commitments. This could be better at times but there's still time to improve on that. I've enjoyed the SWAP course so far, and I would recommend anyone to use this course as a vital stepping stone before progressing to further education.
ReplyDeleteHi Sam, what a wonderful opening piece of reflection this is. I am impressed with the way you have framed your carefully penned words. It is of course good to say when we are doing well, but it doesn't always come naturally to many people. This is a great working example of an illustration of a learner who is developing all the time and getting the results she so richly deserves. I too see you as a leader but I am still standing by my assertion of yesterday that in my opinion, and from what I have seen, you ARE a great manager of your time! Your recommendation is fantastic and one I shall share with next year's crop. Thank you for taking time out to share your thoughts; I really enjoyed reading them. Take care, Mark.
DeleteSo far, the course has been great, I feel like I've made a lot of effort to participate in class discussions (mostly because Sinead said our references would take it into account haha) which doesn't come easily for me so I'm proud of myself for that. Physics has been the biggest highlight for me. I always look forward to it and find it the most interesting to learn about. I've also really enjoyed being in a learning environment again as I feel like I'm at my best when I'm being challenged. I think since the start of the course my time management has improved as the workload has gotten heavier, possibly just due to getting into a good routine over time and figuring out which time of day I work best at. Overall, I would say my time on the course has been enjoyable and I'm so glad I chose to do it.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon Abbey and what wonderful feedback, thank you. Yes, you have. And you have really flourished as a learner, getting more confident all the time, which is what learning should be - dynamic, progressive and sometimes, uncomfortable! I shall let Chris know, he will be delighted, ha ha. I am glad you have made reference to the challenges of learning, very shrewd. For me, if we aren't challenged, we aren't learning, ergo, we aren't developing. I know and you know that your time management is exemplary and this was best evidenced from the class we had on Monday. I wonder if I have taught any class on the SWAP STEM programme this year and NOT mentioned time management, unlikely I would think...Great stuff Abbey and see you on Zoom on Monday, look out for the e mail on Friday with details. Best, Mark
ReplyDeleteFor me, this year is a year of new challenges and new opportunities. I am glad that studying on SWAP STEM course is a part of my current life. I know that despite problems and hard times, I do my best and build my future. I noticed that sometimes you want fast changes and progress, but can't get it. I learned to wait and make some pauses to enjoy every minute here and now. I can't say I learn a lot of new scientific information here, I remember almost everything from my school. But I learn life skills and English, which is absolutely important for me. Also, I am glad that our college company is very friendly ( but we should spend more time together, mates 🙃 ). And of course, I am happy with our teachers. The education system here is not like in Ukraine. You can always talk to your tutor if you have any problems, and generally, communication between students and teachers is more opened and trusted. I hope everything will be even better next year and everyone will achieve his goals. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Ilya. Thank you so much for these wise words and you touch on a number of great points here. Challenges and opportunities are very much the watchwords for any SWAP course, and I hope that this is what everybody in this class feels. I love that living in the moment, contemplating and thinking about things. This is a very shrewd strategy. Education and especially communication, is dynamic by nature and things inevitably DO move quickly. I think you are right, although the class is incredibly cohesive, perhaps you are alluding to perhaps eating together, having coffees together etc.? This is not always possible of course, but worth thinking about for sure, great point. I agree, the lines of communication are really open with all your lecturers and I really enjoy being part of the team. Onwards and upwards, see you on Zoom at 1.30 and thank you for these great reflections. All the best, Mark
DeleteWhen I first started this course I felt so anxious and thought i wouldn’t succeed. However now halfway through the course i am proud of myself for what I've achieved, there is things i would like to get better on and I'll try to work on that. I would like to talk out more when knowing an answer i just get scared that its wrong. In 2023 I would like to be more confident and speak out and be involved more. In the SWAP STEM course i enjoy physics and coms which isn’t something i thought i would enjoy! i have surprised myself on how well I'm doing and look forward to do better in 2023!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Renee, and thank you for these words, they are really helpful and will fit nicely into the first part of the Zoom session today. Nothing wrong with questioning yourself, it is about how you deal with the anxiety, using lots of different strategies. I am very pleased to read that you are happy to articulate how well you are doing, and you should be proud of yourself. By the way, getting an answer wrong, no biggie. Education is about learning, and we develop through questioning, listening and improving our confidence. Here's to 2023, when she finally arrives. See you at 1.30 and thanks again, these are strong evaluative comments. Cheers, Mark
DeleteI have really enjoyed the course so far and have really surprised myself, at the start of the course i felt really anxious and nervous about starting a new a chapter in my life but i am so happy that i did. I came in with hesitations however, so far everything has been going really well, i did not think i would enjoy comms as much as i do, i like how thought provoking it is. I would like to improve on my time management next and to try and participate more than i already do. I look forward to improving more in 2023.
ReplyDeleteAfternoon, Selma. Thank you for putting your reflections together, really positive too. New chapters are always nervy, whatever the context. Provoking thoughts and how we see, read, evaluate things always interesting too. That's great that you are considering the import of in class engagement too. Keep doing what you are doing in the meantime though, things are going well in my class and I am sure, in all your other ones too. See you very shortly, Mark
DeleteAt first I found the course daunting as it was such a big change for me going back into education, at first I had loads of doubts about my capabilities. However now I can say that I have eased into it. I have better time management when prioritising the work load and have pleasantly surprised myself with my assessment outcomes. I thoroughly enjoy the aspect of comms where I can voice my opinion in a creative way and the analysis of physics. I would recommend the stem course to anyone who needs a stepping stone as everyone is in the same boat and it’s such a friendly environment!
ReplyDeleteMorning, Maegan. Yet more thoughtful words, thank you. Doubts, worries, questions, all perfectly normal, especially on a SWAP course. But you are performing really well in class and also in assessments, so keep doing what you are doing would be my advice! Physics has been a real hit this year for sure, great to read this. Thank you for your endorsement, and these recommendations really do go a long way, and I will certainly use them when I am 'selling' the Unit to next year's cohort! We do have a great team and wonderful students, handpicked for the job, in both cases! Take care and thank you for taking the time to write such well constructed and thoughtful comments. Mark
DeleteWhen I first started the course I was really nervous and anxious about re-turning to education after spending time away from it. Over the last few months I have really enjoyed it and realised how much I love studying and chasing my dream job. I have much better time management now than I did at the start of the course especially juggling with two jobs. Hopefully in the upcoming months I can be a bit more vocal when it comes to answers and speaking up more as it is still a bit daunting for myself
ReplyDeleteHi Abbygail, great words, thank you. You sure have flourished and doing really well. Artemis will always be your friend, what a great topic to fall in your lap. I think we are all Team Artemis now, ha ha. Anxiety is of course a factor which can make or break any learner, but it is how you channel self concerns, and how you deal with these perfectly normal sensations. I believe that FE does a brilliant job in allaying such fears, at all levels, with lecturers and tutors who really acknowledge and understand. They will offer positivity, tough love, support and encouragement across the whole learning journey. With two jobs and a full time high octane Programme like this, you certainly have earned your holiday. Well done and congrats. on being completely up to date for me in this Communication unit. All the best and keep on keeping on. Mark
DeleteAccidently posted as anonymous. David
ReplyDeleteHi David, lovely words right there, thank you for taking time out to do so. It is notable that the themes within this thread are about initial worry and concerns, but all thoughts then turn to tapping into everybody's abilities, skills and development. Development and evolution, coupled with increased confidence is so important to all learners and something I see in all twelve members of the class. It is reassuring from an lecturer's point of view! You raise some salient observations about subjects you like, that you are developing knowledge in and a wee surprise or two, too! Balance is also a key watchword, and one that I am keen to press on about. Not always easy to achieve, but certainly something that is helpful to everybody, including me. Well done and thank you for your feedback. All the best, Mark
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