Dreaded deadlines...

At the beginning of my degree course I was meeting deadlines. I have found this difficult lately due to family circumstances. Could this be looked at as indicating a level of commitment in itself, when faced with other issues in one’s life needing attention, during a course of full time study? By continuing, having the determination to see a project through to the end, no matter what? Realistic planning, revising original plans and timeline, planning in advance, having foreseen a possible problem and taking change or new develepments into account? Dealing with it, problem solving, working out a way around it, still getting the job done ! Life beyond university, in the real world, is inevitably going to throw up plenty of deadlines, it is important to learn to respect them.

A work rant...

Got in yesterday to find out from colleague that prior to my arrival (I was unusually early) a decision had been made to get the new trainee cover supervisor to start covering lessons. Due to staff shortages this was considered a necessity. He would be in lessons with us and the department lesson observations and the remainder of the training programme devised for him by me has come to an abrupt end. Without any previous relevant experience I can't deny I am concerned. I consider it to be unfair after such a short time observing, although he was beginning to take parts of lessons as I had requested teachers to encourage him to do so. Despite voicing my opinion it appears this is considered a necessity by senior management in the face of ‘tough times’. I couldn’t help being reminded of Senge, the reference to change and learning organisations when I heard my colleague making remarks like: “I didn’t get two weeks of training – I only got two days”. I thought 'but does that make it right to continue with the same system of training, is this reason enough to stick to the same method? Why not try to change and improve the training of cover supervisors? We may even end up with some double loop learning (Schon and Argyris) as a result, where they actually end up staying in the role for more than just a few months at a time. Where the whole object of the exercise is not defeated by them taking a lot of time off due to stress compounded by their lack of training !

Latest degree developments... becoming a graduate?

Definitely feeling a marked change in my responses and actions when problems arise in the workplace. I am beginning to delegate more, as the new school term becomes busier, this approach is getting jobs done. Whilst I am carrying out my primary task, ensuring a positive learning environment is maintained, I am able to delegate other important tasks which are generally carried out successfully. Improved personal organisation skills have been a major factor in this development.

I am making my voice heard and also sticking up for my students' voice in places and situations where they cannot. This requires a diplomatic approach when there are human beings involved and when I want to avoid offending or upsetting people. I have learnt that this is sometimes unavoidable in order to 'get the job done'.

I can only think that these developments have come from gradually gaining more confidence due to the tasks I have carried out during my degree.

What will the next one be I wonder...

Latest study 'attempts' - topic reading

When I have been unable to absorb or understand a particular author’s description or explanation, despite re-reading over and over again, I've searched another writer’s work to see how they have explained it. Occasionally this has been fruitful in finding differences and clarity in definitions. Sometimes I begin a search by looking at other related works and research or for a reference cited or mentioned in the first book I have read on my subject/topic.

Having real trouble focussing on study currently.

Demonstrating graduateness...

Thinking about progress and areas where I might demonstrate graduateness.

Less procrastination will help to demonstrate 'graduateness'. Not being afraid or hesitant to enquire or become involved in discussion. I am developing this quality, a long way to go though.
The ability to ignore distractions, be it from friends, including turning down invitations, or from family. During research projects and related study, television and other favourite pastimes all have to take a back seat too !

Ability to organise personal workload and study schedules alongside everyday routines and a busy private life too.

As I've said above, a way to go yet !

Time to get serious...

So...

Essentially I need to stop partying and socialising in any form, stop attending the most important events in my daughters' lives, not have a Christmas this year, stop being so easily distracted and stop giving in to temptation and ignore my husband!

Hmmm... sounds fun !

Further thoughts on last and next modules

Some further thoughts particularly relating to last module...

PC problems were time consuming when time availability was at a premium. These problems contributed to difficulties already experienced by having to re-submit my proposal and await confirmed acceptance.

Conversations regarding conflicting views on paraphrasing and citing original author's quotes correctly, together with the referencing of online communications created considerable confusion.

My feedback suggested that I was making my research more complex than it needed to be. This ties in with a section in my learning journal expressing concern over the use of NLP when in the hands of someone other than an experienced practitioner.

When I discussed this aspect of Neuro Linguistic Programming with a fellow researcher who was also implementing the technique into their work role we agreed that provided a small, subtle change was introduced that any danger was remote.

I plan to simplify my initial approach accordingly with regards to implementation of my inquiry. From my feedback it is clear that by refining my methods and narrowing the research focus even further, I will increase the chances of success by going into more depth without veering off into irrelevant territory! I will need to review my plan before the next semester and read more widely relevant topic literature which is more specifically linked to my own research and the questions I aim to answer.

I am determined to take a bit of a holiday first though ! (Perhaps therein lies the problem!)