Believe

The day has arrived! It's so surreal to say this.  I never thought in my wildest imagination that I would be here enrolling onto an MSc.  Given my slow start in education.  I could cry, really!  I'm making personal history.  I'm going to give it all I've got.  I promise.  You only live once (so it's said) and I'll probably experience this once in my lifetime.  Here I go, I'm going in!

• Gemma Long - "Just read your post. Being an underdog will put you at an advantage compared to others as it means your going to work harder, so are more likely to see results. I'm sure today will fry your brain (lots of new people, a new campus, getting your assignment :-0) but try and enjoy it as much as poss. I met some lovely people on the course so I'm sure today will be the start of some new friendships for you. Enjoy the ride as I'm positive you'll make it successfully to the end."
• Helen Waddle - "Enjoy it and well done you, you will have a fab time x"
• Roy Scott - "Well get in then and get it done, so proud of you and good luck"
• Potti Dotti - "I am very proud of you Dan. I always knew you'd go far and i know you'll do well. X"
• Robert Hutton - "That is great Dan. You now understand that YOU control what you get out of educational and not education controlling you like had pre 16. Rob"
• Martyn Hollingsworth - "Well done dan your a star crack on with it"
• Sophia Dalton - "You can do it Dan! I believe in you 🙂 x"
• Dave Barnes - "Go for it fella 🙂"
• Donna Nixon - "gd luck n all the best for the future - part timer 🙂 hehehehe"

Last night I was getting nervous about all of this.  It's soon come around since March!

I had a great introduction day at university, however I did feel out of place and that I don't belong there.  Most likely due to my own educational background and ex-mining town upbringing.

Anyway, next year marks ten years since I started my transformation to educate and make something of myself.  Ten years, can’t believe how quick it’s gone.

I remember saying in the moment:

'Underdogs', it is time to step up. You don't have to have anything. Position yourself and be sure of your intention. The rest will follow.  (I was an underdog)

Some people get education served on a plate. Some people work hard for it from the bare nothing. Education is not to be taken for granted.

It all might seem self-centered, but I'm standing up for the people that don't believe in themselves. I got here from doing just that, even if I might not be so good. But I believe I am, and that is what it should be about right?

We teach to get others to be independent.  That’s the ultimate goal.  I taught myself this through drive and determination with the overall goal making of something of myself.

I might not know a lot, but I do know about learning and how it surrounds and binds everything.  Plus, it’s my main subject along with natural history and music haha.

Anyway, I’ll give this MSc everything I’ve got.  There will be some hard and challenging times ahead, but isn’t that what learning is about?  If you are not challenged, you are not learning.  I have my network of believers, supporters and inspirers to help me get through this.

I am proud to get to this point, why shouldn't I be. I don’t say it as much as I should. But deep down I am.  I pushed myself to make me a better and more rounded person as well as to know more.

To look back on…  I did this recorded interview back in Summer 2012.  How I have changed in direction and grown in confidence!  How many ‘erms’ can you count?!

Passionate Teachers (I'm on at 15 mins 30 secs).

It’s not about where I am, but how I got here.  And I’ll keep on sharing the experiences.  Thank you for the opportunity.

Panel of experience

Yesterday and on Friday 12 September, I was asked to be a part of an interview panel. It was very similar to what happened back in January.

Last Friday I was on a panel looking at presentations of candidates for a course leader on teacher training courses.  It was a great experience to see what each candidate came up with and have discussions with them and other staff on the panel.  It helped me to understand what to look for and what to ask candidates further.  As well as seeing what enthusiasm and energy they could potentially bring to Barnsley College.

The candidates were asked to do a presentation on strategies to deliver outstanding teaching, learning and assessment for the Education and Training qualifications.

All four candidates for this presented or discussed something different.  Which was great, but I suppose I was looking for pure passion and enthusiasm for this subject.  Because I fell in love with it back in 2011 after doing the former PTLLS course and so on.  I just love these courses and they can change your life.  Just like it did with me.  I didn't even want to do it, I just naturally stumbled upon it and thought it would be good for me to understand more about learning and teaching.

One candidate absolutely captured the above.  They were very passionate and enthusuastic about the subject and the way they talked about it made me want to do the course again!  They talked about their future plans for the course and how they currently run it.  I just wanted to get involved with it and bounce of their energy.  Plus, in the presentation I got a little pack of their teaching examples.  This is always good as you can take something away with you and use straight away!

The week after, it was announced that this person got the post.  Very pleased and happy for them.  I hope to work with them more closely.  It sounds like it could be a good match for educational fireworks!

Yesterday was a presentation and discussion for a new HE teacher to support and deliver sessions on the CertEd and PGCE courses for both pre-service and in-service.

There was only one candidate.  They had to disucss the challenges and implications of the teaching profession in terms of the Lord Lingfield report.  They showed great depth of their knowledge and concerns they had about political, economical and technological aspects of teaching. They came across really warm and humble.  I felt a sense of balance from them and I thought they would be good to support learners on these courses.

This was a lot different to other presentations and interviews as it felt more prestigious.  A great experience though.

I'm really grateful to be asked to be on these panels.  I learn so much from them and it's always a real pleasure to see what others show and demonstrate.

New Year - 2014/2015

I had a beautiful and much needed rest in Sidari!  Well, an all round rested Summer!  I think I've got too comfortable with it this time as I was desperately needing this break!

Well, today brings a new academic year at Barnsley College!  Although I've been back at work since beginning of August.  How different a year makes from last year!

There's been lots of change in my job.  And it's started with getting the apprentices that I mentioned at the bottom of this post.

Last week was the first week of having the apprentices.  We started off with a team building day out in the beautiful Derbyshire.  We did caving in the morning and orienteering in the afternoon.

I generally felt a bit like a fish out of water last week.  I went through many emotions and feelings.  I'be been here before, I know what I need to do.  It's just new and I'm a bit nervous.  But the main thing is that the apprentices said they are enjoying it so far and feel good with what they are and will be doing.  I will be doing a big reflection on this and forming a plan that can be used for next year.  I will be responsible for managing and developing them.  So I need to be on top form for this!

Actually, next year marks ten years since I was an apprentice.  So it's a lovely kind of strange that I have come full circle sort of thing.

This year is going to be very interesting and probably my most hard worked.  I will be fulfilling my new role, starting the Technology Enhanced Learning MSc, starting the quality assurance qualification and doing my Governor role.  So there's plenty to be doing.  But I need to look after my health during this.  It looks like it could be quite stressful.  So I need to ENJOY these and not see them as just tasks.

I've got so much to do, it begins again!