As well as the study schools, I also presented, with colleagues at two conferences this month.  The first was the Higher Education Academy’s national conference in Nottingham where we presented on an innovative project to develop and implement our own Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Learning in Higher Educaiton at the University of Lincoln.  The second was the Joint Social Work Education Conference held in Manchester, where we presented on a SWAP (social work and policy subject centre) funded research project to explore students’ experiences of mentoring children and young people looked after by the Local Authority.  These are just some of the areas of work that made July such a busy month – all in all, I felt as though I was hardly at home all month!  So, I am looking forward to a chance to catch up and have some annual leave in August!

In between the short breaks, June was a busy work month.  I had alot of external examining work, which is the nature of this time of year, including attending assessment and examination boards.  I was also, with a colleague, asked to present some research work related to assessment in higher education, to colleagues at Birmingham City University; it was good to be able to share some of the findings and ideas that arose from our work.  I am bracing myself now for a very busy July as my diary is totally full with a whole variety of commitments!

On a different note, with a team of colleagues I started on the Global Corporate Challenge on 19th May.  This is a pedometer based walking challenge where we are engaged in a virtual team walk around the world for 16 weeks; wearing a pedometer each day and entering our own daily step count on-line each day.  It is fascinating how wearing a pedometer makes me not only realise  how sedentry my job can be, but also gives me the motivation to take the stairs rather than the lift and to get out jogging and walking more than I had been.  It’ll be interesting to watch progress over the coming weeks. 

Then at the end of the month, I had a short family break away in West Wales, whilst the weather was somewhat unpredictable, it was great to spend time with my family, just enjoying each other’s company and time together.

Also at the beginning of the month we completed the data collection work on the research project that I have been working on with colleagues, funded by SWAP the Higher Education Academy subject centre.  The final data collection work took place on a full day with students and stakeholders at the University’s Riseholme Campus, where the sun shone and spring was definately ‘in the air’ – I took this photograph of a tree in bloom at the campus, it was so beautiful.

April also saw my Mum’s 88th birthday and a lovely family celebration – as can be seen in this photograph.

That being said, there was plenty of work to be done in December, including a long list of copy-editor queries to start work on for the book – this will also be a feature of my work in January no doubt!  Towards the end of the month and the term, students have been submitting assessment work, which results in some weeks of marking for me and my colleagues.  I actually enjoy marking as this is an opportunity to give students individual feedback on their progress and successes, however, I always wish I had more time to devote to this important part of the job.

So to finish off this month and year’s journal – a few pictures from Christmas 2010 – firstly my son Rob and his girlfriend, Laura, with their ‘look-alike’ snow people creations , then my two cats watching the baubles on the christmas tree (needless to say, we were continually picking up baubles from the floor over the festive period!), and finally a lovely picture of my Mum and my son exchanging gifts on Christmas day.

The book that I have written about several times over the last year in this journal was finally submitted in its finished form this month, phew!  It has been a long haul, but a satisfying project to complete.  That being said, it is not really complete as there will be more work to do on copy-editor queries and proofing as the publishing process progresses – the plan is for publication October 2011. In the meantime I have been commissioned to write another book for the same publisher, so need to make a start on planning and writing again! 

I was also pleased this month to have been successful in my application for recognition as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) at Standard Descriptor 3 (SD3) - I have held SD2 for some years, so was pleased to participate in the pilot implementation of the University of Lincoln Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, following the HEA accredition of the institution’s framework earlier in the year. The HEA have now announced a consultation on a review of the recognition scheme, so I hope that the outcome will be that SD3 is given a distinct tier of recognition, rather than being titled ‘Fellow’ alongside SD2, but we shall see. 

At home, one of the highlights of November, was a trip to the grey seal colony at Donna Nook, on the Lincolnshire coast – this is the time of year when the seals come right up close to the shoreline to give birth to their cubs and when we visited, we saw over 1,000 seal cubs – it was amazing.  I felt priviledged to be so close and see so many seals in their natural habitat in the wild – wonderful.  Follow this link to see the photographs and video clips we took on our visit - Seals at Donna Nook.

Finally, I couldn’t make a journal entry for this November without mention of the weather!  I don’t think I can ever remember such cold weather, or the extremes of ice and snow coming so early in the winter. This picture was taken by a colleague and shows the frozen expanse of Brayford water in front of the University.

On the ‘up’ side, at home, we had a good time celebrating my son’s birthday, these are always precious family times to be enjoyed – so another year older and another year wiser … well maybe!  

On the ‘down’ side, as the University develops and consolidates, there is increasing awareness of the impact of national funding changes (cuts!) to structures and practices in the institution.  A key example this month has been the confirmed decision to sell the campus building in Hull.  It is pleasing that all current students from the campus will be supported to continue and complete their studies before Hull based activities are consolidated at the main Lincoln campus; however, change always has its challenges.  At the same time, nationally students and colleagues are protesting about financial cuts to higher education, the whole picture is very worrying.

I have been pleasantly distracted, however, through my involvement in some interesting research projects that have required a good deal of activity this month. I have been in southern Ireland gathering data, which has involved some really interesting and enjoyable time spent with school children and professionals.  The research project I am leading, that is funded by the Social Work and Policy subject centre of the Higher Education Academy, has also ‘taken off’ this month, with the first tranch of data collection with students and key stakeholders; for details of this project click here.  My teaching this month has centred around supporting delivery of a doctoral study school and individual work with students completing their final undergraduate independent study work.

I have also been busy with writing and teaching this month, drafting a book chapter for an edited book, planning teaching for the term, making revisions to the book I am writing and working with individual doctoral students and undergraduate students through tutorials and supervision sessions as, like me, students are also planning the progression of their work for the coming academic year.

Shortly after getting back from Hong Kong, I went to Barcelona, where I presented at the International Confederation of Educational Developers conference ICED 2010.  This was a smaller conference held in a university in Barcelona, again, though there were many very thought provoking papers and workshops to attend. Weatherwise, more very hot, sunny days, but with much less humidity than in Hong Kong.  So, a couple more photographs

As if that was not enough travelling for one month, I also had a short visit to Ireland to commence the data collection work on the evaluation project I mentioned in last month’s blog.  All in all, this month, my feet have hardly touched the ground … literally!

To continue in the same vein for now though, January and February so far have been busy teaching and marking periods.  I have also found time to submit some proposals for conference papers both as a sole author, and jointly with some very valued colleagues in South Africa and in Australia.  I am hoping that these abstracts meet with some success as I feel so honoured to have the opportunity to work with people from Universities across the world (keeping fingers firmly crossed on these!).  I also submitted two bids for small ‘pockets’ of research funding over this period, one locally, one to a national organisation.  The first has been unsuccessful, but offered good learning for its redevelopment for future submissions….the second is still under review (hopefully the already crossed fingers will work for this too)

During January I made reasonable progress on the book I am writing; I have tight plan/schedule to keep to and so far, all is going well.  I enjoy writing when I have some concentrated time and can loose myself in the substance and content – a whole day can go by in, what feels like the blink of an eye! 

I wouldn’t be a true Brit without mentioning the weather, particularly given the extreme conditions we have experienced at this start of the year.  It has been very cold (and I really don’t like the cold), with some periods of substantial snow fall.  The snow is attractive and leaves a stunning landscape, but we are not prepared for it and it brings chaos for all travellers, even those trying to get about on foot.  I very much dislike driving in these conditions, so am looking forward to spring – we have snowdrops in the garden, so hopefully the new season will soon be here.  In my last blog, I reported on the troubles caused by mechanical problems with my car, so can now update this by reporting that I have decided to buy a new vehicle.  The new car arrives in March – perhaps along with the spring….there is much to look forward to

Great news at work was that after months of involvement in the institutional initiative to develop a professional development framework, our framework was finalised and accredited by the Hgher Education Academy, a significant achievement for the group of colleagues that worked together on this. Also, over the last couple of months I have been working with colleagues to develop our Faculty Teaching and Learning plan and am now in the final throws of consultation on the draft.  There are so many exciting and innovative teaching and learning activities that it is difficult to reflect the depth and breadth of this, alongside our enhancement aspirations, in one accessible document.  The plan will be finalised in the new year. This month has also been a busy marking time, with more submission dates looming in January. 

At home the festive spirit is well underway; decorations are up, presents are nearly all wrapped.  It will be a lovely quiet family time.  December was a bit ‘dogged’ with car problems.  I drive long distances between University campuses and am heavily dependent upon a reliable vehicle.  Yet twice in the last couple of weeks, I have had the inconvenience of major faults and breakdowns.  Whilst repairs have been carried out under warranty, it being a fairly new vehicle, the inconvenience is significant. 

So, just a few more working days before a welcome break.  I hope that anyone reading this has a peaceful and restful break and a joyous new year.

A particular highlight this month was signing a book contract for a new text with the publishers Learning Matters, a book that will be co-authored with and led by my colleague Ian Mathews.  We both have a strong interest in the use of knowledge and evidence in professional practice and this will form the subject matter for this book.  The photo below was taken when the publishers commissioning editor came to the University to meet with myself and other colleagues who have authored texts for them. 

I am third from the left in this photograph with colleagues who have also written for the publisher Learning Matters

Autumn at the aboretum in Lincoln

‘Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile’ (attributed to William Cullen Bryant)

It really has been a beautiful autumn, but as I write this, the evenings are getting darker, it is getting colder and the clocks are about to be set back for winter!    Still October has been a good month for me, it feels as though the new academic year has now fully got underway with the usual round of meetings and strategic planning.  More excitingly I have been working with many new students having the early ‘taste’ of learning in higher education.   This month I have also been able to find some space to make some serious ‘in-roads’ into the sole-authored book I am writing for Sage publications, on interprofessional collaborative practice in Social Work, there is alot more to do, but I feel that this is now moving on well.  I am also working on developing some of my doctoral thesis for submission as journal articles, but this is a surprisingly time-consuming process. 

During October, we went to see Bob Golding in the fantastic, new one-man play which celebrates the life and career of the legendary comedian Eric Morecambe – it was a great night out.

So, my plans for November?  Well, more writing, perhaps some updating to this website, there will be marking and more teaching and, of course, planning for the festive season!

I do remember having a wonderful short break to Krakow in Poland with all of the family early in the month.  It was the first time I have been to Poland, we had good weather and stayed in the old part of Krakow, which was lovely.  Here are a couple of pictures…

 I also participated in the iPED 2009, 4th International Inquiring Pedagogies Conference, where I presented a paper and chaired a session.  Directly afterwards heading for London for an interesting meeting with publishers Learning Matters, to discuss, in part, some more writing that I am involved with.  Teaching was also back underway this month, with many new students, the delivery of a new module on social work theories and methods, and preparing for an exciting opportunity to work with some new doctoral students on the professional taught doctorate in education.  As I read back over what I have written here, I can see that it is little wonder that the month seemed to zoom passed without me noticing!

Despite having some more annual leave days once back at home, I spent some time planning the book writing for next term, keeping up with work emails, updating these web pages; none of these thing are a chore…

At the end of the month we have a long weekend in Edinburgh for the Edinburgh tattoo which should be excellent, if the weather is favourable.

Back to the more serious work next month…watch this space!