I am writing this right at the end of the month – I seem to have packed lots into the last few weeks as ever. I have been to London twice, once for a conference launching the final report of the Learning Landscapes research project, which has been an exciting research study looking at the ways in which academics work with colleagues in estates and other key stakeholders to develop and manage innovation in the design of teaching and learning spaces in Higher Education; the study has been led by colleagues at Lincoln and I have done a small part to support the work (i am even credited in the final report, which is nice). The second visit to London was for a meeting of the SEDA Scholarship, Research and Evaluation Committee. I did have a few days annual leave over the Easter period, which offered a welcome break. We didn’t go away, but enjoyed some day trips in beautiful sunshine. The book chapters continue to progress, and as I write this I am steeped in marking, which will keep me busy for some days yet!
I am writing this blog part-way through August, which, thus far has been a quiet and peaceful month. From the end of July until early August, I was away on a cycling holiday, cycling from Germany to Austria, some 160 miles over six cycling days. No computers, no phone, no television, just sunshine, stunning views, excellent food, and the best company – brilliant!
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!
It seems incredible that we are into summer already, the weather has been very changeable although I have found it consistently very warm even on the wettest days. July is an important month in the teaching and learning calendar of the professional programmes that I work on, as this is subject and exam board time. These are significant ‘milestones’ in terms of the development of my pedagogical work, but much more importantly these formal processes mark key progression points for individual students. This month, as always, the time immediately before the boards is characterized by frantic last-minute marking, checking and re-checking, so that the board meetings themselves are professional, accurate and can smoothly function to do the intended job. After the boards, I received some emails from successful students thanking me for my support; whilst not at all necessary, after all it is their hard work that enables them to succeed, their appreciation nonetheless is heartwarming.
A potentially significant ‘milestone’ for my own career development came about this month when the Dean of Faculty offered me the role of ‘Director of Teaching and Learning’ for the Faculty, which is the largest in the institution. Whilst not a promotion, or a post in itself, this is a considerable responsibility that encompasses much of the strategic work I already do, but formalizes and recognizes it within the Faculty management structure. I officially start the role next month, but effectively it will commence with the new academic year in September.
In the middle of the month I enjoyed three-days ‘out’ at the national, annual Joint Social Work Education conference (JSWEC) at the University of Hertfordshire. I participated in the conference as part of a group of colleagues and students; we all travelled together in a mini-bus-type vehicle that I drove (a real charabanc!) – see photo of the ‘mottly crew’ at the conference dinner, below. I gave one joint presentation on behalf of a colleague who was unable to attend, and also put up a poster presentation on the SCOTs project. The conference was excellent, well-organised and very informative. I really enjoyed meeting lots of colleagues ‘old’ and new, some of whom I hadn’t seen for some years, so a fabulous networking opportunity.
Finally, as I write this at the end of July, I am about to go on annual leave, starting with a holiday in Germany and Austria. Over the next two weeks, we will be cycling along the River Danube tow-path from Germany into Austria, from Passau to Vienna. Photographs to follow next month!
