Schedule of Communication classes for after the holidays (and the final one of this year)

Hello all.


Just a final word on the academic front before we close for the end of 2017. I have really enjoyed working with you all, and without exception, all of you have performed very well indeed. We still have a very long way to go, but we are getting there. The culture and rapport in the classes has been excellent and when teaching and learning is very much a two-way process between the educator and the learner(s), we are always onto a winner, so thank you for that.

It will be no mean feat (from both you and me) to have almost everybody at the stage where they have passed three of the assessments for my Unit by the close of 2017. It takes time, dedication and skill to produce work to the requisite standard. An increasing level of talent from class members helps too of course.


It would be remiss of me not to mention all the interesting comments members of the class have posted in response to all the blog musings I type up. I would love to hear from more of you. Don't forget, we love a discussion and we don't always need to agree. So don't be a feartie, get involved!

So, we have done three assessments  together: the discussion and two reading analyses (Girls in Today's Society and Hangovers at Work). Some very good work indeed submitted and delivered for that particular triptych!

We have five further assessments to complete in the Ne'er: an oral presentation on a subject which is of relevance to the subject area that you are studying, two listening assessments (recorded presentations on two different themes) and two writing assessments. One will be an essay (free choice) and one is a report (which is integrated with the work you have already submitted for Andrew). I am still to sample that work, and if I feel anybody needs to tighten up their writing skills I will let those students know individually. I am confident that the majority (if indeed not all) of the reports will be a pass for my requirements too, but I need to see them as a matter of Quality Assurance anyway as you will appreciate. I will do that sometime in the Ne'er.

I plan to use the upcoming sessions as follows:

18/12 - those who have not yet passed both reading assessments will attend my class 11.15-1.15. If you have passed both the reading assessments and I have told you this, you will be marked with an authorised absence.


Into 2018 then...


8/1 - reflection of your learning so far, what you could do better, some reflective writing, discussions. This session will take the form of verbally articulating your thoughts on the classes and your Programme in general from August to this point, filling in an evaluation questionnaire devised by me (info to be recorded on the blog of course, which is anonymous, so feel free to reflect as you please, within reason of course!) and a short writing exercise for my keeping only.


15/1 - what makes an effective / ineffective oral presentation / how NOT to use PowerPoint. Distribution of the oral presentation brief and a list of subjects delivered in previous cohorts.


Week beginning 22 / 1 - catch up week. There will be a two hour slot allocated for members of the class who have not yet passed both the reading assessments. I will speak with students individually about their progress if we need to use time in this slot. I cannot say which day that will be yet as I know there will be some mandatory sessions I will need to attend in that week. And possibly deliver some sessions for staff, but I will know more about that when we come back in January. For the two members of the class yet to sit the discussion assessment, I haven't forgotten about you (or the assessment) and will arrange probably a lunchtime slot in the second semester sometime when I know my new timetable. That will not pose any problems at all for either of those students, but needs to be done.

29/1 - examples of PP presentations from some of my former students, a look at the assessed brief in detail, you work on research, preparation in class with me. If you have a laptop, please bring them in for the prep sessions as we only have limited PCs in the room. Thank you.


5/2 and 12/2 - prepare presentations in class with me. I need an e mailed copy of everybody's slides prior to delivery.


19/2, 26/2, 5/3 - deliver assessed presentations in class (splitting the class up into three groups - you will choose a date). After you have delivered your talks, you will be given the opportunity to self analyse your talk, critique one of the talks you have listened to and receive detailed feedback from me. These sessions have proved to be very helpful in the past and will contribute to confidence building, peer and self reflection and develop your research and analytical skills, not to mention the main purpose of that assessment which is to deliver an oral presentation lasting between 5 and 8 minutes using PowerPoint. You only attend the session where you are being assessed, not all the dates.


At this stage we will take stock of where we are, catch our collective breaths and I will devise the next schedule of work up until the Easter vacation.


Look out for a special festive message next week sometime on the blog which should make you titter...


Well done to all of the students completely up to date with their reading analysis assessments and for those I will see on Monday, we will get as much done in that session as is possible.


All the very best,


Mark