I’m now largely working in the main campus of the University, rather than Ilam West. The retreat from last year now sometimes seems like a distant memory.
Here is the Teaching and Learning Plan:
I’m still very interested to see how the whole teaching and learning aspects are linked (or otherwise) into the university structure along with the research side. The role of the “Teaching and Learning Centre” is constantly under debate somewhere in the world. One particular place for instance is the POD (Professional Organisational Development) list.
Our retreat was absolutely stock standard: sweaty pitchers of water, mints, postits, butchers paper, felt tip markers and a faciltator. 50 minute lunch break. Nice food (even if it is mass produced) a quick walk round the building and then back into it.
Carol, our particular facilitator was superb. There but unobtrusive, and with a few delightful and highly effective little comments and metaphors she brought to the day. I think she managed to get some genuine ‘Open Space’ elements into our activities and I didn’t feel at any time the boredom and chagrin I have known in other places in the past as I see a golden opportunity flowing out under the door and well and truly lost. She also engendered some trust. I think behind her relaxed appearance she really knew what she was doing.
. . . as usual, whiteboards covered with the small group work. These emerged a little later into 4 pages of plans and encapsulation. We have some great plans.
The pages are on the top of the filing cabinet in the UCTL office and I look at the pile each day. We were sort of all here for a brief moment yesterday, but the last month has largely been holiday. I’m half shifted from the College (2 km away). The year has been launched.
