Student Response to Observation 2

Date of Observation 24th February 2016

My Development Plan indicated a need to obtain further experience and skills in the
competency Provide learning and development opportunities in a range of
contexts. My plan identified a project in Keith that would lend itself to a learning
opportunity in this respect. Observation 2 was a piece of work that also lent itself to
further experience under this competency and I approached this in an entirely
different manner.
I had no Agenda prior to the meeting, I knew my topic (around Community Council
legislation) but was unclear the exact information or guidance the group required.
This was a new way of working for me so I was slightly nervous at the unknown. This
technique was used to mutually agree an Agenda at Study Block 3 and I felt it
worked well in establishing a mutual responsibility and respect in working towards a
particular aim. Brookfield (1995) discusses finding new ways of connecting to
students as people and learners and this was my aim in using this approach. It was
quite a risk approaching the meeting in this way, I hadnt used this approach before
and I didnt know if it would work and I wasnt sure if it would be met with approval
from the group. This, after all, was not a method they would be accustomed to given
the formality and structure of Community Council meetings. I had thought the
individuals would expect and welcome a formal meeting but I learned that they were
adaptable to my method so long as it fitted the purpose for their needs. I will be
happy to use this approach more in the future and not assume because an audience
comes from a more formal group setting that they need this at each encounter.
This meeting had a dual purpose in providing training to my successor. I knew she
held me in high regard so I was slightly nervous that there would be issues I may be
unable to answer fully. I invited feedback from my colleague and the group following
the event. The group welcomed the opportunity to co-create the Agenda. They
expected me to come with a plan of proceedings but by using this method they felt
the meeting more beneficial as specific to their needs.
This meeting also allowed me the chance to extend my learning under the
competency organise and manage resources. I recognise that my practice in this
competency is improving and my confidence under this competency is increasing.
Having the opportunity to have this meeting observed by my Mentor has increased
my confidence, in particular within the competencies Provide learning and
development opportunities in a range of contexts and organise and manage
resources. Brookfield refers to craving teacher affirmation and I recognise my need
for this. I also learned from using the joint agenda setting method thats its ok to be
intuitive and people will welcome this approach.

References

Brookfield, S. (1995). Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher San Franciso, JosseyBass