Learning HubsLearning Hubs

Placements Placements

As part of my level 5 work and professional development

module I chose the Learning Hubs stream.

When I chose this stream my first question was . . . . . . .

What are the Learning Hubs?

How did I end up here?

“One of the purposes of the Arundel Learning Hub is to provide students and staff with a physical location that they identify with. The Learning Hub is actually the whole building because all staff and students in the building form parts of the Learning Hub community.”

Learning Hub Manager Jon Inns “We aim to offer a ‘base’ or ‘home’ for all students studying g the subjects found at Southbourne. It is also for all the staff who work in Southbourne. There are newly refurbished and equipped with technologies”.

Learning Hub Manager Emma Heron

The topic I had chosen was to focus on placements in special education

needs schools and the impact it has on the students at the placements.

Things did not go accordingly to plan, the schools would not get back to me and with the Easter holidays it was

hard to get in contact.

So then I changed my topic to placements in teaching/education

placements as a whole.

My Topic

My Topic Methods

I tried to contact staff at Sheffield Hallam University to help me get in contact with

some of the students on the teaching courses. I did not get any response so I took it upon myself to get in contact with some of students that I knew were on those courses.

I asked them to pass out some questionnaires out.

The following slides shows the analysed data I received from the questionnaires.

The Students The Students ViewView

100% of the students found the 100% of the students found the placementsplacements

very enjoyable.very enjoyable.

100% of students said that 100% of students said that placementsplacements

affected their career choice very affected their career choice very much.much.

Many students stated that they gained a lot of knowledge

“of how to differentiate and plan for all children regardless

of their ability”.

Skills Learnt on Placement :PlanningInclusionTeam WorkTime Management Management with children AdaptabilityProducing resourcesOrganisation skills

Working in different Working in different environmentsenvironments

Skills learnt on special need placements :Skills learnt on special need placements :P – ScalesP – ScalesUnderstanding different needsUnderstanding different needsAssessment skillsAssessment skillsAdapting to different needsAdapting to different needsCommunicationCommunication

““working with children with learning disabilities working with children with learning disabilities gives me agives me a

wider experience of working with others, and has wider experience of working with others, and has given me angiven me an

insight into the provisions needed for those with a insight into the provisions needed for those with a range ofrange of

special needs”. special needs”.

Views on placements and Views on placements and advice to othersadvice to others

• If you are unhappy do not worry to talk to If you are unhappy do not worry to talk to partnershipspartnerships

• Take every to get involvedTake every to get involved• Having good organisational skillsHaving good organisational skills• Don’t be afraid to ask questionsDon’t be afraid to ask questions• It’s a very good experienceIt’s a very good experience• Ensure you understand about the planning Ensure you understand about the planning

and different needs of the childrenand different needs of the children• Be approachable and friendlyBe approachable and friendly

• Conclusion on that

Sheffield Hallam Staff view on placements

The competition for graduate level employment is becoming increasingly fierce. Increases in the number of graduates looking for work make it important for students to look for ways to make themselves distinctive and employable. Students can become more suited to certain types of work by being tactical in the modules they choose, by gaining relevant work experience and by learning to get the most out of the work they do. Work-based learning is one way in which students can enhance their skills and prepare themselves for the world of graduate employment. In the social sciences, we have a core level 5 module on Work and Professional Development and an option at level 6 on Work and Careers in a Global Context. These modules aim to equip students with a theoretical understanding of the nature of work and encourage students to become reflective practitioners. These modules are offered in the knowledge that they will help students to develop the skills necessary to prosper in their chosen careers.

Dr Gary Taylor

Contacting staff was much harder than I thought and I had to take into account that they are also busy. Dr Gary Taylor was the only staff who got back to me.

With the schools I did not receive any of the questionnaires back. I still needed some school staffs perspective on it so I took it upon myself to contact other schools and not the ones that take on students on placement from Sheffield Hallam School

A deputy head at a school in the West Midlands spoke to me about placements and the impacts of it. She told me that they are vital in a course where you will be dealing with children as you have to adapt to different circumstances with them. You need to put theory in to practice so placements are vital. You learn a lot from the placements, things you may have not learnt in lectures or seminars.

Looking back on her experience that the placements she had gone on had helped her recognise that the course was definitely for her and this is the job field she definitely wants to go into.

Placements are a good way in showing students the different atmospheres they will be working with and how to tackle workload.

My experience as My experience as a Learning Hub a Learning Hub

AssistantAssistant

The BeginningThe BeginningWhen picking the streams I saw learning hubs and When picking the streams I saw learning hubs and

sawsaw

the word creative and knew that it was the stream the word creative and knew that it was the stream forfor

me. The beginning of the stream I thought it wasme. The beginning of the stream I thought it was

going to be easy and I enjoyed the meetings and going to be easy and I enjoyed the meetings and thethe

starting of the tasks, as the tasks started getting starting of the tasks, as the tasks started getting

challenging I kept thinking if I had made a challenging I kept thinking if I had made a mistakemistake

choosing this stream.choosing this stream.

Halfway StageHalfway StageAfter thinking this, getting the newsletter out and theAfter thinking this, getting the newsletter out and the

challenges that came with it made the experience morechallenges that came with it made the experience more

enjoyable. I started to reflect on the challenges and theenjoyable. I started to reflect on the challenges and the

workload and saw that this is what the real word is workload and saw that this is what the real word is like.like.

Nothing is easy and I will face challenges in any workNothing is easy and I will face challenges in any work

environment and getting over them is an environment and getting over them is an accomplishment.accomplishment.

The challenges and problems started to occur more The challenges and problems started to occur more frequentlyfrequently

now but with the support given I was able to overcome now but with the support given I was able to overcome themthem..

My Views – The My Views – The End of the StreamEnd of the Stream

Seeing the module guide stating work Seeing the module guide stating work experience I was literally dreading the experience I was literally dreading the

module. As time went on and the workload module. As time went on and the workload started and the late nights came. I knew started and the late nights came. I knew

that this stream was very beneficial for me. that this stream was very beneficial for me. It showed me that work is not easy as you It showed me that work is not easy as you assume it might be. This stream has really assume it might be. This stream has really helped me in improving my skills and got helped me in improving my skills and got

me thinking more about my career in a very me thinking more about my career in a very positive way. positive way.

If I had to give advice to any student If I had to give advice to any student who was thinking of picking this who was thinking of picking this

stream it would be : stream it would be :

This stream is a very good for those This stream is a very good for those who would like to see the creative who would like to see the creative side as it is not easy but prepares side as it is not easy but prepares

you for the real world. The you for the real world. The challenges and overcoming the challenges and overcoming the

problems makes you want to work problems makes you want to work hard and achieve more.hard and achieve more.