Learning Hubs

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Learning Hubs

• Placements

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How did I end up here?
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?
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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
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My Topic
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.
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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.
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The Students View

• 100 of the students found the placements
• very enjoyable.
• 100 of students said that placements
• affected their career choice very much.

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• 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
• Planning
• Inclusion
• Team Work
• Time Management
• Management with children
• Adaptability
• Producing resources
• Organisation skills

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Working in different environments

• Skills learnt on special need placements
• P Scales
• Understanding different needs
• Assessment skills
• Adapting to different needs
• Communication
• working with children with learning disabilities
  gives me a
• wider experience of working with others, and has
  given me an
• insight into the provisions needed for those with
  a range of
• special needs.

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Views on placements and advice to others

• If you are unhappy do not worry to talk to
  partnerships
• Take every to get involved
• Having good organisational skills
• Dont be afraid to ask questions
• Its a very good experience
• Ensure you understand about the planning and
  different needs of the children
• Be approachable and friendly

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Sheffield Hallam Staff view on placements

• Conclusion on that

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
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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
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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.
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My experience as a Learning Hub Assistant
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The Beginning

• When picking the streams I saw learning hubs and
  saw
• the word creative and knew that it was the stream
  for
• me. The beginning of the stream I thought it was
• going to be easy and I enjoyed the meetings and
  the
• starting of the tasks, as the tasks started
  getting
• challenging I kept thinking if I had made a
  mistake
• choosing this stream.

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Halfway Stage

• After thinking this, getting the newsletter out
  and the
• challenges that came with it made the experience
  more
• enjoyable. I started to reflect on the challenges
  and the
• workload and saw that this is what the real word
  is like.
• Nothing is easy and I will face challenges in any
  work
• environment and getting over them is an
  accomplishment.
• The challenges and problems started to occur more
  frequently
• now but with the support given I was able to
  overcome them.

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My Views The End of the Stream

• Seeing the module guide stating work experience I
  was literally dreading the module. As time went
  on and the workload started and the late nights
  came. I knew that this stream was very beneficial
  for me. It showed me that work is not easy as you
  assume it might be. This stream has really helped
  me in improving my skills and got me thinking
  more about my career in a very positive way.

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• If I had to give advice to any student who was
  thinking of picking this stream it would be
• This stream is a very good for those who would
  like to see the creative side as it is not easy
  but prepares you for the real world. The
  challenges and overcoming the problems makes you
  want to work hard and achieve more.