A demanding heading. I'm not going lo list all the good things of the closing year, though. And I'm not going to list all the "Big Things", either. Just one thing and another. Actually delights are always "big things".
Such as
- student union's comments on the new curricula: in time and relevant
- AD - Active Directory: what a joy it was to log in with your own ID and password even in Rauma! Simple and easy for the user!
- draft of the Satakunta Higher Education web portal: a good step on the path of actual co-operation
- discussion on the student house in Pori: it's a common interest
- my autumn semester's collaborators: nice to do things together
And, of course, all the new and old people at work, either at SAMK or at partners. CU next year!
Yours,
Anne
2008/12/31
2008/12/19
Season's greetings!
Last day before Christmas holidays! Still plenty to do - but also time (and understanding) to enjoy great co-workers' company!
This day it's time
- for graduation - congratulations to all our graduates!
- to say goodbye to a retiring fellow-worker
- to say goodbye and see you soon to a fellow-worker who is leaving for another unit
- to look and listen the greetings you have got - the traditional and the different. Thanks to all of you! And a special word of thanks to our student union for a very delighting and thoughtful present.
- to wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Anne
This day it's time
- for graduation - congratulations to all our graduates!
- to say goodbye to a retiring fellow-worker
- to say goodbye and see you soon to a fellow-worker who is leaving for another unit
- to look and listen the greetings you have got - the traditional and the different. Thanks to all of you! And a special word of thanks to our student union for a very delighting and thoughtful present.
- to wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Anne
2008/12/12
Generative discussions
I was writing an article - I had interviewed my own teacher (whom I already praised in my blog some time ago). We talked about having good discussions in classes. Do we dare to say our opinions, and are we able to be critical in a constructive way and help our colleagues and fellow students ahead? Are we able to discuss constructively, facilitate the discussion - and learn?
The main idea in our discussion was: let’s have generative discussions - let's generate things together, being on the same side. It's a question of being able to say half formed ideas aloud – so that we know there’s something to explore and we are there helping, not attacking. Are we facilitating the discussion? If the basis of e.g. teaching is that "this is correct and this is not correct" there is not something to discuss.
I began to think not just about teaching but discussing in general. Our meetings, our encounters.
Have a relaxing and constructive weekend!
Anne
The main idea in our discussion was: let’s have generative discussions - let's generate things together, being on the same side. It's a question of being able to say half formed ideas aloud – so that we know there’s something to explore and we are there helping, not attacking. Are we facilitating the discussion? If the basis of e.g. teaching is that "this is correct and this is not correct" there is not something to discuss.
I began to think not just about teaching but discussing in general. Our meetings, our encounters.
Have a relaxing and constructive weekend!
Anne
2008/12/04
The 2008 Student Survey
The report on the 2008 Student Survey is published - a last! The survey aimed to find out e.g what the degree students think about teaching and learning at SAMK. The students were asked also how they rate their well-being.
In total 1,265 students, i.e. 25 % of all students gave their feedback. The percentage is not high, but the absolute numbers are. Most of the students felt that SAMK is a good place to study. But, as said in the survey abstract, "inspite of the statistical research method - - - it is important to also pay attention to the minority views, so that we can find means of strenthening the students' motivation and commitment, for example - for those issues often play a role in the delays in studies and in dropping out".
The report of the survey will soon be on the net (and I shall add a link to it). The report is written in Finnish, but the abstract is also in English.
Feedback is given. Let's use it.
Anne
In total 1,265 students, i.e. 25 % of all students gave their feedback. The percentage is not high, but the absolute numbers are. Most of the students felt that SAMK is a good place to study. But, as said in the survey abstract, "inspite of the statistical research method - - - it is important to also pay attention to the minority views, so that we can find means of strenthening the students' motivation and commitment, for example - for those issues often play a role in the delays in studies and in dropping out".
The report of the survey will soon be on the net (and I shall add a link to it). The report is written in Finnish, but the abstract is also in English.
Feedback is given. Let's use it.
Anne
2008/11/29
My week
"These are the days of miracle and wonder"... The lyrics of an old song have been in my mind this week. I don't know why. It's either irony or unconscious wisdom. These have been quite ordinary days. Ordinary and fine days. Is it that which actually makes them as a miracle and a wonder?
Above was a kind of a preface to the topic. How were my days, then? Being a planning officer doesn't tell too much of what I actually do at work, and sometimes it's a bit challenging to put it briefly when asked. This is a longer answer, but still partial.
My planner looks as follows:
- A meeting on the master's degree programmes. Deans, educational directors and senior lecturers coordinating the degree programmes meet at least twice a year to discuss the topical issues common to all the programmes.
- The thesis development group. We are going to make a suggestion on a comprehensive revisal of the thesis writing instructions.
- A meeting in UCPori: the website for the Satakunnan korkeakoululaitos (HE in Satakunta) is soon to be published.
- Revising a report draft on HE in Satakunta
- Reading the curricula. Meeting of the education committee on next Monday.
- Commenting reports or report ideas for SAMK publication series
- Asking and answering. Commenting, commenting and commenting. Some things when asked, others when not. As usual.
There are things you plan, and things you just do. All of them are not in your planner. This week was no exception.
Now, when starting to fill in (oops, a slip of a tongue!) a new one I've tried to keep at least my handwriting nice and tidy. It looks better. The next thing is to lessen the amount of papers on my desk. Well, the situation is not too bad. I know a person, who forgot a box of cookies which (s)he had got as a present on her/his desk for a year or so. The best before date was gone.
But why did I have the nice line of lyrics in my head? Maybe due to the good conversations. Both booked and spontaneous. They get me humming.
Anne
PS. I was talking about just a nice (in this text read: positive) line of lyrics. It's a typical example of detaching a part from its' original context. This week I interpreted the line as positive. Still, it was connected to a feeling that there is quite much in the air (including in this case "quite a lot to do"). Which is a bit closer to the original context Boy in a Bubble by Paul Simon.
Above was a kind of a preface to the topic. How were my days, then? Being a planning officer doesn't tell too much of what I actually do at work, and sometimes it's a bit challenging to put it briefly when asked. This is a longer answer, but still partial.
My planner looks as follows:
- A meeting on the master's degree programmes. Deans, educational directors and senior lecturers coordinating the degree programmes meet at least twice a year to discuss the topical issues common to all the programmes.
- The thesis development group. We are going to make a suggestion on a comprehensive revisal of the thesis writing instructions.
- A meeting in UCPori: the website for the Satakunnan korkeakoululaitos (HE in Satakunta) is soon to be published.
- Revising a report draft on HE in Satakunta
- Reading the curricula. Meeting of the education committee on next Monday.
- Commenting reports or report ideas for SAMK publication series
- Asking and answering. Commenting, commenting and commenting. Some things when asked, others when not. As usual.
There are things you plan, and things you just do. All of them are not in your planner. This week was no exception.
Now, when starting to fill in (oops, a slip of a tongue!) a new one I've tried to keep at least my handwriting nice and tidy. It looks better. The next thing is to lessen the amount of papers on my desk. Well, the situation is not too bad. I know a person, who forgot a box of cookies which (s)he had got as a present on her/his desk for a year or so. The best before date was gone.
But why did I have the nice line of lyrics in my head? Maybe due to the good conversations. Both booked and spontaneous. They get me humming.
Anne
PS. I was talking about just a nice (in this text read: positive) line of lyrics. It's a typical example of detaching a part from its' original context. This week I interpreted the line as positive. Still, it was connected to a feeling that there is quite much in the air (including in this case "quite a lot to do"). Which is a bit closer to the original context Boy in a Bubble by Paul Simon.
2008/11/19
Audits, audits
Last week was the week of the "Big Audit". An audit team from the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council evaluated the quality assurance system of SAMK - in other words the methods and processes that we use to maintain and develop the quality of our work. The audit was about the QA system as a whole and how QA is related to the basic mission - education, R&D, and interaction with and impact on society and regional development.
The results and the report on how the the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council sees the comprehensiveness, performance and effectiveness of our QA system will be published in March 2009.
If we didn't have anything to do but wait, it would be a long time. But fortunately we do have - like the internal audits. On Thursday it's the course implementation's turn to be evaluated. How is it working? And what about the substitution and transfer of credits, and the studying at the Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences?
Of course auditors want to have proof on how things are done. Still, the audits are very conversational. And once again, a nice chance to learn.
Anne
The results and the report on how the the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council sees the comprehensiveness, performance and effectiveness of our QA system will be published in March 2009.
If we didn't have anything to do but wait, it would be a long time. But fortunately we do have - like the internal audits. On Thursday it's the course implementation's turn to be evaluated. How is it working? And what about the substitution and transfer of credits, and the studying at the Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences?
Of course auditors want to have proof on how things are done. Still, the audits are very conversational. And once again, a nice chance to learn.
Anne
2008/11/09
The joy of exploring
This is a student’s view on the quality of education. Just a kind of feedback, a very positive one.
I spent the whole weekend at SAMK in Kankaanpää studying calligraphy. I tried and wrote, sometimes succeeding, sometimes not exactly - but enjoyed anyway. And I wasn't the only one.
We were guided through the ancient history of writing by Ewan Clayton, a British calligrapher and professor at the University of Sunderland.
- It’s fun, said Ewan. Repeatedly. And yes, it was.
It's not an exaggeration to say that we loved the enthusiasm of our teacher, and his very relaxed high level expertise. He was still interested in the subjects he was teaching to us - and interested in learning more about them, him too.
We listened, we looked, we wrote. We traced, we made slight modifications, tried different viewpoints. Our teacher repeated core things, explained his choices, told stories which made history living and things connected to each other, tried to make sure that we had understood the main points, encouraged us, sliced the teaching with breaks and light exercise... All these are quite nice pedagogical points.
"Next time we'll do much more scripts - and faster! (Laugh.) We have to through 1000 years." In this case I consider that a promise. We'll going to have fun! And that's a good thing for learning.
Anne
PS. Good classes are a joy! Of course there are many kinds of tales and stories about teaching, studying and learning at SAMK. Part of the roses and thorns we hear as feedback given in the classes and as a course feedback. Also the report on the Big Student Survey of SAMK will soon be ready.
I spent the whole weekend at SAMK in Kankaanpää studying calligraphy. I tried and wrote, sometimes succeeding, sometimes not exactly - but enjoyed anyway. And I wasn't the only one.
We were guided through the ancient history of writing by Ewan Clayton, a British calligrapher and professor at the University of Sunderland.
- It’s fun, said Ewan. Repeatedly. And yes, it was.
It's not an exaggeration to say that we loved the enthusiasm of our teacher, and his very relaxed high level expertise. He was still interested in the subjects he was teaching to us - and interested in learning more about them, him too.
We listened, we looked, we wrote. We traced, we made slight modifications, tried different viewpoints. Our teacher repeated core things, explained his choices, told stories which made history living and things connected to each other, tried to make sure that we had understood the main points, encouraged us, sliced the teaching with breaks and light exercise... All these are quite nice pedagogical points.
"Next time we'll do much more scripts - and faster! (Laugh.) We have to through 1000 years." In this case I consider that a promise. We'll going to have fun! And that's a good thing for learning.
Anne
PS. Good classes are a joy! Of course there are many kinds of tales and stories about teaching, studying and learning at SAMK. Part of the roses and thorns we hear as feedback given in the classes and as a course feedback. Also the report on the Big Student Survey of SAMK will soon be ready.
2008/11/07
Vetovoimaa!
Satakunnan vetovoimatekijöitä ovat
- vahvat erikoistumisalat
- korkea osaaminen
- luova miljöö ja sosiaalinen pääoma (luottamuspääoma, epäviralliset verkostot)
- hyvä alueiden välinen saavutettavuus
- hyvä elinympäristö.
Olin eilen hyvässä seminaarissa, ja itse asiassa Perttu Vartiainen (aluemaantieteilijä ja Joensuun yliopiston rehtori) listasi ylläolevat asiat yleisesti alueen vetovoimatekijöiksi. Miltä nämä sitten näyttävät Satakunnan näkökulmasta? Enpä tietysti ole ensimmäinen sitä miettimässä. Mutta tuli taas mieleeni, että kaikkialla tiukka vahvuuksien, painopisteiden, keihäänkärkien, ydinosaamisen - rakkaalla lapsella on monta nimeä - valinta tuntuu olevan vaikeaa, ja useinkaan sitä ei uskalleta tehdä. Mutta jos kaikki hyvä listataan tasavahvasti painopisteeksi, ei mitään todella vahvaa tai uutta kyllä helposti saavuteta. (En uskalla julkisesti sanoa, että se on mahdotonta.)
Jos tuota listaa katsoo, niin absoluuttisesti huonoimmassa jamassa tällä hetkellä ovat (julkiset) liikenneyhteydet. Satakuntaan ne eivät ole kaksiset - no ehkä Huittisiin sentään kohtuulliset. Siinä riittää hommia. Niitä riittää kyllä muuallakin, mutta lähtökohta ei ole huono, päinvastoin: Satakunta on käyttämättömien mahdollisuuksien maakunta. Yhteistyötä se kyllä vaatii - esimerkiksi puolueilta, alueilta ja koulutusorganisaatioilta.
Anne
- vahvat erikoistumisalat
- korkea osaaminen
- luova miljöö ja sosiaalinen pääoma (luottamuspääoma, epäviralliset verkostot)
- hyvä alueiden välinen saavutettavuus
- hyvä elinympäristö.
Olin eilen hyvässä seminaarissa, ja itse asiassa Perttu Vartiainen (aluemaantieteilijä ja Joensuun yliopiston rehtori) listasi ylläolevat asiat yleisesti alueen vetovoimatekijöiksi. Miltä nämä sitten näyttävät Satakunnan näkökulmasta? Enpä tietysti ole ensimmäinen sitä miettimässä. Mutta tuli taas mieleeni, että kaikkialla tiukka vahvuuksien, painopisteiden, keihäänkärkien, ydinosaamisen - rakkaalla lapsella on monta nimeä - valinta tuntuu olevan vaikeaa, ja useinkaan sitä ei uskalleta tehdä. Mutta jos kaikki hyvä listataan tasavahvasti painopisteeksi, ei mitään todella vahvaa tai uutta kyllä helposti saavuteta. (En uskalla julkisesti sanoa, että se on mahdotonta.)
Jos tuota listaa katsoo, niin absoluuttisesti huonoimmassa jamassa tällä hetkellä ovat (julkiset) liikenneyhteydet. Satakuntaan ne eivät ole kaksiset - no ehkä Huittisiin sentään kohtuulliset. Siinä riittää hommia. Niitä riittää kyllä muuallakin, mutta lähtökohta ei ole huono, päinvastoin: Satakunta on käyttämättömien mahdollisuuksien maakunta. Yhteistyötä se kyllä vaatii - esimerkiksi puolueilta, alueilta ja koulutusorganisaatioilta.
Anne
2008/11/04
Discussion on curricula
SAMK has an education committee which confirms all our curricula. It is a part of the quality assurance system/process, and forms a common understanding of curricula at SAMK. The committee constists of seven members, a chair and a secretary. There are two members from each faculty, and one from the student union. The committee discusses the new and updated curricula with the degree programme coordinators.
On Monday the Bachelor's Degree curricula confirmed were the rehabilitation counselling and planning (in which tuition is in Finnish), and the physiotherapy (in English). The first time ever we were asked if we'll discuss in Finnish or in English.
A good question. And a good sign, too. The everyday life at SAMK has become more and more bilingual. There are many things which shouldn't and can't be taken for granted anymore. And that's sometimes a very good thing.
The next degree programme to be discussed is our brand new in English degree programme Innovative Business Process. Innovative as a word promises an interesting discussion. This time presumably still in Finnish, though.
Anne
On Monday the Bachelor's Degree curricula confirmed were the rehabilitation counselling and planning (in which tuition is in Finnish), and the physiotherapy (in English). The first time ever we were asked if we'll discuss in Finnish or in English.
A good question. And a good sign, too. The everyday life at SAMK has become more and more bilingual. There are many things which shouldn't and can't be taken for granted anymore. And that's sometimes a very good thing.
The next degree programme to be discussed is our brand new in English degree programme Innovative Business Process. Innovative as a word promises an interesting discussion. This time presumably still in Finnish, though.
Anne
2008/10/29
Can do! Has read the book?
Reading books and being a skillful professional (or a future professional) are by no means opposites. And I'm definitely not against reading books! An interesting thing, however, is whether we really assess what students can do - how they are able to use their theoretical skills in practise. Or are we just assessing whether s/he can answer our questions in an exam? Has s/he read the book?
Competence-based curricula - and assessment - are very topical to me right now. Last Monday I met people from other universities of applied sciences round the same table discussing the issue. Next week there will be two workshops on competence-based learning here at SAMK. I'm already looking forward to our international week!
Anne
2008/10/24
Toimiiko opinnäytetyöohje?
Opinnäytetyö on iso osa tutkintoa, ja ohjeet opinnäytetyön tekemiseen ovat kovassa käytössä. Ne kaipaavat varmasti myös päivitystä.
Nyt - kahden viikon ajan - on hyvä tilaisuus sanoa kaikki se, mitä opinnäytetyöohjeesta ikinä on halunnut sanoa. Toimiiko se opiskelijan työkaluna? Onko puutteita, virheitä, jotain ylimääräistä? Pitäisikö AMK- ja ylempi AMK -ohjeen olla samassa nivaskassa? Pitääkö ohjeen ylipäänsä olla yksi nivaska vai voisiko se olla webbiin rakennettu?
Haluaisin kuulla palautetta ja kehittämisideoita sekä suurista linjoista että pienistä yksityiskohdista, sen mukaan mitä kunkin käyttäjän kohdalle on osunut. Tekstiä kirjoittaessa kun välillä ajatellaan laveasti ja välillä myös viilataan pilkkua.
Käyttäjäkokemusta halutaan kaikilta: sekä opiskelijoilta että ohjaajilta - ja tässä ohjauksen saa ymmärtää laajasti. Jos olet jotenkin ollut tekemisissä opinnäytetöiden kanssa, niin lämpimästi tervetuloa vastamaan. Vastaamaan pääset heti tästä.
Anne
Nyt - kahden viikon ajan - on hyvä tilaisuus sanoa kaikki se, mitä opinnäytetyöohjeesta ikinä on halunnut sanoa. Toimiiko se opiskelijan työkaluna? Onko puutteita, virheitä, jotain ylimääräistä? Pitäisikö AMK- ja ylempi AMK -ohjeen olla samassa nivaskassa? Pitääkö ohjeen ylipäänsä olla yksi nivaska vai voisiko se olla webbiin rakennettu?
Haluaisin kuulla palautetta ja kehittämisideoita sekä suurista linjoista että pienistä yksityiskohdista, sen mukaan mitä kunkin käyttäjän kohdalle on osunut. Tekstiä kirjoittaessa kun välillä ajatellaan laveasti ja välillä myös viilataan pilkkua.
Käyttäjäkokemusta halutaan kaikilta: sekä opiskelijoilta että ohjaajilta - ja tässä ohjauksen saa ymmärtää laajasti. Jos olet jotenkin ollut tekemisissä opinnäytetöiden kanssa, niin lämpimästi tervetuloa vastamaan. Vastaamaan pääset heti tästä.
Anne
2008/10/21
What we study here (transl. in English)
Today I have worked with the translations of the degree programme curricula - scanned through the curricula which I got from the translation agency. Translations are interesting: in some cases there are just opinions, and in other cases there is only one correct translation. And even these are cultural agreements, either on organisational, national or some other level.
Part of the translations is ready and available in pdf format in the net. There you'll find the new curricula of the degree programmes conducted in English, too.
Anne
Part of the translations is ready and available in pdf format in the net. There you'll find the new curricula of the degree programmes conducted in English, too.
Anne
2008/10/20
Quality of education
Quality of education – what is it? How is it measured? Who says what’s good quality, and what’s bad?
This is the first day of my blogging life. Now, in the beginning, I have a plan to write about the quality of education, more or less. Keeping focused should be fairly simple because (almost) everything we do here at SAMK has something to do with the quality of education. Good or bad. It’s all about daily life things – it’s about teaching, counselling, questioning, answering, talking, listening, encountering… It’s about comprehensive quality. And this all has quite a lot to do with “comprehensive brand” which I very much believe in. That means, roughly, that everything we do (and even what we choose not to do) constructs us and our image and reputation. Good and bad. And in-between.
Let’s see what happens. Let’s see what we learn. That’s what I’m going to write about. More or less. I’m going to write about daily life matters, “big” and “small”. From them we usually learn something. And let’s see what I’ll learn. This is a new thing for me, and I’m curious.
BTW, this blog will be bilingual: some days in English, others in Finnish. Kanske även på svenska.
This is the first day of my blogging life. Now, in the beginning, I have a plan to write about the quality of education, more or less. Keeping focused should be fairly simple because (almost) everything we do here at SAMK has something to do with the quality of education. Good or bad. It’s all about daily life things – it’s about teaching, counselling, questioning, answering, talking, listening, encountering… It’s about comprehensive quality. And this all has quite a lot to do with “comprehensive brand” which I very much believe in. That means, roughly, that everything we do (and even what we choose not to do) constructs us and our image and reputation. Good and bad. And in-between.
Let’s see what happens. Let’s see what we learn. That’s what I’m going to write about. More or less. I’m going to write about daily life matters, “big” and “small”. From them we usually learn something. And let’s see what I’ll learn. This is a new thing for me, and I’m curious.
BTW, this blog will be bilingual: some days in English, others in Finnish. Kanske även på svenska.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
