Yola Jacobsen, Natspec’s Transform training manager, talks about the value of learning from your peers and encourages member colleges to get involved with the upcoming Peer Exchange Week.
One of the most frequent pieces of feedback we receive from staff attending Natspec training and conferences is the value placed on peer learning with others who work in the specialist FE sector. Meeting online in breakout rooms, in-person at conference workshops and informal and formal networking situations people can:
“have a chat, share good practice, review material together and bounce ideas off each other.”
Learning with and from your peers can be reassuring; comparing notes about what is working well and not so well, checking you are on the right track and testing out your own thinking with others in similar settings. With your peers it is easier not to feel judged when discussing particular challenges and difficulties. Hearing about the latest ideas and approaches can inspire a reappraisal of ways of thinking and working. Presenting to peers about your work often helps with a process of reflection on what has been achieved. As one peer contributor explained it gave her a:
“sense of pride in how far we have come.”
In the upcoming online Natspec member Peer Exchange Week 23-26 January 2023, Setting up supported internships, The place of creative arts in specialist FE and Top five Assistive Technology solutions are three of the 12 topical peer exchange sessions on offer.
The programme has been designed to appeal to people in different job roles including those who don’t always get a chance to connect in Natspec training, events, and networks. Peer Exchange Week provides a dedicated time and space to discuss topics in more depth than is allowed in existing forums. All sessions are free.
We received very positive feedback about the first Peer Exchange Week in January 2022 but one area we wanted to improve on is encouraging more people in the sessions to speak up as well as listen. The sessions start with a short input given by an individual member of staff from one of the Natspec colleges. They don’t describe themselves as ‘expert’ but do want to share a topic of interest with peers and, have generously agreed to ‘get the ball rolling’ with a short presentation to open the session.
Please come and join us and share your own experience and knowledge and be part of a lively and supportive peer exchange process. This is your opportunity to discuss, question and share information and learning with others who work in the specialist FE sector with learners with SEND.