The Standards Council for CLD presented a stand at the Scottish Learning Festival recently... a grand affair with stalls of all sorts and sizes, though smaller than past years, promoted learning materials and opportunities mostly for schools and then mostly for the primary sector, and a range of keynote speeches and round table discussions.
There were some awesomely inspirational learning tools and of course the use of I T and technology in learning was “well creative”. More important was the programme of around 140 seminars, inputs and sessions for dialogue which seemed to be well attended and participated in. This is the spine of the event.
The Standards Council were there under our own banner for the first time... we will review what impact we had, could have again. We were in partnership with 10 of the sessions mentioned above which focused on CLD work across a range of agencies, both local authority and voluntary sector. This was 10 more than any previous time and came from a bid list of 20. So a good development here.
We also held a wee launch of a Youth Work commentary booklet on Ethics. These flew out, again mostly to teachers.
Some initial conclusions and observations...
- Surprised at the number of teachers at our seminars - who appreciated the approach CLD staff were taking to working with young people. They also flocked around Young Scot and Children's Commissioner stalls.
- Great comments on our competences resource pack as support tools in planning work programmes... again, from teachers, in particular the primary sector.
- Far too many colleagues/delegates didn’t know who or what CLD was and some asked why we were involved in this event. We have some follow up to do here.
- None... OK, the exception will prove me wrong... of the local authority stands had any CLD business as part of their exhibit, or display of good practice. We need to do our bit here.
- Our colleagues in YouthLink Scotland had a busy stand across both days... great interest in the youth work approach to working with young people. Especially a new booklet – Building Capacities through Experiences and Outcomes – Youth work and schools partnership.
- A general view that the Education System in Scotland is only in schools... if you believe all you hear and read. (Steady now, before you phone someone, these are delegates views.)
So many issues; so many questions raised. So a few to kick us off... starters for ten:
- Could we have one shared debate and open dialogue about what the learning culture is in Scotland?
- Can we grasp the thistle around a more inclusive learning society and education system in Scotland?
- Could the Scottish Learning Festival embrace Scottish Learning in all its contexts and points of delivery - or maybe another wide event in addition?
- Local events... times are tight in resource terms.
We would be pleased to be part of any developing dialogue.
