You are NEVER too old to learn something NEW

This week is Adult Learner's Week:

Events start taking place from Saturday 18 May in all regions of England and our Awards Ceremonies commence with our National Ceremony on Monday 20 May, followed on by seven Regional Ceremonies, all of which recognise outstanding adult learning.

Adult Learners’ Week events are taking place nationwide; with activities including bee keeping, CV writing, museum tours, art workshops and much more that you can get involved with. These events inspire many people and highlight the broad benefits of adult learning, so make sure that you don’t miss out.

Events can be searched online or by calling The National Careers Service advice line 0800 100 900 which can support those looking to attend an event in their region.

We hope that you all enjoy Adult Learners’ Week 2013!

For information on Adult Learners’ Week 2014, please register to receive updatesor keep visiting our website, where information will be posted in the autumn. 

 Like Adult Learners' Week on Facebook

Quick Reads 2013:

Love is Blind by Kathy Lette
When Jane decides to move to the Australian outback in search of a husband, her sister Anthea thinks she’s mad. But the sisters have never seen eye-to-eye. Anthea is slim, beautiful and has a perfect life and fiancé. Jane has always felt like the ugly duckling in comparison.

But when Anthea tries to save Jane from this latest crazy plan, she ends up taking a walk on the wild side herself…

A sexy, funny and heartwarming adventure – curl up and enjoy this fabulous Quick Read from Kathy Lette.

A Sea Change by Veronica Henry

Jenna is known as The Ice Cream Girl.

She doesn’t mind the name one bit. After all, there are far worse jobs than selling ice creams by the sea. Then one hot summer’s day, everything changes and Jenna faces the most difficult decision of her life.

Craig spends as much time as he can at the beach hut in Everdene he rents with a few of his mates. It’s the perfect break from his stressful job, and he loves to surf. But one weekend he notices a girl on the beach – for all the wrong reasons.

For Jenna and Craig, it’s a chance meeting which could change their lives forever...

Today Everything Changes by Andy McNab

Abandoned as a baby, Andy McNab's start in life was tough. He grew up in South London with foster parents, and poverty on all sides. Andy attended seven schools in as many years, disillusioned and in remedial classes. Before long his life was one of petty crime. By the age of sixteen he was in juvenile detention.

Recruited into the Army from there, it soon became clear that he had the reading age of an eleven year old. The next six months in the Army education system changed the course of his life forever.

Today Everything Changes is the inspiring story of when life changed for the better for now bestselling author Andy McNab.

Wrong Time, Wrong Place by Simon Kernick

You are hiking in the Scottish highlands with three friends when you come across a girl.

She is half-naked, has been badly beaten, and she can’t speak English.

She is clearly running away from someone.

Do you stop to help her? Even if it means putting your friends’ lives – and your own – in terrible danger?

A Dreadful Murder by Minette Walters

Based on a true story...Caroline Luard is shot dead in broad daylight in the grounds of a large country estate. With few clues available, her husband soon becomes the suspect . . . But is he guilty?Bringing to life the people involved in this terrible crime, bestselling author Minette Walters uses modern detective skills to attempt to solve a 100-year-old crime.

Doctor Who: The Silurian Gift by Mike Tucker

'My new Fire-Ice will solve all the problems of the planet!'

The world is on the brink of crisis. As fuel runs short, society begins to break down. One man seems to have the answer. But is it too good to be true? The Doctor arrives at an old oil refinery near the South Pole, concerned by claims about this new form of energy. He soon discovers something huge and terrifying is stalking the refinery. It brings death and destruction in its wake. The battle has begun for planet Earth.

A thrilling, all-new adventure, featuring the Doctor as played by Matt Smith.

The Open University’s Open Learn

The Open University’s Open Learn (www.open.edu/openlearn) website is launching two full online courses for free: Learning to Learn and Succeed with Maths. Find out more here:

http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/news/2013/05/16/free-online-courses-open-university

Open Learning - OpenLearn - Open University www.open.edu OpenLearn: The home of free learning from The Open University

News from Digital Unite - May 2013

Thousands helped to ‘spring online’ "I came to this event today scared of a laptop even though I owned one, I knew it had a plug and a mouse but that was it, I did not even know how to turn it on.  "As I leave today I can turn it on, surf the net and even send an email to my dear friend abroad." We are very proud to say that last month, following our Spring Online campaign in association with Carphone Warehouse, a whopping 20,000 older people and other less confident users were helped to use and enjoy digital technology, many for the first time. Over 1,000 free digital taster events were held across the UK by our fantastic event holders. The stories we’ve been hearing have been hugely uplifting and once again, really demonstrate what a life-changing impact Spring Online has: On seeing what a tablet could do at her event, one 85 year old lady exclaimed "It’s like magic!" One event holder told us how a learner came into their event literally shaking with nerves but left saying "I get the feeling from [the staff] that I can do this!" Another learner said: "I'll be able to Facebook my grandson tonight! And one elderly gentlemen said: "I am not scared of it all now. I can't believe how much you can do on here. I shall be getting Broadband fitted and come to any future sessions. I never thought I would be able to achieve all of this in a year, never mind an hour". Twitter Are you Tweeting?  Have a look out for these folks to follow: Social Networking for Book Lovers Have you heard of these great bookie social media places to find other bookies too?  Check them out!

http://www.librarything.com

http://www.goodreads.com/

Union Engagement - Learning in the workplace and the community

Unions work with a multitude of stakeholders to build a learning offer that reaches people in the workplace as well as the community. Unionlearn endeavours to offer the best possible support for unions and has gathered together a collection of stories to showcase the inspiring work of unions and their partners.

These case studies take a look at how unions work to engage learners and work with employers. Exciting union development work is happening with digital champions and community learning champions across the country. Union learning reps (ULRs) and trade union led learning centres do excellent work encourage people to take up learning opportunities. And once learners catch the learning bug, they rarely stop. 

(Our Digital Champions Pinterest Account is a part of this report, check out page 25)

http://issuu.com/unionlearn/docs/union_development_case_studies_booklet_2013_lr__2_/27
In case you missed the Pinterest Account, here it is once more:

https://pinterest.com/digitalchampsuk/

Well  we think you've got enough to be going on with today, our work here is done.

Your BL Union Learning Representatives,

Iwona Jurkiewicz, Prospect [London]

Marjorie Newson, Prospect [Boston Spa]

Andy Robinson, Prospect [Boston Spa]

Sarah Wood-Ripley, PCS [Boston Spa]

Autumn is here, back to School, back to Learning!

It seems no time at all since we were holding the Learning at Work Days.  Here are a few photos from these days in May---

Hilary Hallas (O&S Training Manager) gets a QR Code tag from ULR for PCS, Sara Wood-Ripley

Kate Antioniou, Prospect ULR Coordinator at the Prospect table, while PCS rep, Melanie Johnson investigates the handouts.

This is the PCS stand with Sarah Wood-Ripley, PCS ULR

Sarah Wood-Riley (PCS ULR) & Andy Robinson (Prospect ULR) were in charge of the QR code stand

Since then, it has been a quiet summer for the ULRs being a "man down" due to an injury for one of our number & wish this member well & hopes they bounce back soon!

Of note currently in the BL---The Organisation Development team are setting up a mentor/mentee programme.  They have gathered a group of mentors but are still looking for mentees to participate.  To find out more, check the internet for details or contact Sarah MacEwan in Organisation Development.

There is some Digital Champion training going on for one of our ULRs and she is considering organising a "Digital Swap Shop" for digital learning.  If there is enough interest, we would develop a board where people can swap instructions with others.  People would tell which programmes or applications they were confident in showing someone how to use & in turn, what they would like to learn and we could swap the talents of all the participants.

So, for example, Bill who is a wiz at digital photography gives Sally some informal tuition on  digital photos.  Bill wants to know how to use Skype so Jack shows him. Jack needs to know how to use Powerpoint and Sally shows him. 

If you think this is a good idea, please let one of the ULRs know, a brief email will suffice.

This month's new hot online site is ipadio

http://www.ipadio.com/

Ipadio is an interface for podcasting, if you have a phone you can use it.  You could make reports back to your team from an event you are attending with this tool.  You might use it to archive demonstrations or even wish someone well from far away.  

We'll be keeping you posted with all things learning, happy autumn all!

Learning At Work Day is upon us

The 2012 Learning at Work events at the Library will be presented

 on Tuesday 22nd May in Boston Spa in the Conference Suite

and on Tuesday 29th May in St Pancras Panizzi Room & corridor (Floor 4)

Both events are 10:30 AM until 2:00 PM

"The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn't think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential."---Steve Ballmer

This year’s Learning at Work Days are all about learning through the use of technology and digital information. 

We'll have a range of stands with demonstrations, hands-on activities and opportunities to talk to experts, ask questions and get advice. There’ll be some fun activities too. 

Attend in work time as long as you have your manager's permission. 

Talks – on 22nd, 23rd and 30th May - six staff experts give short talks on some of the digital developments happening around the Library and how we are exploiting digital technologies to engage with users and shape the future. Full programme at- 

http://intranet.bl.uk/newsevents/archive/2012/law2012programmetalks.html

Book talks now but otherwise just come along to the exhibition events on the day. This event supports the Digital Skills strategy. 

Learning at Work (LAW) Day is an annual awareness campaign organised by the Campaign for Learning (CfL) since 1999. LAW Day promotes and supports workplace learning events across the country. It aims to draw attention to the importance of workplace learning and skills. It encourages people to offer learning to all employees especially to those that may not participate in current learning opportunities. 

LAW Day is part of Adult Learners' Week.

The Campaign for Learning believes that it is more important than ever that workplaces and individuals maintain and develop their skills levels and motivation to learn in order to adapt and thrive in the economic downturn. Each year, thousands of organisations take part in LAW Day and stage fun and business-related learning activities that promote learning, provide a catalyst for change and support their employees to learn new skills that they can put into action at work and beyond. By getting involved in the biggest annual celebration of workplace learning you could uncover new skills, build new partnerships and help reach your business goals - all at the same time!

We have a constructed a quiz to help you employ good online researching skills, utilising in part, an Olympic theme in recognition of the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games.  Make sure you stop by the Prospect or PCS stands to pick up your copy.  You will have until 1st June 2012 to complete it.

Upcoming National Events to look out for in 2012

Greetings all!

Today's top learning News:

[Please share this information with anyone who may be interested and if you know an adult learner that deserves acknowledgement for their achievements...read on...]

The Adult Learners’ Week Awards celebrate the achievements of outstanding adults that have transformed their lives through learning.

2011 Winner

Denise Chéné, 2011 Senior Learner Awards Winner, Yorkshire and the Humber

Denise Chéné says she is “a new woman at the age of 66” because of learning. With the support of her daughters after a painful divorce at the end of a long marriage, she was encouraged to take part in induction training at Crossroads Care in Harrogate. Her employer encouraged her to take an NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care. 


“I had not been allowed to do anything like this new learning before and my independence had been minimal,” says Denise. But she loved her job so much she decided to give it a try, and succeeded. “I feel so happy and positive. I hope I can go on forever in my job and continue to help the lives of the people I care for.”  Liz Winship, CEO of Crossroads Care Harrogate, Craven and York, says “Starting a new career as a Carer Support Worker and helping others has given Denise the strength she needed to see her way through her personal troubles and gain the strength to cope. Her life has been transformed due to her new learning achievements.”

If you know someone who deserves a Learner Award, you can nominate them here: http://www.alw.org.uk/learning-awards