LS1

Learning Set Posting re Value Added:
Start:
educated to degree level but without achieving the qualification. Qualifications at NVQ3/A level
So my start point was quite high. This was clear in modules in years 1 & 2 where very high grades were achieved (including 2 90% marks).
End point
Degree level qualification at a reasonably high grade but not beyond. In moving into level 3 work the marks have dipped with only 1 so far achieving an excellent (78% for Methodology Justification and Literature Review). It seems unlikely therfore that I will now acheive a First but a 2/1 should be within my capacity. Unlikely that the degree will be adequate to consider further post-graduate formal study, especially given my age.
Financial Costs incurred by institution
minimal - 1/30th or so of an LF salary per yr for 3 yrs, some paper work, provision of limited access to digital library, provision of access to FirstClass
Finanicial costs to me
£1800 (hmm they may even have made a profit on me!) + books + broadband +
Value added in my context?
In the language of value added I will have made a leap to being a graduate. It is not unreasonable to assume this should provide me with improved employment prospects so long as I am able to move away from this area. (Local conditions mean relatively high graduate unemployment or graduates taking jobs well below their level - note I personally know 3 Teaching Assistants who are already graduates, 2 of them also have PGCE). The question of my age and relative lack of experience outwith the school system may also mitigate against this improvement in prospects.
Indirectly the degree has changed and continues to change aspects of my current job. It was because of my undertaking the degree that I moved into the research post. That gave me opportunities to become part of collaborative action research projects. Now I'm moving into a role where I'm working with adults some of the time (a few hours a week) in my role as well-being facilitator. I've run feedback workshops and will be co-running staff meetings. At my recent annual review I was commened on all aspects of my work but especially contribution I've made to the research network.
BTW
I've been asked if I would be prepared to run after-school sessions for parents and children as part of the extended school scheme, in particular art classes, reading drop in club (a suggestion I made for my Independant Learning Module last year, rejected at the time, which is to be revived) and some ICT based sessions for parents alone. There is sadly very little extra finanicial reward for these sessions which attract an hourly rate of about £12 and are treated as casual. At first glance this seeems like progression till I remember that I was running after-school clubs 2 nights a week for this rate at the start of the degree.