Many small decisions to be made in the virtual birth unit

One of the things that keeps me on my toes in the SLENZ birthing unit project is the many, many small decisions that need to be made about things from what images to have on the wall to how the signs should look.

The picture above is of the birthing room - check out the superb birthing pool in the corner - I am with the builder of the unit, Aaron Griffths (left).

This is me (Petal Stransky) stuck up the birthing rope. It is normally used by women to hang on to during a contraction, and supports them in a squat.

This me with Aastra (Deborah Davis - my partner in crime) sitting on the bed in the birthing room.

Birthing in a birthing centre

Here is Jessica's account of birthing in a birth centre - a great story that underpins the design of the virtual birth centre in Second Life.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZt5vVNiJpg&feature=PlayList&p=9D735B677286257E&index=1

Do you have a story about birth centres?

Telling a story

During the latter half of the week I attended the Aged Care Queensland conference at the Gold Coast. The final session of the three day conference was a talk by a young Australian, Matt McFadyen. Matt is only 27 and has already managed to fit in several life-changing adventures to the Arctic and Antarctic.

Apart from the inspirational aspects of his story, I was impressed by Matt's actual presentation style. Matt beautifully illustrated five very important considerations for giving a presentation, talk or telling a story. None of these things are rocket science, but they are worth reminding yourself about them from time to time.

Giving a presentation

• I know I have said it before, but the way to engage people is NOT to use a series of boring PowerPoint slides with nothing but text. If you wish to use visual aids use images, video or other means of illustrating what you want to say.
  
• Be passionate about what the topic. Passion is catching and will help the audience feel closer to you.
  
• Have a structure to your story. Draw the picture, build the tension and lead the audience along with you. Don't be afraid to be a little bit of a showman.
  
• Use personal stories to illustrate your point. Human stories make a talk so much more relevant to the audience.
• Know your stuff. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be in the delivery of your material. And the more confident you are, the more you will enjoy yourself - this enjoyment will rub off on your audience who will in turn enjoy themselves.
  

For all the digital entertainment that is available these days, I do not think you can beat listening to a good yarn. Who do you know tells a good story?



Image: 'Jan2009AntarticaSailTrip020' 23am.com
www.flickr.com/photos/49782096@N00/3262377777

Flexible Learning 2009: Introduction

I am in the throes of enrolling into the Otago Polytechnic "Flexible Learning Course" facilitated by Leigh Blackall and Bronwyn Hegerty.

Free course
The course is free as an informal learner. This means you have full access to all the course material and can join the learning activities. If you wish to have your assignments assessed and receive the course qualification, you need to formally enroll.

Introduction
Here's a quick video explaining why I want to take the course and what I am hoping to learn.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcEceYYXq7o

On walkabout

Miles, Queensland

I have been on walkabout for a few days this week, visiting Miles, Dalby and Chinchilla at the request of Megan McNichol who is project officer for the Western Downs Skills Project. Megan and I saw an opportunity for me to advertise my eMentoring project and do some more generic work on building online networks and using social media for building communities.

With Nan and Megan (left to right) at Chinchilla Learning Network Centre

It was wonderful opportunity to get out of Brisbane and see some of the countryside, and get a sense of the challenges facing rural communities in Queensland. It was also useful to think about the application of web 2.0 and social media in a wider sense than just health. Mark and I had great fun learning more about that part of the world. For example, did you know there was a famous watermelon festival every two years in Chinchilla?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtGcjhEj3fY

What do people want to achieve?
At each of the networking workshops there were about six people from all walks of life. Their computer skills and knowledge of the Internet ranged from not knowing how a mouse worked, to organizing an online election campaign.

I asked what people wanted to achieve, so that I could get a sense of how social media could be used to achieve their aims. There were a number of themes at all three workshops:

• The need to get information out to people eg local community news, information about facilities, resources and events, advertise services.
• Media for presenting information must attract everyone's notice - be geared up for younger people as well older adults.
• Two-way participation eg seeking feedback from the wider community about local services.
• Online tools must be easy to use and not be too time-consuming.
• Want to know about tools that save time at work, and work more effectively.
• Supporting each other, especially new practitioners.
• Making sense of the various tools and how to manage all the information that people have access to.
  

Cotton fields outside Dalby

Barriers to using social media
There were a number of concerns about using social media especially at work, and barriers that prevent people using it:

• Lack of skills, knowledge and confidence - some people have minimal knowledge of using computer and Internet.
• Attitudes and fears. Concerned about loss of identity and personal details, junk mail/spam and viruses, and safety from 'undesirable' people.
• Beliefs that web sites such as Facebook and YouTube are purely for teenagers and full of 'rubbish', and offensive material.
• Security of information.
• Employers restrict use of Internet - concerns about appropriate use of the Internet by employees and 'wasting time' when they should be working.

Took us five days to eat the watermelon Mark bought for only $6

Where to from here
I had a chat with people at the workshop about how we can re-frame some of the concerns that they had about the Internet, for example, I showed them how Facebook is being used by professional organisations such as the Australian College of Midwives to advertise activities and events, and bring interested people together.

Here are some of the ideas that we came up with that will be followed up on a regional level and also by individual participants:

• Information sessions on basic computer and Internet skills, going right back to the basics including Internet safety and how to manage one's online identity.
  
• Investigate how commonly used websites such as YouTube and Facebook can be used to disseminate information, utilising its tremendous capacity for attracting a national/international audience - for example, the video that I have embedded above about the watermelon festival has attracted over 54,000 views which is invaluable free publicity for the region. Use these tools to engage with young people because they are already familar with them.
  
• Investigate how blogs can be used to disseminate information in a way that encourages interaction and engagement - I am hoping to return to Miles/Chinchilla in late April to run a blogging workshop. This was an especial recommendation to the mayor of Miles because we felt it would encourage two-way feedback with the community.
• Make the most of resources that are free and commonly used by people - don't go to a lot of expense of re-inventing the wheel.
• Use multiple avenues to disseminate information - don't just stick to one avenue.
• Move away from thinking about restricting information - put it out in the open as a way of connecting with people, even beyond the local region.
• Be mindful of issues of copyright.
• Investigate how online tools can be used for more effective use of time eg using Google Docs for collaboration as opposed to sending emails back and forth, and Google Reader to monitor websites and the information they put out.
• Take the time to experiment and 'play'.

Postscript
I was guaranteed that I would see kangaroos, but I was very disappointed that the only ones I saw were dead ones on the side of the road. So, to fulfill my need to re-connect with a great love of my childhood, here is a reminder of my most favorite TV program when I was about four years old.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRQnrY5V-rY&feature=related

The learning needs of aged care and community staff in rural Queensland

Chinchilla Learning Network Centre

This week I was able to meet aged and community care staff in some rural communities of Queensland. This was with the aim of promoting the eMentoring project that I am implementing on behalf of Aged Care Queensland.

Challenges facing health care staff in rural context
I met with a variety of staff and roles at Miles, Roma, Chinchilla and Dalby. These places range from two to six hours drive west from Brisbane.


View Larger Map

The one thing I have come to realize from just this short trip is that unless you have driven around Queensland, you have no real idea of how vast the state is, or the problems that face people with regards to accessing professional development and support opportunities because of geographical isolation.

What staff need and want from eMentoring
There was a mixed reaction to the eMentoring project from people. On the one hand, there is acknowledgment of the great need for support for people that is not readily available on a face-to-face level, because of the physical distances staff have to travel. One theme was the incresing number of people taking on management roles who have little or no experience or preparation, and who need mentoring support.

At the same time, it is vital for the industry that experienced staff share their knowledge and skills with junior colleagues before they retire, and that industry knowledge is not lost to the younger generation.

There was a lot of enthusiasm for the online communication aspect of the eMentoring project amongst staff in Roma. They are used to having to think laterally about everything they do - their motto is "not difficult, but different" - I just LOVE that way of looking at the world.

$6 water melon bought at Miles

Barriers to eMentoring
At the same time, the old chestnut about time and financial constraint reared its ugly head. One great barrier to taking part in the project was having to go to the two day workshops, even though accommodation and flights are being paid. The challenge of finding staff to cover workloads is huge, by all accounts.

The other barrier is lack of computer skills and the confidence to 'have a go' or to 'play' on the Internet.

Where to from here
What I have noticed as I have gone about the state talking about the project is that there is a lot of interest from senior managerial staff - they recognize the need for mentoring and are keen to share their own skills and experience as mentors. This is very encouraging because without organizational and managerial support, it will be difficult to embed eMentoring as an every day concept.

But the other thing that has been extremely noticeable is that ground level clinical care staff, be they care workers or junior nurses, have been absent from information meetings. What is difficult to make out is the reason for this - whether they are not interested, cannot see a need for mentoring, do not realize the project is for them, or that they just cannot find time to get away from their clinical work to attend the meetings.

Get real
I understand how busy clinical care staff are in aged care, as well as all the other responsibilities and calls they have on their time outside of work. But there comes a time when that excuse becomes a little tired - people have to take responsibility for their development and learning, even if that means doing some of it in their own time. And employers have to look at how they can support staff to take the time to attend workshops. Employers cannot continue to complain about the state of the industry if they do not take action to remedy it.

Do you have any ideas about how to get past the barriers of time and money to implement professional development programs? What has worked for you?

Virtual birth unit starting to come together

I had a quick tour around the virtual birth unit on Friday.

It is very exciting to see it start to come together.

We still have an awful lot of work to do on it by the end of May, but it is starting to feel very real now as opposed to a nebulous concept.

What has struck me is the homely feel of the birth unit, which, of course, is what we are aiming to create.


So if we do nothing else, getting students to think about the environment and birth will be a fabulous achievement.

Meeting up with SLENZ team
Meanwhile, I am off to Wellington to meet up with the rest of the Second Life Education Team New Zealand for a couple of days to plan the next stage of the project.

This Union girl's night out with Brisbane Broncos

As some of you know, I am a great rugby union fan, avid supporter of the Super 14 Highlanders and England rugby teams. But I became a turn-coat on Friday when I went to my first rugby league game, and watched the Brisbane Broncos beat the Melbourne Storm. The game was quick and exciting, but I missed the rugged stuff that goes on in union games.

Building a new stadium in Dunedin
The thing that really blew me away was the Suncorp stadium which is a fabulous sporting venue. Mind you, our seats were second row from the top - it was so high up, I felt quite sick and giddy when I first sat down. But it did get me thinking about the controversy about the new stadium that is being built in Dunedin.


I am not going to go on too much about it here - have a look at Leigh Blackall's commentary which more or less sums up how I feel about the issue.

Yes, it would be fabulous to have a new stadium like the Brisbane Suncorp stadium. But I just cannot see how we can support it when you compare the revenue gained from the few thousand supporters that go to Highlander games to the 40,000 thousand plus who go every week to Bronco games.

Feeling slightly curly

After being apart for just over six weeks, I'm thrilled that my husband has come to Brisbane to see me for two weeks. He has whisked me off for a romantic weekend in Melbourne, or rather I should say that he has dragged me over here to take me to the Australia International Airshow at Avalon.

Our courting days
It took me back to our courting days when he used to drag me to all the big airshows in England. In those days when I was soooooo in love, I never complained .......much! But yesterday I complained bitterly all day because I got absoutely soaking wet and nearly froze to death. You would think after nearly 25 years of marriage I have done enough to prove my devotion!


Victoria Market
But I have to say that our trip to Victoria Market this morning made up for the miserable day yesterday. Again, walking around it took me back to our courting days when we went to Europe for our holidays. The stalls and people were very cosmopoliton, making me think I could have been in Italy or Greece. In particular, I was reminded of a wonderful holiday we had at Lake Garda in Italy in 1987. We used to make our way to a country vineyard at the back of our hotel for lunch, eat cheese and meat, drink far too much grappa, and sleep for the rest of the afternoon.


The Curly Girls
The highlight of the weekend was an evening out at a burlesque show last night featuring The Curly Girls. The girls were fabulous! They were beautiful, talented, funny but at the same time it was obvious they had put a lot of thought to their routines to make comments about women in society today. Mark and I are thoroughly taken with the girls, the show and the venue. You must go and see them if you are in Melbourne, or check out their Facebook pages.

My experience of being an eMentor

Here are a couple of thoughts about my experiences of being an eMentor. I think the most important thing about using online communication in a mentoring relationship is to make sure the person you are talking to understands what you are saying - that the method of communication you are using does not cause misunderstandings.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_s02WF_450


What are your experiences of using online communication? What are the downfalls? How would you manage the intricacies of being an eMentor?

What makes a good mentor?

Here is my reflection on a couple of mentors I have worked with over the years, and how they have interacted with me to make my learning experience a fulfilling one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W7pxg-vrjU

Can you think back on the people who have mentored you over the years, both in formally and informally - how did they support your learning. What did they do that worked for you? What did they do that was a complete disaster?

Tips for being an effective eMentor

Over the last few days I have been engrossed in working on developing the handbook for the eMentoring project I am managing. One of the things I have been thinking about is how you can be an effective eMentor

Tips for eMentors

• Be committed to your mentoring relationship.
• Respond promptly to communication like emails.
• Attend online synchronous meetings as arranged.
• Be respectful and non-judgmental.
• Be culturally aware which includes race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality.

Be an effective online communicator

• Take time to read communications such as emails
• Prepare for online meetings.
• Responding in an appropriate way that address issues brought up by your mentee.
• Take ‘netiquette’ into consideration.
• Check out with your mentee if she/he understands your questions and comments.
• Remember that online communication is different because you do not have clues from body language that would normally be picked up in a face-to-face conversation.

Supporting the mentoring relationship

• Asking questions in a way that supports constructive reflection.
• Do not be negative, criticize or say things that are demoralizing.
• Support your mentee in her/his refection and learning. You must not tell your mentee what to do, or do it for him/her.
• Your relationship should must be driven by the mentee’s needs, aims and goals.

Accepting differences

• Accept that your mentee may have a different opinion or way of working from you.
• Being aware of ‘power’ element in your relationship.
• Work to ensure that you both are ‘empowered’ within the relationship.

A mentoring relationship is a partnership with you both having equal status. Accept that mentoring is not about ‘teaching’ but learning. You will learn alongside your mentee.

Is there anything else you would suggest to people who are thinking about being an eMentor?



References

No author. (2004). PSPGOV414A: Provide workplace mentoring. Retrieved 10 March, 2009, from http://www.ntis.gov.au/Default.aspx?/trainingpackage/PSP04/unit/PSPGOV414A

Rolfe-Flette, A. (2008). Many ways to mentor. Retrieved 10 March, 2009, from http://mentoring-works.com/many_ways_to_mentor.html

Triple Creek Associates. (2006). Mentoring guide for mentors. Retrieved 10 March, 2009, from http://www.3creek.com/resources/booklets/MentorGuide.pdf


Image: '2 & 1/2 and already a computer+junky!' machado17
www.flickr.com/photos/98223054@N00/147294427

Job hunting with an ePortfolio

I have an ePortfolio which is living document which I use for recording my achievements and facilitating my reflections on my work. I have developed it in a wiki and it is a 'one size fits all', but recently I have started wondering if this approach meets all my needs.

Function of my ePortfolio
Up until recently the main aim behind the development of my ePortfolio was my personal learning. I also wanted to show what could be done in the electronic environment to anyone interested in ePortfolios.

In three months time, my current contract will end and I will be looking for another job. So I am starting to think about how I can use my ePortfolio to support my applications for employment, or how I can feature it as I look for work as a consultant. But I am wondering if my ePortfolio will meet that need in its current state.

ePortfolios, employers and job hunting
I'll tell you what got me started thinking about the different types of ePortfolio.

I sent an email to a potential employer as a 'cold-call' measure. In that email I described my skills and experience, and offered my services as a researcher/teacher/project manager. I gave her the link to my ePortfolio so she could have a browse around to get a better sense of who I am and what I could offer her in terms of services. She very quickly acknowledged my email, but asked me to send her my CV.

This left me wondering if she had looked at my ePortfolio, and what she thought of it. When I reviewed it, I realized how much material there is in it - far too much for a future employer to wade through. This has left me wondering if it would put a future employer off, rather than attract the employer? If that is the case, how do I present my material in a way that will capture the essence of who I am and what I do, and also capture the employer's imagination?

Types of ePortfolio
A little while ago Michele Martin talked about the different types of ePortfolio in a post called "EPortfolios for Professional Development: Sarah' Stewart's Online Portfolio", and suggested I may need a ePortfolio that was a work in progress, and a presentation ePortfolio. I resisted this because I couldn't be bothered with keeping two portfolios up and running. But now I am reviewing that decision.

What do employers want?
In all the years I have been working in midwifery and education, I have never had a potential employer ask to see my portfolio. And I wonder they are that interested. Surely it's quicker to skim through a CV?

So my question is: if employers are too busy to look at ePortfolios, what is the point in me worrying about having different types? Are we doing people a disfavor selling portfolios as a tool for job-hunting when the truth is that an employer would rather read a CV or resume?

Presentation ePortfolio
I am not at all sure I need a presentation ePortfolio that is different to my 'working one', and if I do, I haven't a clue how it should look. Russ Gifford has talked about this in his post "ePortfolios - used in business?" and says it should be organized. So maybe what I need to do is to present select and key material to highlight my work. Ross also says that we should get out and promote our ePortfolios.

So that is what I would love to hear from you - do we need a presentation ePortfolio that is more focused than our 'work in progress' portfolio? How do we promote them to future employers? Would we be better off making sure we have a tip-top CV? What are your experiences of using ePortfolios when you have been job-hunting? If you are an employer, would you look at an ePortfolio?