Issue 10 April 2012
Climbing Frame Newsletter Promoting Learning in the Workplace INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Content
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The NEW Health Sector Learning Themes
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Feedback from the Climbing Frame 2012 Survey
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Spotlight on a Learning Theme: ICT
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New resource for union reps
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Frequently Asked Questions
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In the next edition...
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Contact Us
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Hi Everyone, Welcome to this spring edition of the Climbing Frame Newsletter. In this issue as always we keep you up to date with developments with the Climbing Frame website. We introduce the new Learning Themes which have been developed specifically for ULRs in the health sector. We provide feedback on the Climbing Frame 2012 Survey, welcome the new National Careers Service website, put the spotlight on the ICT Learning Theme and feature the new e-Notes which have been developed by TUC Education. Don’t miss our next issue which is out in July. Best wishes
The Climbing Frame Team
What’s New? We have included a section in the ‘Other Links’ area entitled ‘ULR Forms’. In this we include some simple forms to help ULRs in their role, such as the Learner Information forms from the Climbing
Frame and a Higher Learning in the Workplace checklist. The exciting introduction of the new Health Learning Themes provides us with a new way to help ULRs in a specific sector.
We have recently added a search spell check which suggests what you may be looking for when searching the Learning Themes. Coming Soon... New unionlearn Learning Themes!
NEW National Careers Service Website On the 5th of April the National Careers Service website was launched, which replaces the Next Step site. The website includes information about how to plan your career, courses, learning
and how to get a job. Careers advice is given along with a range of tools such as a Skills Health Check and a CV Builder. The Climbing Frame includes a number of links to the
National Careers Service website throughout the Learning Themes and in the Other Links area. Access the new site via the Climbing Frame or visit: www.nationalcareersservice. direct.gov.uk
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The NEW Health Sector Learning Themes The health sector Learning Themes have been completed and will be launched at the UNISON Health Conference to be held in Brighton on Tuesday 24th April 2012. From this date any ULR in the health sector who registers or has already registered for the Climbing Frame will be able to access the new health Learning Themes, in addition to all the unionlearn Learning Themes. What is a Learning Theme? Learning Themes are structured articles which provide information and advice on learning opportunities and services, including links to documents and related external websites. Below is a list of the titles of the Unionlearn have created Health Sector Learning Themes a number of Learning Themes which are Health Sector Learning available to all users. Themes These include: ‘Personal Welcome to the Health Development and Career Planning’ and ‘Learning Sector Learning with your union’. Themes What are the Health Learning and Sector Learning Themes? Development in the The Health Sector Health Sector Learning Themes are Getting the most out customised Learning of your NHS appraisal Themes which have been Developing your written especially for career in the health ULRs in the health sector sector. Health Sector Who developed the Apprenticeships Health Sector Learning Themes? Workforce The Learning Themes Development in the were created as part of a Health Sector Health Sector Glossary joint project with unionlearn, Skills for Health and all the health unions. A huge amount of time and effort went in
to planning, creating and piloting these new Learning Themes before going live. How do I access these new Learning Themes? If you have already registered for the Climbing Frame, and have selected that you work in the health sector, you will automatically receive these Learning Themes in addition to the unionlearn Learning Themes. If you don’t appear to have access to the Learning Themes, go into your own learner record, within the Learner Management section. Click on the ‘Learner Details’ tab and select the ‘Workplace’ sub tab. Locate the ‘Employer Sector’ option and from the drop down list select ‘Health’. You should now be able to access the health Learning Themes. If you have not yet registered for the Climbing Frame, register today. Go to: www.climbingframe.unionle arn.org.uk
Click ‘Sign up now’ and complete the registration form, making sure that you select that you are in the ‘Health’ sector. When you login you will see that you have access to the new Learning Themes. Where are the Health Learning Themes located? The new Learning Themes are located down the left hand side of the webpage, below the unionlearn Learning Themes. They are in a separate box entitled ‘Health’.
How do I view the new Learning Themes? As with the unionlearn Learning Themes you simply click on the Learning Theme title to view it. The format of the Health Learning Themes is the same as with any other Learning Theme, they have an introduction, a contents page and are written as a long article. You can scroll down to view the Learning Theme in full, select a topic of interest from the contents page or you can use the Search box. What information can I find in the Health Learning Themes? They include wide range of information about learning and development in the health sector. Topics include: apprenticeships, career development, appraisals and workforce development. A range of case studies, a glossary and links to useful resources are included. If you are in the health sector please take a look at the new Learning Themes when you get a chance, and let us know what you think of them by emailing: climbingframe@tuc.org.uk
In the next issue of this newsletter we will feature an article on the launch of the new Learning Themes and include comments from the project team and ULRs. Thanks to all those involved in the project and we hope ULRs in the health sector find the information useful.
ISSUE 10
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Feedback from the Climbing Frame 2012 Survey In January we launched the Climbing Frame 2012 Feedback Survey, as a means to find out what you think of the website and how we can improve it. 12 questions were asked and over 225 people from over 20 different unions took part in the survey. The key ways people said that that they had found out about the Climbing Frame website were from a ‘unionlearn event’ or from a ‘unionlearn email’.
The main reasons for using the Climbing Frame were to ‘help me in my ULR role’, and ‘to see what information is available from the website’. Most respondents rated the ‘ease of use’, ‘availability of information’ and ‘support’ as ‘good’. Some of the responses as to what users like most about the Climbing Frame are; “I like everything being in one place”, “being able to keep electronic records for my learners”, “the
format” and “it’s free and easy to use”. Areas for improvement include the reporting function, promotional activity within unions and interactivity. Overall the Climbing Frame Newsletter was rated as ’good’. We asked respondents whether a Climbing Frame App would be of interest to them. From those that answered 59% said ‘Yes’. This may be something we look into in the future. Ways in which the Climbing Frame has
helped respondents in their role include “providing reports to Head Office”, “encouraging colleagues to become ULRs”, “it gives me a structure to work with learners” and “it has helped with time management and organisation”. As an incentive to complete the survey we offered respondents a chance to win a Kindle. Congratulations to Sneh Bhanot, a PCS ULR, who won the prize. Thanks to all those who completed the survey.
Spotlight on a Learning Theme: ICT The ICT Learning Theme provides information to help you direct learners to ICT (Information and Communication Technology) opportunities. Details are given on Learning with ICT, help
for beginners, qualifications, support and includes links to a range of ICT resources. Information is provided about how you can keep up to date with ICT, mobile learning, help with understanding ICT
jargon and e-learning in the workplace. There are a range of useful ICT websites, publications and case studies which share learner stories. This unionlearn Learning Theme is available to all Climbing Frame users.
New resource for union reps TUC Education have produced a series of informative and interactive learning modules. These short self-study briefings, or e-Notes, will help union representatives to develop and update their knowledge of key issues that may impact upon their workplace. Each e-Note has been jointly developed by TUC policy experts and TUC Education tutors. The eNotes include short
videos, quizzes and links to supporting information that make understanding key concepts accessible and effective. April sees the launch of a new e-Note on Equality Law. This e-Note is a thirty minute online activity, designed to be undertaken as a standalone module for anyone with an interest in or commitment to equality. The trade union movement has long campaigned for new equality law. The Equality
Act 2010 consolidates equality legislation, reducing inconsistencies and strengthening the law. Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, commenting on the eNote said ”I hope reps find the briefing useful and are really able to use it and make a difference for your fellow workers.” To access this e-Note log on or sign up at www.tuclearning.net Other e-Notes are available on Additional Paternity Leave and the
Sick Note. Contact Anna Kalsi: akalsi@tuc.org.uk with any feedback or if you have any problems logging on. More e-Notes are in the pipeline including an eNote specifically on the Climbing Frame – watch this space!
Frequently Asked Questions If I have registered for the Climbing Frame with my work email address, does that mean I can only access the Climbing Frame from work? No, it doesn’t matter which email address you use to register for the Climbing Frame, you can log into the website anywhere that there is
an internet connection. The email address you use just acts as the unique identifier to give you access to the website and is also the means for us to contact you. Can I use the Climbing Frame as part of a Learning at Work Day event?
Yes, what a great idea! This years Learning at Work day take place on Thursday the 17th of May 2012. In the past ULRs have used the Climbing Frame to demonstrate to others how the site can help them, have had it set up on an information stand or as the basis for
a CV or learning workshop. If you would like some information and resources to help you promote the Climbing Frame on Learning at Work Day or at any other learning event, please email: climbingframe@tuc.org.uk
Contact other ULRs in your region Don’t forget to make use of the Climbing Frame Discussion Forum which is available to all Climbing Frame users. The Forums section of the website is located in the top left hand corner. Discussion areas include ‘Supporting Learners’ , ‘Using the Climbing Frame’, and ‘Learning’. It is free and very simple to use. There is a section for each unionlearn region and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You can post a question to the Climbing Frame Team, generate new discussions and make contact with other ULRs.
In the next edition...
Contact Us
We put the spotlight on the Community Learning Learning Theme Find out about the launch of the Health Sector Learning Themes and the unionlearn 2012 Annual Conference We introduce some new unionlearn Learning Themes Plus lots more...
The next Climbing Frame Newsletter will be available in July 2012
Unionlearn Congress House Great Russell Street London WC1B 3LS Phone: 020 7079 6920 Fax: 020 7079 6921 E-mail: unionlearn@tuc.org.uk Website: www.unionlearn.org.uk
If you would like more information about the Climbing Frame please visit:
www.climbingframe.unionlearn.org.uk or email climbingframe@tuc.org.uk We welcome your emails and feedback
If you have received this newsletter via email and no longer wish to receive it, please email: climbingframe@tuc.org.uk