Climbing Frame Newsletter - Issue 11

Issue 11 July 2012

Climbing Frame Newsletter Go for Gold this Summer!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Health Sector Learning Themes Launch

2

Unionlearn Annual Conference 2012

2

Supporting Learners in Leicester

2

Spotlight on a Learning Theme: Community Learning

3

Two NEW unionlearn Learning Themes

3

E-Note Update

3

Frequently Asked Questions

3

NEW unionlearn publications available on the Climbing Frame

4

In the next edition...

4

Hi Everyone, Welcome to this summer edition of the Climbing Frame Newsletter.

In this issue we include news of some recent events where the Climbing Frame has featured.

We put the spotlight on the ‘Community Learning’ Learning Theme, give you information about the two new unionlearn Learning Themes we have launched and update you on the new online learning modules.

As always, we keep you up to date with developments to the Climbing Frame website, including Frequently Asked Questions and on the back page we feature some new unionlearn publications which are available for you to access on the Climbing Frame.

As always if you have any suggestions for the website and this newsletter, please email us: climbingframe@tuc.org.uk We hope you have a great summer!

Best wishes

Contact Us

4

The Climbing Frame Team

Content

Page

What’s New? As part of our mid year review we have been updating all of the Learning Themes and introducing new sections and information where possible. Look out for even more changes over the next few weeks.

We recently launched two new unionlearn

Learning Themes (see page 3 for more information about this).

We have also refreshed the ‘Other Links’ area of the site.

We are currently working to improve the reporting function of the Climbing Frame, and are looking to introduce some new functionality, such as

being able to upload documents onto the website for a ULR’s own use. We will have more details on this in the next issue of the Climbing Frame Newsletter, out in October.

Coming Soon…

A new unionlearn Learning Theme on Progression for Reps.

Log in today: www.climbingframe.unionlearn.org.uk

PAGE 2

Health Sector Learning Themes Launch

Photographs from the UNISON Health Conference which took place in Brighton.

The Health Sector Learning Themes were officially launched at the UNISON Health Conference which took place in Brighton on Tuesday the 24th of April 2012.

A workshop was held entitled ‘Launching into Learning: Campaign to promote workplace learning’, which included speakers from NHS Employers, unionlearn

and UNISON Highland Healthcare.

Louisa Smith from unionlearn gave a presentation about the Climbing Frame and introduced the new Learning Themes. She said: “I am delighted to be here to launch the new Learning Themes. It has been a fantastic project to work on and one which I hope will be of real value to ULRs in the

health sector. Many thanks to all those who have been involved”.

All ULRs in the health sector can now access the 6 new Learning Themes. Climbing Frame users simply need to ensure that they have selected that they are in the ‘health’ sector, and they will then be able to access all the health Learning Themes along with the unionlearn ones.

Unionlearn Annual Conference 2012

Photograph from the unionlearn Annual Conference 2012 which took place in London.

This year’s unionlearn Annual Conference took place on Monday the 25th of June 2012 at Congress House, London.

The title of the event was ‘Skilling a future that works’. Speakers included TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, Alan Irwin, Project Strategic Development Officer from the Professional

Footballers’ Association and Martin Lewis, broadcaster and finance expert.

One of the afternoon workshops was on Supporting Learners and included an update on the Climbing Frame.

Participants in the workshop were asked to think of something they have always wanted to do and start to create an

action plan to achieve this. It was highlighted that one of the ways of recording an action plan could be to use the Climbing Frame website.

The two new unionlearn Learning Themes were launched at the event, bringing the current total of unionlearn Learning Themes to 16, which are available to all Climbing Frame users.

Supporting Learners in Leicester

Photograph from the Midlands ‘Sharing ways of Supporting Learners’ Briefing which took place in Leicester.

On Tuesday the 3rd of July 2012, a Sharing Ways of Supporting Learners briefing event was held in Leicester.

Delegates from a variety of unions and organisations attended the event.

The agenda included information about unionlearn’s supporting learners websites and resources, an update on the National Careers

Service, skills for supporting learners and funding for learning.

It was a fun, full day with a variety of different activities for participants to take part in.

An update was provided on the Climbing Frame and a demonstration was given on how to make use of the Learner Management section of the website.

A demo and information

was given about TUC Education E-Notes.

The day was a great opportunity for people to share ideas, local information and good practice.

Unionlearn are hoping to be able to hold a few more events like this in early 2013. See the ULR Events section on the Climbing Frame for more information when we have it.

Got a new idea for the Climbing Frame? Please let us know. Email: climbingframe@tuc.org.uk

ISSUE 11

PAGE 3

Spotlight on a Learning Theme: Community Learning Community Learning makes a huge contribution to the wellbeing of individuals and brings people together. It is the learning that people get involved in for its own sake, and not primarily to get a qualification or to get on at work. However, that's not to say that learning which starts off

informally, or on a small scale, might not lead on to other things.

The ‘Community Learning’ Learning Theme is a lively theme which includes a vast amount of information about what community learning is and how it could work for you.

Within the Learning Theme, details can be

obtained about ‘finding a course’ and ‘planning your learning’. Examples of a range of national initiatives are given along with specific community learning options.

The Learning Theme concludes with a number of different websites to help provide you with even more ideas and opportunities.

Two New Unionlearn Learning Themes We recently launched two new unionlearn Learning Themes which are available to all users.

Supporting Learners at 50+ provides information about the support available to help those over 50 make informed

choices about their next steps.

Equality, diversity and learning provides general information about what these terms mean for ULRs, and specific information about issues which may cause

different groups of people in the workplace to be discriminated against or experience barriers to learning.

Both Learning Themes are packed full of useful information and resources.

E-Note Update Work is still ongoing with the creation of a Climbing Frame elearning module (E-Note).

This will be a valuable resource for those wanting to know more about the Climbing

Frame and how to use it.

It will hopefully be available before the end of the year.

Unionlearn are also about to start the development of a

Supporting Learners ENote. This module will include a wide range of information, resources, activities and videos on Supporting Learners. If you have any ideas as to what you would like to

see included in a Supporting Learners ENote please email: Ian Borkett: iborkett@tuc.org.uk with your suggestions.

Frequently Asked Questions How do I access the two new unionlearn Learning Themes?

All Climbing Frame users automatically get access to all the unionlearn Learning Themes, including the two new ones. Once you have registered you will be able to log into the website and will be able to see all of the unionlearn Learning Themes located down the left hand side of the screen. To view a

Learning Theme simply click on its title.

I have forgotten which email address I registered on the Climbing Frame with, how can I find this out?

Not a problem, simply email:

you have also forgotten your password a new one can be generated for you.

I haven’t used the Climbing Frame for a while and need a refresher on how to use it. Please can you help me out? climbingframe@tuc.org.uk Take a look at the Climbing Frame Getting The Climbing Frame team will contact you and Started Guide which is available from the logged will be able to let you in home page, this know the email address booklet provides basic you registered with. If

information and instructions for using the Climbing Frame.

You can also make use of the ‘Using the Climbing Frame’ Learning Theme which gives detailed information about using the website. Don’t forget you can also contact the Climbing Frame team if you have any questions or need any help, email: climbingframe@tuc.org.uk

Here are some NEW unionlearn publications which can be found on through the barriers the Climbing Frame‌ Breaking This publication brings together the voices of unions, partner organisations, practitioners, and learners to highlight the range of barriers faced by many and to demonstrate what can be achieved through union learning. Find it in the NEW Equality, diversity and Learning Learning Theme.

Delivering better learning agreements This practical guide for trade union reps and officers discusses what learning agreements are, what they should cover and provides a template for a framework agreement. Find it in the Supporting Learners Learning Theme.

Making informed choices: Supporting Learners at 50+ This recently updated guide includes a number of referral points to advice on learning, job search and careers advice for older workers.

Find it in the NEW Supporting Learners at 50+ Learning Theme.

The learning rep: Summer 2012 Don’t miss the quarterly magazine produced by unionlearn. This issue is a special apprenticeships issue, including a number of inspiring union learning articles. Find it in the Supporting Learners Learning Theme.

In the next edition...

Contact Us

We highlight different ways that you can make use of the Climbing Frame website Get an update on the Blueprint for Careers We put the spotlight on the Recession, Redundancy and Recovery Learning Theme Plus lots more...

The next Climbing Frame Newsletter will be available in October 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