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The Naked Vocational Trainer

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The Naked Vocational Trainer

On leaving school, I began training as an electrical technician with BT in central London. At the age of forty, following a varied career, I went on to gain 26 years experience in further education as a lecturer and NVQ assessor/verifier. I am a retired member of the Institute of Engineering & Technology and have published a text book (The Nuts and Bolts of Training and Assessment) which covers a variety of training methods and training principles. My book is intended to provide an accessible introduction for those starting a career in vocational training.

KEEPING CALM AND CARRYING ON

Following my last post there’s been a good response, so thanks to those who have shared their points of view.

What’s been said so far, is the belief that attempts to regulate television news plays into the terrorist’s hands and may lead to restriction of our civil liberties.  On the other hand there’s also concern that by giving undue coverage to terrorist atrocities, we equally play into their hands by disrupting our normal activities and encouraging copy-cat behaviour.

I’ve collected some of these misgivings into a  Code of Practice for Television News  where you can see what we’ve arrived at so far.

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KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

Following recent terrorist atrocities many viewers, who include journalists, feel much disquiet at the way news coverage is being shown on television.  It may be well-intentioned, yet the cumulative effect is not in tune with the way most of us deal with adversity and it’s time that we arrived at a more considered approach.

Without wishing to limit the spread of positive information, I’m suggesting that we decide on a code of practice for television presentations that will be similar in style to the Training Charter for vocational trainers.

My intention is to put a list together before next week and if you have any suggestions you would like to be included, please send me a direct message on Twitter.

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Weightlessness in space!

It’s commonly believed that astronauts on the space station are weightless because of the absence of gravity, yet the pull of gravity on the space station is virtually the same as here on Earth.

In this YouTube clip, Dr Derek Muller gives a very clear and entertaining explanation of the real reasons why astronauts float in space.

Click on  Common Misconceptions to see other things that are often misunderstood.

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Making your mind up!

In the forthcoming general election you may be finding the constant repetition of campaign slogans is making it difficult to decide which side to chose.  The nuts and bolts approach is stick to basics and so your first reaction to the following scenario may reveal where your unconscious sympathies lie.

Cast your mind back  to the days of sailing ships and you learn that a mutiny has taken place at sea.  Following news of the mutiny, before you know any of the facts, who is it your first instinct to blame:

 

Give the question a moment’s thought then continue to Random Thoughts and let’s see if it has helped to make up your mind.

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Presentations are not Ego-trips.

I recently attended couple of short presentations and because the presenter was clearly new to the game, I won’t make a big issue of the self-indulgent mannerisms that detracted from what was otherwise a worthwhile experience.

However, it’s not a good idea to muse out loud, continually ask for a show of hands (for no apparent reason) or try to ingratiate yourself with the audience by the use of feeble jokes

What really drives me to write this post is that both presentations started well before the advertised time and that’s a massive No – No!

Click on The Training Charter to learn more about presentation techniques.

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Rock and Scroll

There seems to be a commonly held belief that young people only enjoy the music created in their day.  In my day, I never enjoyed traditional folk music but there were three bands who instantly converted me to the then, contemporary form of folk-rock.

So if you are young today and looking for something beyond the charts, these same three bands may be just the music for you.

   Click and then scroll down on the page.

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I’ve added some music and a poem!

If you’re into something a little bit different over Easter, there’s some great new music and poems in Connections and Wise Words.  Look for Nigel Kennedy’s version of Jimi Hendrix and a very touching poem by WH Davies, famous for writing “what is this life if full of care?”

 

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The Grocer’s Apostrophe!

There’s a grammatical equivalent to Banksy in Bristol, using his ‘apostrophiser’ to correct this common error.

We need more characters like this!

 

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Accidents Can’t Be Prevented!

Health & Safety legislation comes in for a lot of very unfair criticism mostly as a result of misunderstanding what the law requires. I’ve put a twist on a well-known safety slogan so as to catch your eye, so find out why Accidents Can’t Be Prevented!

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