Disqus - Latest Comments for Hilary Mason

Re: What to do when you can’t be RSSed…

Hilary Mason — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:08:56 -0000

I definitely struggle to keep on top of all my feeds, there's some that I have that I just browse and others that are of more interest and which I follow more keenly. I also find that Google Reader Trends helps me to reflect on how much I really do follow a specific feed. Thanks for the info about Aide, it's good to check out feeds on that as well.

Re: Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavour.

Hilary Mason — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:03:43 -0000

Thanks for this feedback. I'm involved in the informal education sector, being in the youth service and most of these sites will be good to share with colleagues. I'm just about to take part in discussions re E-Safety with the local childrens safeguarding board and hope that they are going to be forward thinking rather than restrictive. Think your idea of a conference around it would be great.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Dear Tom Part 2: Let's talk about Wikis and Blogs

Hilary Mason — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 05:45:31 -0000

Hi! I was just reading through your posts, which I do on a regular basis and really appreciate the pointers it gives me. I was wondering about this paragraph -

"Also, I do anything I can to automate. ONe of my powerblogging tools is Diigo. They have a cool link to post feature and everything that I tag "education" goes to Cool Cat Teacher. Everything I tag "ad4dcss" goes to the Advocates for Digital Citizenship Safety and Success Blog. Then, each day it rounds up all of those links and posts them to my blog for me! I used to have to do it through feedburner, but now it goes onto my blog. It is a fast easy way to share because it is through bookmarking which I do anyway."

I'm still new to blogging and don't really understand what you're doing here. Is there any chance you can expand on this at all?

Thank you
Hilary

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: So, does "virtual attendance" mean anything to students?

Hilary Mason — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 08:12:03 -0000

HI Vicki
I just wanted to say that I was fascinated with this post, especially as I have briefly followed some of the Flat Classroom Conference. I am involved in youth work in the UK and organise International Exchanges for the young people of West Sussex. Whilst we blogged whilst in China it's interesting to see how you could expand this to include others. I have blogged about it here http://ukyouthblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/vir...
Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Re: Identifying Soft Skills for the Social Innovation Camp

Hilary Mason — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:54:22 -0000

Hi there

Reading this with interest as I've just picked up on the Social Innovation Camp information. This is something I'm very interested in and that we've been working on here, in particular related to Recorded Outcomes Targets and therefore being able to demonstrate a young persons journey.

A query would be where would "confidence" and "self esteem" fall? Many of the young people I work with often say that they have increased these areas. Are they "attitudes"? It would be helpful to have them as indicators in some area.

The other is around motivation - you have self motivated under organisational skills but is it also an attitude? I think there is a difference between motivating and being motivated and this again is commented on by young people.

Just a few thoughts and keen to hear your thoughts but WOW!!! what an exciting project!

Re: Identifying Soft Skills for the Social Innovation Camp

Hilary Mason — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:22:22 -0000

Me again, I was reading some further info you had re this about individuals being able to rate themselves and weightings. I did some work on this some time ago with a young people involved on a long term 18mth project. They rated themselves against indicators at different intervals throughout the 18mths. What we found was that often individuals often rated themselves lower later in the project than earlier with some then increasing or not. The importance was the discussion around how / why they were weighting their skills in a certain area. It often transpired that as their understanding of a skill improved then they rated themselves lower in that skill. I'm not sure if you've thought of this. It was quite powerful for us as we thought there would be a steady increase in the learning of skills but were surprised that on a self assessment level this can and will go up and down.

Re: Youth Work Guide to Blogging

Hilary Mason — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:27:38 -0000

I've just discovered this one pager - are there any restrictions on using it with youthworkers? I'm probably going to get the job of looking at our social media strategy and information such as the one pager would be great.

Thanks

Re: On The Up!

Hilary Mason — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:55:57 -0000

It looks as though this idea really paid off. I like the renaming, it makes it a lot more user friendly and can’t wait to see more of what was discussed. I can see lots of uses for this, particulalry for young people as it could be so much more user friendly than we have now. I also think it would be good not just from a commissioning angle. Many local authorities are now implementing monitoring information systems part of which is to give us data on Recorded Outcomes (young people’s achievements) and any system to make this easier would be welcomed.

Looking forward to hearing more on how this might develop.

All the best

Re: Accreditation Culture & Ticking Boxes

Hilary Mason — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:30:27 -0000

Interesting thoughts, however there's no real getting away from the fact that one of the targets against which we are measured as an LA is the numbers of young people gaining accreditation.

I wholeheartedly agree with the fact we should be focussing on the young person and what they are trying to acheive, and the idea of them setting their own targets and challenges does cross over into a lot of methods for accrediting their work, in particular the Youth Acheivement Awards (although I have my own issues with this which I'll talk about at some point on my blog).

I am also in agreement with the tick box culture that the targets can generate. However for me the biggest issue is when our own attitudes, ethics, morals or lack of understanding then impact on young people. (....I'm not directing this at you personally, honest!)

For most of the work I see accreditation can complement and not dictate the work being undertaken. In our area I get frustrated seeing acitivities or programmes of work where, with very little alteration and planning ahead the young person could get some form of formal recognition of what they are doing. Surely this can only add benefit to the young person? I spend a lot of time showing staff how this can be the case and also suggesting what methods of accreditation are more suited to what activities.

Re: Accreditation Culture & Ticking Boxes

Hilary Mason — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:27:45 -0000

WoW! Didn't expect to illicit quite such a response! Again, I don't disagree with any of what you have written. Like you I have found the emphasis of so many of the accreditation schemes on paperwork and portfolio building very frustrating and difficult to engage with. I also agree that it's the experience and the ability / confidence and understanding to articulate this that counts.

As to the value and worth of the qualifications outside of the youth sector - hmm, I need time to think this one over more although I do think that there should be more links and opportunities to link with the National Curriculum.....particularly for those young people who struggle in this area.

Lots to think about here and wil try to get my thoughts down soon.

Re: Collaborating in Youth Work

Hilary Mason — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:35:32 -0000

Firstly thanks Mike for the complement about my blogging. I still feel like it's early days but I'm definately enjoying the experience.

Secondly, I agree about encouraging and developing collaboration. I have learnt so much from being on line blogging. There are the online forums such as UKYouthonline that Tim has set up but I have benefited equally from seeing what other people have written, who they are talking to and learning from their experiences. Just by being online I have expanded my knowledge not only of what is out there but also about what might be possible.

We've started to encourage our staff to explore and look at what is out there. As a Senior Management Team working across the county we are slowly starting to expand the ways in which we meet and collaborate on work without having to be in the same place but this is a slow process. The main thing that has struck me is just how far removed working in this way is for many of my colleagues and how much we need to do in order to give them the skills and confidence to share their views, experiences and off the wall ideas.

But....I think (optimistically!) that as the community grows, as we develop the skills and understanding of how this way of working can enhance our own work, then we will gradually see more collaboration and sharing of ideas....or so I hope!

Re: Why You Shouldn’t Use Social Media With Young People

Hilary Mason — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:40:51 -0000

Hi Mas

As one of the other comments said, very timely. In working out how we are aiming to use SNS in our authority I've been coming across sites that our youth workers have set up. Some of them have been maintained and are obviously working (to some degree) and others have just been left. I'm now in the process of getting a list together to see just what we have out there as well as linking this into how we develop policies and guidelines for our staff.

For us managing this process across such a large area it's always a delicate balance between trying to encourage staff to consider and use this medium (developing and exploring their skills as they go) and ensuring that there are the appropriate safeguards and strategies in using it.

Re: Youth Work in Office Hours?

Hilary Mason — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:58:18 -0000

Hi Mas

Well......I just had to pop up and say something with what seems to be a bit of a swipe at youth workers! I think that there are a number of complex reasons why some centres don't open on Friday nights and weekends - not completely that youth workers don't want to work these hours. Many of my colleagues have worked hard throughout the summer, including on weekends running a number of residentials and work equally late and long hours during the rest of the year. (including the large number of DofE groups I have taking a part in weekend residentials)

One of the key things that I am currently looking at is that often - as a service led (largely) by what young people say they want - young people are saying they aren't interested in clubs being open on a Friday night or a weekend because that is when they want to go into town and do other activities. (Cinema, socialising on street corners etc!) In fact in one area a group of young people are expressing more of a need for some facility on a Sunday morning (the morning after the night before).

Now - unless we are going to say that yp can't aspire to what they perceive to be an 'adult' social life, or that yp must go to youth clubs on a Friday and at weekends then I think there is more thought needed in to how we engage young people at these times. It may well be that what we are offering needs to be changed however we are still going to have to work hard at developing this when young people perceive and feel that the culture is that on Friday nights you go out into town for a good night (which for many will include alcohol). I'm not saying it's impossible and I know that some youth services are already delivering at this time but for me it is going to take a bit of time to change young people's attitudes, as well as some of my colleagues, towards taking part in youth work on a Friday night.

Re: Why Bother Using the Web in Youth Work

Hilary Mason — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:30:43 -0000

Hi Mike

Sorry I couldn't be there but it sounds like this was an interesting discussion. I definately think that most people where I'm working view the web as a communication tool, although I think some have started to move towards using some of the photo and arts areas to support personal development in any arts work they are undertaking with young people.

I'm really interested in how else we can use the web as I think it is this area that has a lot of potential so I'm really looking forward to the tools and suggestions you've been talking about.

Re: Digital Youth Work - Rationale

Hilary Mason — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:00:07 -0000

Hey Mike

Love the sound of the project and happy to help in any way I can. As we all interpret differently I was just wondering if there is something about community / contribution / participation within this. Are they inherent within the modules any way or does there need to be something more explicit?

Keen to see how this can be moved into online working

Good luck
Hilary

Re: How Will Youth Work Use The Web in 2009?…

Hilary Mason — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:22:00 -0000

Hi there! Love the post Mas and really sorry I didn't have enough time to comment for it, barely keeping up with my own blog at the moment. Firstly, just to comment on the comments - I'm in total agreement re the focus on SNS and that Social Media is bigger than SNS. (In fact just blogging about it when I wanted to check out your digital media programme).

I'm on the cynical line re I think that social media and youth services will move slowly forward next year so there won't be big changes. In my hopes would be greater on and off line collaboration. The development of youth work projects along the lines of those that the education sector seem to be doing so well, so collaborative work with young people from different areas on things that matter to them as well as youth workers sharing and developing information across a range of subjects, but online. Young people being supported to use the medium to challenge, promote and develop themselves. I would hope that young people could access information and have access to an individual online who can work with them to support them in which ever way they are looking for.

Just a few thoughts at the moment, would be good to have a 5 year vision as well!

Re: Resolutions 2009

Hilary Mason — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:01:37 -0000

Hi Mas

Happy New Year! Love the idea of putting the % chance of your resolutions being successful and also agree about the meetings side of things. I'm trying to work on keeping them short, sweet and to the point!

Good luck and all the best
Hilary

Re: What is wrong with investing in younger young people?

Hilary Mason — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:59:15 -0000

Hi Mas

I'm not going to be able to answer all of this straight away as I'm shattered at the moment but felt compelled to start responding! Part of the issue is some of the funding streams and how we receive these through various sectors. For instance as you know I am just about to start work with Positive activities for Children Co-ordinators (PACCS) who will liase and work with Positive Activities for Young People staff (PAYP). The PACCS are funded through the Childrens Fund and therefore in theory should be focussing on the 5-13 age range. The PAYP funding stream targets 8-19yrs.

I think that some of this ties in with Play strategies. From our work in West Sussex we are clearly focussed on 13-19yrs as Chris has mentioned with an extension to 25 in special cirucmstances however we do try and stretch down to 11yrs in our junior clubs where we encourage over 13yrs to be Junior Leaders.

Alot of it comes down to where to focus limited resources. with further resources we are starting to look at 8-13yrs and probably won't go lower than that as with under 8s it becomes a question of whether you are looking more at Childcare. Vol sector groups also split their age ranges when you start looking at organisations like scouts and guides. I do think there are some natural age groupings and would suggest that we are also looking at different skills for different ages. Perhaps thats why there are more splits as well as the funding issue.

Re: Spot the Wordle

Hilary Mason — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:07:11 -0000

Hi! Mines Number one.....like Jon it's interesting to see what words we end up using alot. I obviously mention my colleagues! Love the idea of a competition, maybe we should all pick one and see the results at the end of the month, or guess each others!

Re: An Alternative to Accreditation

Hilary Mason — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:56:02 -0000

Hi! I'm here and listening / reading in the background! (Just really busy!) Really interested in this stuff,. The areas you're suggesting Mike in this and your follow up post are ones that I think I've mentioned before. In my experience getting young people to rate themselves and others helps them to support their thinking and is something they can 'see' more closely. In previous work I have done with young people I designed a system whereby they fed back at different stages on certain skills and competencies. This was right from the beginning to the end of the project. They scored on a graph and we looked at different scores from 1 - 10 or from :( to :). Effectively the 'scores' were just a mechanism to support their reflection and understanding of the skills and didn't really mean anything in themselves. However the key thing was that they provided a tool to work with for both the young person and their worker to build discussions on.

I still (however!) think that this can be built into accreditation schemes and that neither are exclusive (sorry to keep harping back).

I am just looking at how we use this sort of method for the young people involved in the Inspire India programme and one of the areas I'm looking at as well is video interviews and recordings. For me one of the key areas is how to make this self reflection exciting and unthreatening to young people who probably don't reflect on their own skils or development that much.

Anyways, these are evening thoughts after a busy day but I just wanted to say that I'm with you if you're setting up a blog or whatever to keep sharing info and am just off to look at your word clouds and spreadsheets to see if I can try some of it out this weekend! Thanks for pursuing this Mike!!

Re: Word Clouds for Personal Development

Hilary Mason — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:58:51 -0000

Hi Mike

I think I like this idea, I'm not very techy so not sure how I would set this up to test it out. Any clues?
Thanks
Hilary

Re: Generational change or an age thing?

Hilary Mason — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:03:36 -0000

Thanks for posting this, it makes for interesting reading and is definately something we as a local authority need to be planning for.

Re: I Kissed A Girl

Hilary Mason — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:59:50 -0000

Hi Jon

After having written just recently on my blog about LGBTU provision in West Sussex its interesting to see the different views taken on this.

From my perspective I agree it is about knowing what music and hence information or messages or topics young people are talking about so that we can support them. I also see it as a great opportunity to talk about sexual identity with young people and give a positive message that being LGBTU is ok and acceptable.

Re: I Kissed A Girl

Hilary Mason — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:37:30 -0000

Hey Jon

I think we're agreed on the opportunities for conversations and discussions that the song raises for youth workers (from whatever perspective!)

I too would want to avoid any arguements - just felt the quote you put in needed a bit of a response!

Good for discussions though!:)

Re: Hope Isabelle Jolly

Hilary Mason — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:24:44 -0000

WoW! Congratulations Jon what an amazing time you've been having. Good luck to you all as a family and enjoy your early days!!!

Re: Youth Work Promo Video

Hilary Mason — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:16:53 -0000

Great stuff Jon - it's also given me some more ideas of getting some more youth work videos about what we do up and going, Thanks for sharing!

Re: Help Needed!

Hilary Mason — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:21:00 -0000

Hi Jon

Happy to help if I can. I do some face to face and look at recorded and accredited outcomes but not much so not sure if that's any use to you. However I do have responsibility for outcomes with regards to NEET targets, teenage pregnancy, participation etc. Anything I can do give me a shout.

Good Luck
Hilary

Re: Regular Writing

Hilary Mason — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:55:09 -0000

Hey Jon - Good Luck with the writing and hope you enjoy doing the pieces.

Re: Generational change or an age thing?

Hilary Mason — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:03:36 -0000

Thanks for posting this, it makes for interesting reading and is definately something we as a local authority need to be planning for.

Re: Generational change or an age thing?

Hilary Mason — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:03:36 -0000

Thanks for posting this, it makes for interesting reading and is definately something we as a local authority need to be planning for.

Re: 27 Blogging Secrets to Power Your Community

Hilary Mason — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:48:26 -0000

Thanks for the tips, really appreciated them and hope to add some into my blog in the future.

Re: Build Blog Posts Like Building Blocks

Hilary Mason — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:20:43 -0000

This blog has made me think more about how I construct my blog. I often have a number of drafts on the go but also feel as though I shoot off in random directions or obsess on one subject too much. Thanks for prompting me to look in more detail at what I'm publishing.

Re: How competent are new students with technology (really)?

Hilary Mason — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:46:16 -0000

As someone working in the youth sector I rarely see signs of the digital native, especially when you think about the digital divide as well (which I think is very real and depends on academic levels and abilities).

Re: Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavour.

Hilary Mason — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:03:43 -0000

Re: What to do when you can’t be RSSed…

Hilary Mason — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:08:56 -0000