Due to a restructure for a part of 2015 I have been a department of ONE (and a bit). This last 15 weeks has really taught me a lot.
I have to admit I do like to say “yes” when someone wants me to help them. I feel it is part of my job. As an ELF I’m there to help. That’s ok when you have a teaching partner and you can spread the love. However when there is one of you and a new system has been implemented you really can’t say “yes” to everyone. The thing is I actually started to say “I’m sorry however I can’t help you at this time”. I was surprised at the effect. With most staff it resulted in them trying to solve the problem themselves and coming back with a more pedagogical question. A question which I definitely had time for.
There was that small group of staff who just threw up their hands and said I won’t do it. When I asked them a few weeks later their response was I don’t like the system so I’m not going to use it. An offer of lets sit down and look at it next term I was met with a you won’t have time for me. It had become personal.
Realising I am going to be a department of me for around another 4 weeks I decided to look at ways I could effectively expand my reach without stretching myself to the limit… I discovered a webinar entitled exactly that “1, 2, 3 S-T-R-E-T-CH! Expanding Your Reach as a Department of One”. And I have learnt that I need to have my own mission statement and priorities in order to effectively do my job. So while not perfect I have decided Term 2 is about meeting my own mission statement and priorities so I can do my job…
To provide quality and innovative learning programs, ICT and pedagogical tools and ideas, which are in-line the college’s strategic directions.
Wish me luck
🙂