By now, you will know my tendency to include cryptic references in the title of these blogs; you'll have to wade right to the end of this post to find out about Johan Helmich Roman.
Today I was down at the University of Strathclyde, at the Department of Computer and Information Science, where I am the external examiner for their MSc Information and Library Studies course. I'm also external examiner for the same course down at Northumbria University in Newcastle and I have their boards to go to immediately after our conference. The external examiner role is one of the great, unique strengths of the British higher education sector. The external is there not to act as a "third marker" on assignments and exam papers but to ensure that the assignments are fair in the first place, that the marking has been done consistently and appropriately and also to ensure broad comparability in the taught provision because they invariably come from a similar department elsewhere. Most asessment boards wait, anxiously, for the external examiner's comments at the end (I know I always do when the boot is on the other foot back at RGU). In most cases, however, it isn't anything very critical; normally a few little constructive suggestions and a good deal of support and encouragement for the academic staff. I hope I got the balance right today.
Library schools often come in for some criticism from practitioners and, indeed, I tackled this head on in my paper in Belfast which I've already spoken about which I entitled "What on earth do they teach them in library schools these days". Many of you will know I have strong views about this and about the importance of library-school teaching being professionally-relevant. And, I flatter myself that if I hadn't been endeavouring to do that with our curriculum at RGU then I wouldn't have been invited to serve as CILIPS President. However, there are a few important things to add to that statement. Firstly, we can't teach absolutely everything in Masters course and nor should we or else it ends up being training rather than education. An important part of education is developing the ability to learn oneself and develop in other areas. Learning to learning in other words. That leads to my second point, learning on the job is also absolutely crucial - our much-vaunted lifelong-learning in fact - none of us were "oven ready" for the world of work when left education whether that was library school or somewhere else and we kid ourselves if we think we were. Thirdly, no part of education can teach everything, we can try to enhance or improve some skills (e.g. communication skills or interpersonal skills) but we cannot treat everything like a competency that can be "taught" and "learned". As I say to the students, your qualification will get you the interview; it's everything else about you that will get you the job.
Anyway, enough of that. The rest of this week has been spent on preparation for the conference the week after next. It looks fantastic with great speakers in both keynotes and parallel sessions, loads of exhibitors, a lot of built in fun and something for everyone. I am really looking forward to it. I do fear, however, that I am probably driving Elaine, Cathy and Rhona demented with my queries and questions! I spent all day Tuesday writing up my "bits" and ended up with a lengthy accompanying email of questions for them. As we say up here in the north-east "puir quines".
This Saturday I'm doing my Meet the President with the North Branch at Aberdeen Central Library. Goodness knows why anyone is coming - they've all met me so many times and know what a jibbering idiot I am already and the adornment of the Presidential chain won't change that. Never mind, it will be great fun I'm sure. :o)
When I got home today there was some mail waiting for me. The first was depressing; a statement showing another decline in an investment. Thank you global economic downturn. The second, however, was much more exciting. It was a CD I had ordered of some music by Johan Helmich Roman, den svenska musikens fader (my Swedophile tendencies to the fore there again). Anyone who likes Baroque music (Eleanor McKay sit up straight) should give Roman a try. He is wonderful but sadly little known outside his native country and recordings are not easy to come by. The one I received today had been ordered from the Czech Republic of all places. Start with the Drottningholm Music.
No comments:
Post a Comment