Life after my inquiry

After the oral presentation I've been asking myself what next? The Q&A after the oral presentation really clarified things for me, during this whole process I spent a lot of my time worrying about what qualifications meant to me and my practice. I thought that being a fully qualified youth worker would change the way fellow practicing treated me. After hearing adeshola's feedback I learnt that having a qualification would not change things. She asked "if we were to give you a qualification now what will it change?" I could not answer well not accurately, I could not justify what impact having a BA HONS would have on my life. Like she said the young people I work with do not think that I am not qualified so what differences would it make if I had a level 6 or not? It made sense to me why having a qualification would be beneficial to me but looking back at the last 10 months I've spent as a youth worker having a qualification would not make a difference. I suppose having a level 6 would be some kind of reward to myself to show that my hard work payed off in the form of a BA HONS Professional Practice in Youth Work.

Oral Presentation

Below are some of the notes I used to guide me through my presentation.

Introduction

What is the purpose of this presentation? What are you presenting? Who can benefit from this presentation? These are the methods that I found useful in my practice, every youth workers method of practice is different. These are the methods that I found useful to me as a youth worker working in a youth project in South London. they may vary in a different environment and or area.

Engaging in activity is a strategy that works 

Why is this a strategy that works? Who will benefit from this? Is this finding visible at all times? Doing things together builds social cohesion. There is no harm in learning something new?

Interplay between the girls and boy in relation to the girls behaviour

What happens when the girls and boys are together? What happens when they are apart? Expect the girls and Boys to show a lot of physical contact. Competitive attitudes! What happens when they play sports? As soon as the young people come to youth club they start asking to go outside.

Taking responsibility (what do we as adults/ youth worker except from young people)

We expect a lot from young people, we automatically assume that once young people reach a certain age that they will act/become responsible. Young people do not have any responsibilities so therefore why except the to be responsible. Rather than telling young people to be responsible, they should be shown how to do so. How are they shown to take responsibly at youth club? Reward them! Domestic violence..

Positive role models 

Who do these young people have to look up to? Who do they spend they most of there time with?(school friends family) I only work as a youth worker 6hrs per week. So I do not spend that much time with these young people, they might not attend youth club every week as it's not compulsory. However that short time spent with them is the best time to make an impact on them. Remember these young people have chosen to come to youth club.

Creating a fun environment

Why do young people attend youth club? Youth workers need to be welcoming?

Module 3 oral presentation

I've finally done it!!! I am feeling proud of myself; I did not think I had it me. I think I've found my calling guys!!

The presentation was so nerve-racking, did not say everything thing I needed to say. Although I had written it all down I was too nervous to look at my notes, from the responds of the people in the room I think I did just fine. 

I kept my presentation short and simple, I used 6 slides. The slides were very basic; I felt that this would be the most effective way of presenting my findings. I also did this because I did not want repeat what I discussed in my Critical Review and my artefact; I knew that by having a basic slide that this would encourage me to engage with my audience. 

 

Final submission

Feeling slightly lost, handed in my work yesterday now I have nothing to do with my time since I'm on leave. I spent the whole night questioning myself, I kept thinking I forgot to add a few more bits. I feel relieved that it's all over, going to spend my free time preparing for the presentation. 

Well done guy x

Professional artefact

For a while I was debating on how to present my professional artefact, I wanted artefact to be audio visual. I had been gathering images that I wanted to use to show what can be achieved when youth workers work alongside young people. After more debating and a discussion with Alan I decided to create a photo book, combining both images and text. As it's a Professional Artefact I had it professional made. The photo book has a few of my principles in relation to youth work. 

Resovling Conflict

The link below talks about the best way to deal with conflict, this video is very useful. It explains how and why human react in a particular way when conflict is involved.


http://www.pinterest.com/pin/444237950715101356/

Benefits of youth work

This link below discuss the economical value the youth work brings to the economy, you’ll be surprised at the statistics.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYfyC4TZp0k

Society is doomed?

Is society really doomed? I had an unintentional conversation with a member of the public, well they sort of started talking to me whilst I was at work. They witnessed something that leads them to say 'if that's the younger generation then society is doomed' I didn't comment I just listened to what they had to say. What that particular member of the public had witnessed was nothing major and it was easily resolved. For a while I've been reflecting on this statement, I've had many thought running through my mind. 

How is society doomed? 

In what way is society doomed?

How can society give up on these young people? 

Surely as adults do we not have a duty of care for these young people? 

What are we not doing to prevent the negative outlook on young people?

It's having this sort of mind-set why society looks badly at young people, we may not have been perfect at their age but I'm sure the older generation felt the same. How can people give up on young people so easily? We need to guide these young people. We may not be accountable for what goes on in their home lives but it's never too late to help them. Giving up on 'troubled' young people is how they get lost in the system; these young people need people who will push them to strive for more in life. If society gives up or has lack of faith in young people wouldn't that make society the one to blame?