{"id":20744,"date":"2022-03-29T09:18:15","date_gmt":"2022-03-29T08:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ounews.co\/?p=20744"},"modified":"2022-03-29T09:18:15","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T08:18:15","slug":"i-use-the-skills-i-developed-through-the-microcredential-every-day-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/student-stories\/i-use-the-skills-i-developed-through-the-microcredential-every-day-at-work\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI use the skills I developed through the microcredential every day at work!\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Alison McLachlan began learning online during lockdown, she had no idea she\u2019d be applying her new skills so quickly at work. She signed up for an Open University (OU) microcredential short course via the OU\u2019s social learning platform, FutureLearn<\/a>, while on furlough, but was back at work before she knew it, juggling her career and her course.<\/p>\n

It took a lot of commitment, but Alison says it was worth every minute as she\u2019s now using her new-found skills and knowledge every day in her role.<\/p>\n

As a Community Learning Coordinator at the Glasgow Science Centre (GSC), Alison\u2019s job is based around developing courses for adult learners. After signing up for the 12-week post-graduate level course in Online Teaching: Creating Courses for Adult Learners<\/a>, Alison soon found herself adapting GSC\u2019s face-to-face courses for pandemic-friendly online learning \u2013 and the microcredential helped her greatly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe microcredential was very closely linked to the work I was doing on adapting and developing adult learner courses,\u201d she said. \u201cThis meant I was able to use my work development plans as the basis of some of my coursework. But it also meant that the course learning heavily influenced my development plans \u2013 and it still influences my work every day!\u201d<\/p>\n

‘The best thing about the course was its usability’<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Alison says that the relevance of the course to her everyday work was a major highlight for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best thing about the course was definitely its usability,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something that I can \u2013 and have \u2013 put on my CV to help with career progression, and which has been excellent in terms of my day-to-day workplace contribution. It has very much informed my practice and there\u2019s been a marked transfer of skills between my learning and my working.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThe course was very good and was hugely beneficial. It was hard work \u2013 13 hours a week, for 12 weeks \u2013 but it really was worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘I\u2019d love to do another microcredential or a Master\u2019s degree!’<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Alison already had two undergraduate degrees \u2013 one in Community Education from a brick university and another Open Degree from The Open University \u2013 but has always fancied post-graduate learning.<\/p>\n

When she saw an opportunity to apply for funding from a Scottish Government scheme for a microcredential during lockdown 1.0, she jumped at the chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was a good opportunity to learn at post-graduate level, but it was also incredibly relevant to my work,\u201d she said. \u201cSo my colleague and I applied for the funding and both received funded places. Once we started, it turned out that a lot of community partners I know were doing the course. It was great to study with like-minded professionals \u2013 it was a highlight of my learning experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really enjoyed the microcredential. Whenever I\u2019m doing OU study and am in the thick of an assignment, I ask people to remind me of this moment before I sign up again. It\u2019s hard work. But the pain is short-lived and before I know it, I\u2019ve signed up for more study!<\/p>\n

\u201cSo when my contract with the Glasgow Science Centre finishes I would love to do another microcredential or potentially a Master\u2019s degree depending on my work commitments at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘The standard and quality were excellent’<\/strong><\/h3>\n

She says she would recommend the OU\u2019s high-quality microcredentials to anyone \u2013 and in fact, she already has.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d definitely recommend microcredentials \u2013 in fact I have sent information to my colleagues about them,\u201d she said. \u201cThey can be a great way of levelling up at work.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThe standard and quality of the course were excellent. The proof of that is that I use the skills I learnt daily and refer back to my study notes often.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe advice I\u2019d give to anyone thinking of doing a microcredential would be to clear your plate a bit and give the right amount of time to the course. Also make sure you study something that you\u2019re interested in \u2013 that is key!\u201d<\/p>\n

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