UKGRAD schools?

celyn90

Hi everyone, I just wanted to ask if anyone had ever done one of these. It's compulsory for me because my funding body says I have to do one. I'm booked in for one monday -wednesday next week and not sure what to expect. Has anyone done one?

Please don't tell me when I arrive I'm going to get given a piece of paper that says; find someone in the room that speaks swedish/has a pet cat/likes rave music/plays sport/watches CSI etc etc. Am I really going to have to spend three days getting plasticine people across an imaginary river using nothing but two broom handles and some loo roll?

I have the fear already after reading the blurb I got sent. Please someone tell me they are fun and useful! cel x

melancholly

never been on one - have the same reservations as you to be honest! but really, how bad can they be?! 3 days of team building and communication exercises.....

celyn90

I'm scared. I'm too old, too cynical and have been in the system far too long to enjoy this sort of thing. We had them alot when I was teaching and I hated them. I got told off at one I had to attend for suggesting that asking a bunch of 16-25 year olds (most of whom had been excluded from their previous schools or were from young offenders institutes) to sit in a circle and hold up green cards when they wanted to speak might not be a good idea. Most of the trainers had never set foot in a classroom, let alone a challenging one.

The organisers sent us all their biographies yesterday (!??!). I had to stop myself mailing back and asking if there was going to be a quiz. I don't want to go in with a negative attitude right at the start, but I've never been on one of these things that has been of any use.

melancholly

i feel your pain!! can't really add anything - apart from suggesting that you take a hip flask! but make sure you report back on how it was!

ftbworried

Oh God. I have to go on one of these too in the next year...and like you I HATE this kind of stuff. I'm no wallflower so it's not that I'm shy etc. I just DON'T SEE THE VALUE.

There should be a campaign against this use of torture, which would include 'assessment days' used by companies at recruitment events. I might make a brilliant computer programmer/accountant/*insert technicial job* but I will NEVER be good at playing blindfolded charades so WHY MAKE ME DO IT AT INTERVIEW?!!!

I heard a story not so long ago about a DIY chain making potential drivers/cashiers SING (yes SING) at interview......

In my department at uni we had a 'communications workshop' which involved some hairy chested, tight-shirted, medallion-wearing 'ex actor' egomaniac telling us we had to stand up infront of the audience and communicate your partners research (fine, I see the value in that), but via the medium of dance/music/a comedy sketch/tv show....what!? I can just see me doing a little dance infront of my next conference poster....what tosh!

rant over.

ftbworried

http://www.grad.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/GRAD_courses/Postgraduate_researchers/National_GRADschools/Course_details/p!elkipLX

hope that clears things up!

Gingernutmeg

Oh god, I hate this kind of thing. I got roped in to go to a university staff training day (no idea why, I was only an undergrad lol) on 'Using Socratic Dialogue within Citizenship Education'. What a day that was, lots of 'circles', 'sharing' and 'communication skills', all led by a guy who had only the vaguest of ideas who Socrates was ... I've had some pointless days in my life but that's definitely up there at the top.

melancholly

i once reflected my research through the medium of 'finger painting' on a course..... couldn't even make that up! nightmare.....!

celyn90

OMG. I've read the blurb (cheers for the link) - mine is the 3-day careers one, so it looks like i'm in for a whole load of fun. Cheers guys, I had't seen the link as I couldn't open what they e-mailed me because the file was corrupted (good start that!). I'll keep you updated.

I just can't do these things. I'm nearly 30 !!!!!! and I've had proper jobs so it's not like I'm a green applicant who has never ventured into the world of work.

PMSL at the thought of describing my next conference poster through the medium of interpretive dance. :rotfl: :rotfl:

melancholly

celyn90 wrote: »

PMSL at the thought of describing my next conference poster through the medium of interpretive dance. :rotfl: :rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
that has just really made me laugh - but i did hear of some conference where there were backing dancers during the talks.... i will have to find something out about it as it sounded painfully funny.

ftbworried

but i did hear of some conference where there were backing dancers during the talks.... i will have to find something out about it as it sounded painfully funny.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Oh I'd LOVE to see that- if only there was a video on youtube.......