Having participated in, attended workshops and viewed other projects, I seemed to have had an epiphany. This epiphany was that ‘developing systems that empower groups’ was really what we were all about. All projects were seeking to identify more efficient and effective ways to benefit areas, groups with agreed organisations. They all identified their stakeholders and were clear the benefits to service delivery and educational development (not a surprise, what was a surprise was this was happening).
My question, my epiphany was ‘How does ‘SMaRT’ fit into this process?’ we are trying to empower those outside of a system, to place the possibility for change within the hands of the workbased mentors. Through our project links to our internal systems are possible, however what benefits and what changes come from an organisation trying to control an element that is uncontrollable.
Workbased Learners have a “mess mash” of contributors (quote from workshop), all with different agendas, all with different needs. The commonality is that some of them want to mentor students and do this well. Equally research has shown that there are common areas that are shared by all mentors irrespective of workbased activity.
‘SMaRT’ really wants to empower this group, to give them the responsibility and although clearly any development or change must come with a structure, why because knowledge must be generalised, it must represent those it seeks to represent. Identifying that ‘Control’ and ‘Independence’ are two areas of education that must be addressed and we know that there is always a need for ‘scaffolding’. This has meant that the team has to educate and revisit our own understanding of our role on several occasions. We have ensured that those within our immediate community have been actively involved with the development of ‘SMaRT’
We continue to have new ideas, but there is one thing for sure from small acorns, big oak trees grow and this is the birth of something that could one day, be universal fitted to represent many unrepresented groups and professions.
