SSPEL Newsletter: Research and Scholarly Activities

Dr Mike Tripp has just had accepted for publication an article based on his recent PhD in

Both Ian Gilhespy and Dave Harris are to have material published in the prestigious Journal of Hospitality. Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education (the organ of the HEA Subject Centre HLST).

The articles are:

Gilhespy, I. (2011) Evaluating the effectiveness of digital learning objects: student perspectives and issues of design, Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, Vol 10

Harris, D. (2011) Presentation software: pedagogical constraints and potentials, Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, Vol 10

Both are outputs from the lengthy project to develop and use RLOs

Congratulations to Sam Peach who got her doctorate published:

Peach, S. (2010) Understanding Curriculum in HE: A case-study, Saarbrucken: Lambert Academic Publishing.

and she also got a follow up published:

Peach, S. (2010) 'A curriculum philosophy for HE: socially critical vocationalism', Teaching in Higher Education, 15(4): 449--60.

Dr. Valerie Reardon (another 'newcomer', recent member of the Faculty) has been published. Her chapter is entitled ‘British Art in the Twenty-First Century’ and it’s in The Cambridge Companion to Modern British Culture eds. Michael Higgins, Clarissa Smith and John Storey. Cambridge University Press 2010.

Gareth is now a section representative as part of the Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group (PsyPAG) committee for a Coaching Psychology Group. As such he is keen to present events (e.g., conference/workshops/seminars) to all members and thus needs to be made aware of these

You wait for a conference invitation then 5 come along at once. Here is my schedule:

July 5-6 -- CREST conference in London. Meet and greet colleagues in GuildHE and do a quick (10 minute!) TED-talk on my research interest. I chose Bourdieu, the high aesthetic and the connection with 'deep learning'.

July 8 -- C-SAP e-learning conference, London. Discuss work undertaken as part of OER project and link it to discussions of pedagogy -- Bourdieu on rational pedagogy to be precise.

July 9 -- Faculty of Education Health and Welfare Research Day, Marjon, Plymouth. A talk on the RAE, REF and the Centre for Educational Research (which I head up). Tried a parody of modern school teaching practice to lighten the bad news I had to offer about Marjon's appalling position on various league tables.

July 13 -- Faculty of Sport, Media and Creative Arts Research Day, Marjon, Plymouth. I am MC for the day and I am also giving a paper on 'authenticity' and how we might research it.

July 19th -- C-SAP national half-day conference on assessment, Marjon, Plymouth.I helped organise this one too and I am giving a presentation on 'teaching to the test'

Dave Harris

Please find a link to the presentations from the 5th UK Coaching Summit which I had the pleasure of attending over the past 2 days.

http://www.sportscoachuk.org/index.php?PageID=6&sc=27&uid=1458 – not all the presentations are on the system yet but they should be loaded by next week.

If you have any questions about the materials then please let me know.

For your interest I attended the following workshops:

2b – Participant Development Theory - a very interesting presentation from Richard Bailey who reminded me of a cross between the actor Richards Griffiths and Ricky Gervais!! This was followed up by a presentation from Kelly Gordon from England Netball on how they are moving forward with the player development pathway.

3c – a rather dry presentation from Sue Jolly about innovative delivery in coach education. I personally thought it was more use with regards to the use of ICT to support coaching and not coach ed.

4d – This provided an update on progress with the coaching degree endorsement programme which Marjon is one of 6 pilot institutions involved. There is still some considerable progress needed to link the work of NGBs and their UKCC coaching courses with the curriculum delivered in coaching based degrees to enable a more streamlined and systematic/flexible approach to the delivery of coaching awards. UCP Marjon could play a key role in this work.

7b – A very interesting array of presenters and updates about the development of the UK coaching workforce. Andy Miles from UWIC, who I met at the previous conference in Glasgow delivered a short session looking at the TESCO club card scheme relating it to the work on knowing your coaching workforce!! Those like me, who have a club card did not need to have the scheme sold to them!! However those who either did not have a card, or never use it, were later seen in the nearby Tesco store signing up. Did you know there is an iphone/blackberry club card application on your phone!! Andy’s presentation/overview was supported by a very dynamic account from Equestrian Federation by Suzanne Genery and a less entertaining update from Transition Coaching and British Gymnastics.


Day 1

* Keynote B: UK Coaching System: Review of Progress since March 2009 and Outline of the Current Coaching Landscape
* Keynote C: Targeting Your Legacy Efforts: The Opportunities and Challenges Offered by 2012 (Awaiting final presentation)

Session 2

* Session 2a: Targeting Your Strategic Planning for the Legacy
* Session 2b: Participant Development: Theory to Practice (Awaiting final presentation)
* Session 2d: The Challenges and Opportunities of Coaching within a Paralympic Sport Environment (Awaiting final presentation)
* Session 2e: Good Governance in Coaching (Awaiting final presentation)
* Session 2f: Improving Performance through a Diverse (Ethnic) Workforce (Awaiting final presentation)

Session 3

* Session 3a: Who is your Coach? Regulating the Coaching Workforce
* Session 3b: World Cup Rugby: Learning from Experience
* Session 3c: Innovative Delivery in Coach Education: Issues and Solutions
* Session 3d: UK Coaching Certificate: The Journey (Awaiting final presentation)
* Session 3e: Managing Change: Experiences of Judo Scotland
* Session 3f: Meeting the Coaching Needs of Women (Awaiting final presentation)
* Session 3g: Making Apprenticeships of Coach Education (Awaiting final presentation)

Session 4

* Session 4b: Tennis' Engagement with the Education Sector (Awaiting final presentation)
* Session 4c: Getting Results from Coaches in Schools
* Session 4d: The Role of the Higher Education Coaching Advisory Group
* Session 4e: Coaching Matters - Scotland
* Session 4f: Connecting the Dots: The Impact of Coordinated coach CPD on Education and the Coaching Network
* Keynote D: Transferable Skills: How the John Lewis 'Partners in Sport' Programme is Bringing Coaching Skills into the Workplace (Awaiting final presentation)

Day 2

* Keynote G: Team Jessica Ennis: 2020 Vision

Session 7

* Session 7a: Coaching Workforce Auditing and Development Planning: Policy to Practice
* Session 7b: Who is Your Coach? Regulating the Workforce
* Session 7c: How to Make the Most 2012 Games Through Volunteering: Creating Local Games-Inspired Volunteering Opportunities on Recruiting Coaches
* Session 7d: Coaching Workforce in Partnership (Awaiting final presentation)
* Session 7e: Raising the Profile and Recognition of Coaching: Past Experiences and the Way Forward (Awaiting final presentation)


Overall 2 long enjoyable and stimulating days with lots of food for thought with regards to coaching in the UK and the role of UCP Marjon in achieving the government/Sports Coach targets of delivering a lasting Olympic Legacy and becoming the leading coaching nation in the world!!

From April 1st 2010 we became the new Faculty of Sport, Media and Creative Arts, and acquired some new colleagues, including Abimbola Alao. Abi has just published a book: The Goshen Principle:A Shelter in the Time of Storm, Lampo Education

DETAILS
Thousands of years ago, a group of people sojourned in a place called ‘The Land of Goshen’, in Egypt, where they experienced divine protection from deadly plagues and deliverance from slavery. According to history, certain supernatural events occurred in Goshen that cast a metaphoric spotlight on the name. In this book, Abimbola Alao explores the symbolism of Goshen and she draws significant parallels about how to experience God’s deliverance in every situation.


REVIEWS
“Abimbola Alao is a gifted teacher and storyteller who uses her skills to paint a picture with words. She finds powerful metaphors and illustrations that draw parallels for the present day and point us towards trusting in Christ for all we need.” Rev Ian Coffey MTh. Author and Broadcaster, UK

“The Goshen Principle is rich, rewarding and utterly compelling. It confirms Abimbola Alao as one of the major prophetic voices coming forth from the ‘Church’ in England.”
Anatu Ben-Lawal. Country Director, SIFE Ghana

“This is a book of practical assurance of God’s help and protection even when we appear to be in the darkest place. A good uplifting read!”
Paul Thompson. Chaplain, UCP Marjon, UK

“Abi is an inspirational writer. Her voice is clear, distinctive and fires the imagination.”
Martin Freeman. The Herald, Plymouth UK

“I was captivated by this book and read it at a single sitting. Abimbola Alao combines ancient and modern in a story that is as rich and compelling today as the original Goshen drama was thousands of years ago. The Goshen Principle will give hope and reassurance to those who search for true meaning and purpose in our turbulent, fallen world.”
Professor David Baker, PhD. Former Principal, UCP Marjon, UK

“As a navy officer, I spend many days at sea. However, in spite of my training and experience, there are times when I am full of apprehension, especially when we hit a storm. The Goshen Principle is a powerful reassurance that I have a refuge in the time of storm.”
Theo Faleye. Marine Engineer, The Royal Navy


About the Author
Abimbola Gbemi Alao is a lecturer at the University College Plymouth, St. Mark & St. John (UCP Marjon), in the UK. Besides her academic commitment, she is also a professional storyteller and playwright. Her short play, ‘Legal Stuff’, recently won the BBC and Royal Court ‘24 Degrees’ Writing Competition. She published her first fiction book, ‘The Legendary Weaver’, in 2003 and later translated eight children’s books for dual language publisher, Mantra Lingua.

Abimbola is the founder of Adura Ministries, a prayer and resource organisation based in the UK. In addition to prayer and outreach events, the ministry offers training and coaching on a variety of topics which include, creative evangelism, the role of the market place apostle, and practical application of the Goshen principle. Abimbola also contributes regularly to her local newspaper and she is a conference speaker and trainer.