WEEK I : 1st - 4th March 2016

I arrive London Heathrow airport at about 7pm on Sunday 28^th February 2016. I was pick up by my nice at the airport straight to my hotel (Queens Hotel, 122 church road, Crystal Palace, London) were I stay for one week. Accommodations in London are pretty expensive. On the 29^th February 2016, I was able to locate the University of East London, Docklands Campus, meet the receptionist and introduce myself.

 DAY 1

The following day Tuesday, 1^st march 2016, I arrived UEL (DOCKLANDS Campus) at about 11am. I met other Commonwealth Fellows physically for the first time. We met Kulvinder Kalsey at the reception office at 2pm. She gave us a temporary pass card to enable us access the university community and explore the environment. She took us to the library, filled some forms, scan and print our documents (international passport etc.). Madam Gurdish Sandhu went through the filled form and documents before signing them. We introduced ourselves and what we are doing to Gurdish (an interactive section sort of).

DAY 2

On Wednesday, 2^nd March 2016, I arrived at the University of East London @ 8:39am, went straight to the Hub room to wait for my fellow colleague. I bought coffee and snacks. @9am we took photograph with Kulvinder Kalsey at the Hub.

                               Kulvinder Kalsey (On suit) and commonwealth fellows

She took us to Gurdish Sandhu office. We had a one on one discussion with her and she later introduce us Commonwealth Fellows to the head of IT Service University of East London, Mr Andy Cook, we also introduce ourselves to him telling him what our job roles are and were we work in our various country. Mr Andy Cook welcome us warmly and we took photograph together with him and Gurdish Sandhu. We were introduced to other member of staff of IT Service Department, University of East London.

              Mr Andy Cook (middle), Gurdish Sandhu (far left) and commonwealth fellows

DAY 3

On Thursday, 3th March 2016, I arrive UEL@ 8:30am Docklands Campus, at the East Building room(EB.2.85). There was a coaching presentation by Mr. Cedrick Nosa (iCaTS Manager) on a topic; WORKING ETHICS. The need to always be on time, and if you are going to be late, let us know on time. Avoid calling people at night, if necessary and preferably send text.

He made us to realise that the aims of the presentation is to introduce and develop a wide range of transferable digital skill require to enhance our career. It is also to improve our productivity while on the job.

                                        Cedrick Nosa (middle) and commonwealth fellows

 

Kulvinder Kalsey gave us our identity card of the UEL as well created email account for easy communication. My email at UEL is A.Festus@uel.ac.uk

 

She also introduce to us European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) as analysed below:

 

Please find your ECDL course login details below:

 

Username:  BCS1099089 (BCS in CAPITALS)

 

Password:  xxxxxxxxxx (lowercase)

ECDL login Instructions:

1. After logging in open Internet Explorer or Firefox etc. browser

2. In the address bar type: www.ecdluk.enlight.net, press enter 

3. Type in your username, this normally starts with the letters BCS – see above

4. Type the word xxxxxxxx into the password box

5. Click on the drop down arrow beside your name on the right top corner of the page; select CATALOGUE.

 Once logged in you will have access to the learning material, the mock tests are the ones indicated by 'Diag' and exams. You need to score a minimum of 80% of you diag test in order to pass certification test to score minimum of 75%.

 

However, New ECDL package is designed to cover the basic but key concepts of computing and is structured around the 5 modules see below:

 1.     Presentation and the effective use of PowerPoint - Office 2013

2.     Improving Productivity using IT

3.     Spreadsheets Software - Office 2013

4.     Developing and using Database (Access DB) - Office 2013

5.     Project Management Software (MS)
ECDL Tutor-led session: https://uelac.sharepoint.com/ITServices/Pages/ECDL-Sessions-Timetable.aspx

Please let me know if you have any difficulties.

 To download Office 2013 on the tablet go to PLAY STORE and typing Office 365 in the search.

 To download Office 2013 on Windows or Mac device download from  https://login.microsoftonline.com/

 

DAY 4

FRIDAY 4^TH MARCH 2016 @9am, docklands library, Training room,

 

"CREATING OF BLOG USING WORDPRESS and BLOGGER"

We were introduce to use of blogger and wordpress, how to use blog to document all our activities which is like a report and the need to update our blogs daily so as not to miss out any vital details of our training and experience throughout our programme.

D.P. tripathi take us through how to create a domain name using the www.wordpress.com, giving a unique name for our blog. How to update the blog using the back end –admin as well as front end process.

 

At 2pm we had a meeting with Gurdish Sandhu at Sport Dock Room SD2.07. She take us through a Topic: DISCOVERY OURSELF (SELF DISCOVERY). She told us that self-discovery helps to do the following;

A model for Self-Awareness,

Personal Development,

Group Development and

Understanding Relationship 
 Using JOHARI WINDOW as a coaching tool

Johari Window is useful to enhance client’s Self Awareness, Self-disclosure, Self-discovery, establish current reality, self-development and Management Tool to understand team dynamics.

 

*what you known about yourself, you want others to see

*what other known you for but you don’t know (Blind spot)

*what you are hiding that others don’t known

*what you are yet to discovered about yourself (good or bad)

Known to self / what I see in me?                                  Unknown to self / What I don’t see in me?

Open /free area / Public arena Aspects of your life, you know and others know. You deliberately allow others to see these aspects.	Blind Spot Others know but you don’t e.g. you think you are a good leader but others don’t.   Coach can help discover blind spot through others, 360 feedback etc.
Private /Hidden You hide some aspects of your life from others, but you know it. You hide from others because they could be embarrassing or shameful. They can make you vulnerable or fearful     This require safe environment and trust to reveal in order to develop & address weaknesses	Unknown / Undiscovered self /unconscious This may include both aspects good as well as bad and may remain undiscovered.   Coach can help discover these through analysis and doing so may help you to use your potential for good or may help you to stay away from bad.

The bigger self-awareness window results in increased confidence, increased engagement & trust, better self-management and maximising your potential & productivity.

She gave us the following Assignment: write about your Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (fears).

ANALYSIS TOOLS

·       Pestle Analysis

·       Balance score card

·       Continuous Improvement

·       Suggestion box

The unknown area can be reduced in different ways: by others' observation (which include the blind area); by self-discovery (which include the hidden area), or by mutual enlightenment - via group experiences and discussion - which increase the open area as the unknown area reduces

VALUE EXCERCISE

We look at social power (control over others), pleasure, equality, Sense of belonging, reward, recognition, Humanly, an exciting life (stimulating experience), meaning in life (a purposeful life),wealth (material possession, money), creativity (uniqueness, imagination), social recognition(respect/approval by people).