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Happy new year and welcome to the January edition of Get Connected! This issue includes an introduction to our new Head of Service, details of digital learning at MAES, a feature on our recent Makaton course for Council colleagues, and a report on the benefits of lifelong learning.
Welcome from our new Head of Service
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“My name is Brian Henry and I am extremely proud to have been appointed as the new head of Manchester Adult Education Service. I have over thirty years’ experience in education & training where I have taught and led in Adult Education, University, Sixth Form and general Further Education institutions.
My subject specialism is Computer Science; however, I also have a wide range of experience in leadership, teaching, learning & assessment, curriculum, quality and successfully navigating Ofsted inspections.
I really look forward to meeting everybody in person in the coming weeks.”
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Digital learning
MAES are switching from paper-based teaching and learning to digital. This has reduced our impact on the environment and also gives our learners greater flexibility regarding how and when they learn.
In our centre-based classrooms all learners are able to use:
- Chromebooks - simple but effective laptops designed with education in mind (with the option of borrowing one to study at home, subject to eligibility and availability)
- Their own Google Workspace account with apps such as Google Docs, Meet, Gmail, Calendar, unlimited storage and so much more…
- Public WiFi in our centres
- Online learning via Google Classroom
- And of course our teachers will continue to teach using all the wonderful non-digital methods such as paper and pens!
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Do you have low digital skills? Please don’t worry - when you join our courses you get a full digital skills induction and all the support you need.
Makaton & Communication Strategies course
Just before Christmas, we held our first in-person Makaton & Communication Strategies at Abraham Moss Centre. Kareem, from Disability Supported Accommodation Services, asked us to facilitate a bespoke employer session for his team working with adults with communication difficulties. Their team and MAES tutors from our STEP programme came together for this one day event which was a huge success!
Some learner comments were:
“I now feel confident using basic signing - this will be useful when communicating with anyone who has communication difficulties.”
''This course has made me understand myself better than before; how to respect each other's opinion, taste and preferences without judging them.”
“The course had a great impact on me as I have learned a lot about Makaton and communication strategies today. I am very excited and grateful.”
Learning is good for you!
A recent report from the Learning and Work Institute has highlighted the importance of adults having secure maths, English and digital skills.
From the report: “Participation in basic skills learning results in a range of positive personal and social outcomes for adult learners, including improved self-esteem and well-being, as well as supporting learners to access better quality work, including increased job satisfaction, pay and security.”
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At MAES, we’re proud to watch all our learners develop and progress. They find employment, help their children with schoolwork, grow in self-confidence and become more independent; learning with us clearly has such a positive impact on their lives.
We’ve got lots of basic skills courses starting soon so please see our website for more details or call 0161 219 6733 to make a face-to-face appointment.
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