We may lose a few readers here but what the heck. My work has been on Adult Education particularly Recognition of Prior Learning in the Volunteer Emergency Services. Specifically:

Predictability of an organisations formal practices based on the organisations position on a Mechanistic/Organic continuum.

Shelley

Hey Shelley,
well, i'm still with ya, i think... um, so, if i may try to put this in my own simple words (i just woke up...). As i read this, your study deals with how the volunteers recognize what to do when facing a particular problem, based on previous experience of dealing with that problem... mechanistic extreme would be if evertime the response to that problem is identical, the other end of the spectrum is when the approach develops according to the circumstances?
(correct me if i get this wrong) ....
Looks like very important work, understanding this helps get the emergency services to function more effectively, right? wow... and here i am with all my obscure medieval subjects.... *makes a deep bow to Shelley*

... Later today i'll post an intro to my phd proposal... see if anyone wants to comment... (i'm stuck with it and have less than two days to figure it out...  ) Now i'm going to finish breakfast and get to church to pray for a miracle!

later!
Alex

(PS how off-topic is this!? if the moderators want to split the thread, please do... for me I can't distinguish very well between the sort of creativity needed for scholarship and that for poetry,   and can't live without either...)

Nice try but no cigar.

It's about how an organisation recognises the past skills of new members. The continuum is from mechanistic (hierarchical) to organic (democratic). Those that are mechanistic employ a role culture (Handy) which is very rigid and requires new members to match exactly the skill set required. While the organic look at what the individual brings to the organisation and provides traing only to bring the individual up to the required level.

RPL is very important as time is very important to volunteers and all have some life experience that should be recognised.

Shelley

ah, now I see, thanks for the explanation. Again, great work, Shelley. I'm just online for a few minutes now, so I will keep this short. Will post my research stuff later...
later!
Alex

PS Shelley, don't you love it? we're anomalies on the space/time continuum!!!   *winks at Cassie*

Ugh, sigh, yawn... third night in a row without sleep... but the research proposal is now finished and i'm happy with it... too tired to tell you what it's about right now... will do after i get some sleep (i.e. when I get home from work today...)
I must be mad to do this....

anyone who sees this post, please pray for me to whatever higher power you believe in... that i get the phd position. it's the only one for my subject in the country...

thanks

love to all,
Alex the very sleepy unicorn


Edited to say:waking up this morning i can;t believ i posted that...I will remove this post later today and replace it with a proper one...there are more important things in life than this position... honest i'm not worried about whatever the outcome... will post a message w/ the actual content of what i'm working on.... cheers Alex

Good luck Alex,

I posted my Thesis to the Printers today. So within a couple of days it should be in the hands of the examiners. I thought I would dread this part but I know in my heart I have put in the work and the finished products adds to the knowledge on the subjest. Just hope the examiners see it that way .

Shelley

Shelley,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!  Sending your thesis to the printers is a fantastic accomplishment.  I am so incredibly happy for you!

If you are willing, I would like to read your thesis!  First, I am an educator and would love to hear what you have to say.  Second, I have students who volunteer with the local ambulance and fire department.  Lastly, I do volunteer emergency services! 

Chaunte

I don't remember.  Are you working towards your Masters or PhD?

Hey Shelley!
Congratulations!!!! Exciting times for you! When will you get results?

Okay, so I promised to explain what I am working on... i'll try to be brief, maybe i won;t alienate all our readers:

My research is on the twelfth century... theology, if and how that was influenced by views on gender difference....

[Edited to remove all details,it just occurred to me that someone on the committee might try to google terms from my PhD proposal...]

...

I think that's enough to put our readers to sleep.

cheers
Alex

It wouldn't put all of your readers asleep Alex.  It could be interesting to see a synopsis of your paper to understand the tack you approach this with.

Sarah

Hey Sarah Louise,
thanks for your interest... I'm still in the early stages of the research and part of my plan for the first year will be to figure out exactly what my approach will be. There is no ready made model for how to analyse this, so i'll have to make one.
I can pm a short draft version of the proposal to you if you like, and anyone else who'se interested.
Alex

Thank You Alex, I would love to see more on the subject.  I have studied many different religions and views over the years.

Sarah

Your so sweet Chaunte,

I will email it to you and I would think that your local volunteers would find it quite interesting.

Shelley