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John Mitchell - Client testimonials
I'm really impressed. The case studies are so varied, interesting and concise.
Jill Slater, Swinburne University of Technology, TAFE Division
As a Learning Manager it is a perfect resource to use in PD with our staff. I really like the simple direct questions which form a great tool to use at workshops and for guiding professional discussions.
Laurie Miller, TAFE Tasmania
I have looked at EVERY PAGE. I am really impressed by the quality of what you have pulled together.
An essential development tool for anyone working in vocational education and training.
The articles cover the trajectory of VET in Australia. It is comprehensive and free flowing.
Nigel Paine, Head, People Development, BBC UK
The College Directors have asked me to order 50 copies of Ideas for Practitioners for them to use in working with their teams which I am really happy about…so you have strong endorsement for the publication!
Liz Harris, Challenger TAFE WA
I regard Ideas for VET practitioners as a MUST have resource for anyone working in VET who wants to be better informed about the changing context of VTE in Australia. This book fills a real gap in the market as it captures the authentic voices of VET practitioners who work in the front line trenches. Hearing of the daily reality of those who are seeing change as an opportunity to be innovative and creative will help to inspire others to think outside the organisational square. The inclusion of focus questions and facilitor guides means that this book can be used by individuals, groups of colleagues meeting for professional conversations or just about anyone interested in VET. This resource is just the answer, highly relevant, inexpensive and extremely readable.
Liz Renshaw, TAFE NSW South Western Institute
It will be so good to use the book with both the TAA delivery I am doing and other PD we want to promote this year. We will be running a variety of network forums for our lecturers and the articles will be ideal for stimulating conversation. The short-sharp articles followed by questions and topics for discussion are a ready-made PD in themselves. The further readings add even more depth to the topic for those who want to dig deeper. The introduction about how to use the book and the notes for facilitators at the end are the icing on the cake which make it a ready-made PD program.
We (Teaching and Learning) will be purchasing a set of 15 of your books to use in PD sessions. Our Director has also asked our Librarian to purchase copies to go in the library at each campus. Another suggestion is that it may be a text for the Grad Cert/Diploma in VET Leadership that will be commencing soon.
Margaret Gannaway, Challenger TAFE, WA
I finally got a chance to look through your book properly, and I must say that I am impressed with the range of issues that it covers and the thought-provoking questions that you have included - I'm sure they will help to create critical dialogue!
I'm confident that it will have immediate application for TAA learners, particularly the Units relating to the Learning Environment (TAAENV401A Work effectively in vocational education and training and TAAENV402A Foster and promote an inclusive learning culture) as well as units within the Learning Design stream.
As a facilitator of the TAA, I would use the case studies as tools for reflection and to promote discussion and for collaborative knowledge construction.
I really like the fact that they (the case studies) are both contemporary and challenging, while providing an at-times irreverent coverage of some issues that we tend to get too bogged-down in TAFE. It also lifts the discussion of some of the more mundane aspects to a higher cognitive level (i.e. rather than just discussing what the training reforms have been, learners are able to consider the implications of these reforms and hear of some creative applications of the reforms as well).
Hope the book sells well, and you can be sure that I'll be recommending it to relevant people.
Jess Chalmers, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute
I really like the advice in the How to use this book section that suggest that the ideas should be a springboard to discuss local issues, as this is where the real benefit will lie.
Notes for facilitators section – like that this section works for the range of facilitators in VET, from novice to really experienced. Novices can use it as a support, those more experienced as a starting point. Leaves the real power in the hands of the facilitators who should know their local patch and participants best. The facilitation strategies are useful, kind of leads to the opportunity for conversation and/or journal clubs. I know that these exist with great success in the uni research world. Each participant takes a turn at choosing an article, others read it as well, but lead participant extrapolates the local significance and leads the discussion/debate.
Like the inclusion of emotions as well as thoughts in the facilitation and change section. I’ve seen newish facilitators ignore this and keep to intellectual issues only, then wonder why there’s little buy-in or feeling of lack of satisfaction with the forum.
Like that together the readings encompass lots of theory without being a theory/text book but more living than that – examples of practice that are flavoured with theoretical concepts. Also has a sense not of preaching “this is what you should do” but more “these people are thinking/doing this stuff and maybe you could think/do some of it too after considering how it could best work where you are and for what you are trying”.
The range of topics, interviewees, organisations, local and international/public/private sectors etc reflects your opening statements about the scope and complexity of VET.
Sandra Lawrence, TAFE QLD
Click her to read John Mitchell's biography.
For detailed information about John's range of publications please visit the John Mitchell news page.
Order John's publications online here, or download the John Mitchell order form.
John Mitchell - Client testimonials
I'm really impressed. The case studies are so varied, interesting and concise.
Jill Slater, Swinburne University of Technology, TAFE Division
As a Learning Manager it is a perfect resource to use in PD with our staff. I really like the simple direct questions which form a great tool to use at workshops and for guiding professional discussions.
Laurie Miller, TAFE Tasmania
I have looked at EVERY PAGE. I am really impressed by the quality of what you have pulled together.
An essential development tool for anyone working in vocational education and training.
The articles cover the trajectory of VET in Australia. It is comprehensive and free flowing.
Nigel Paine, Head, People Development, BBC UK
The College Directors have asked me to order 50 copies of Ideas for Practitioners for them to use in working with their teams which I am really happy about…so you have strong endorsement for the publication!
Liz Harris, Challenger TAFE WA
I regard Ideas for VET practitioners as a MUST have resource for anyone working in VET who wants to be better informed about the changing context of VTE in Australia. This book fills a real gap in the market as it captures the authentic voices of VET practitioners who work in the front line trenches. Hearing of the daily reality of those who are seeing change as an opportunity to be innovative and creative will help to inspire others to think outside the organisational square. The inclusion of focus questions and facilitor guides means that this book can be used by individuals, groups of colleagues meeting for professional conversations or just about anyone interested in VET. This resource is just the answer, highly relevant, inexpensive and extremely readable.
Liz Renshaw, TAFE NSW South Western Institute
It will be so good to use the book with both the TAA delivery I am doing and other PD we want to promote this year. We will be running a variety of network forums for our lecturers and the articles will be ideal for stimulating conversation. The short-sharp articles followed by questions and topics for discussion are a ready-made PD in themselves. The further readings add even more depth to the topic for those who want to dig deeper. The introduction about how to use the book and the notes for facilitators at the end are the icing on the cake which make it a ready-made PD program.
We (Teaching and Learning) will be purchasing a set of 15 of your books to use in PD sessions. Our Director has also asked our Librarian to purchase copies to go in the library at each campus. Another suggestion is that it may be a text for the Grad Cert/Diploma in VET Leadership that will be commencing soon.
Margaret Gannaway, Challenger TAFE, WA
I finally got a chance to look through your book properly, and I must say that I am impressed with the range of issues that it covers and the thought-provoking questions that you have included - I'm sure they will help to create critical dialogue!
I'm confident that it will have immediate application for TAA learners, particularly the Units relating to the Learning Environment (TAAENV401A Work effectively in vocational education and training and TAAENV402A Foster and promote an inclusive learning culture) as well as units within the Learning Design stream.
As a facilitator of the TAA, I would use the case studies as tools for reflection and to promote discussion and for collaborative knowledge construction.
I really like the fact that they (the case studies) are both contemporary and challenging, while providing an at-times irreverent coverage of some issues that we tend to get too bogged-down in TAFE. It also lifts the discussion of some of the more mundane aspects to a higher cognitive level (i.e. rather than just discussing what the training reforms have been, learners are able to consider the implications of these reforms and hear of some creative applications of the reforms as well).
Hope the book sells well, and you can be sure that I'll be recommending it to relevant people.
Jess Chalmers, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute
I really like the advice in the How to use this book section that suggest that the ideas should be a springboard to discuss local issues, as this is where the real benefit will lie.
Notes for facilitators section – like that this section works for the range of facilitators in VET, from novice to really experienced. Novices can use it as a support, those more experienced as a starting point. Leaves the real power in the hands of the facilitators who should know their local patch and participants best. The facilitation strategies are useful, kind of leads to the opportunity for conversation and/or journal clubs. I know that these exist with great success in the uni research world. Each participant takes a turn at choosing an article, others read it as well, but lead participant extrapolates the local significance and leads the discussion/debate.
Like the inclusion of emotions as well as thoughts in the facilitation and change section. I’ve seen newish facilitators ignore this and keep to intellectual issues only, then wonder why there’s little buy-in or feeling of lack of satisfaction with the forum.
Like that together the readings encompass lots of theory without being a theory/text book but more living than that – examples of practice that are flavoured with theoretical concepts. Also has a sense not of preaching “this is what you should do” but more “these people are thinking/doing this stuff and maybe you could think/do some of it too after considering how it could best work where you are and for what you are trying”.
The range of topics, interviewees, organisations, local and international/public/private sectors etc reflects your opening statements about the scope and complexity of VET.
Sandra Lawrence, TAFE QLD
Click her to read John Mitchell's biography.
For detailed information about John's range of publications please visit the John Mitchell news page.
Order John's publications online here, or download the John Mitchell order form.
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