Personal Learning Plan

This information is aimed at adults new to the Scouts, as well as those who have changed roles. It's designed to get you thinking about the training you may need to complete for your role.

This is a method of putting together your personal learning plan, which is module 2 of the training scheme, one of the requirements of Getting Started. It takes you through a simple four-stage process. You may wish to complete all four steps with a training adviser or attempt steps one and/or two yourself before discussing them with a training adviser.

1. Identifying the modules relevant to your role.
2. Deciding if you can do what is required.
3. Meeting and agreeing your plan with your training adviser.
4. Complete and review.

This information provides you with some tools to help you start thinking about what training you require for your role in the Scouts. Don’t be put off by the size of the Adult’s Personal File – it covers the modules for every role, not just your own, so there will be some you won’t have to do. If you're a section leader or assistant section leader you may wish to use the Adult’s Personal File for Section Leaders. You will find it useful to have read the information in the file on the training scheme before starting. If you're completely new to the Scouts, you may find it helpful to discuss the scheme with a training adviser, or to ask another leader in your Group, District or County/Area/Region (Scotland) to explain it to you.

• Before you begin this module you will need: a copy of your role description If you haven’t agreed a role description yet, speak with your line manager to agree one. Read some example role descriptions. Scotland-specific role descriptions can be found at www.scouts.scot/ 
  
  
• Personal learning plan template
  
  
• Personal learning plan template for Managers and Supporters
  
  
• Module Matrix

What you need for step one:

1. Your role description (as agreed with your line manager)
2. Personal learning plan template
3. Module Matrix
4. Module requirement pages (found in the Adult’s Personal File)

Using the Module requirement pages and colour coded Module matrix, identify which modules you are required to complete for your role.

Use your role description to identify any extra modules that you feel are relevant to your role, or any that you would find interesting to do. Enter the number of the modules that you have identified in the first column on your draft personal learning plan

What you need for step two:

1. Draft personal learning plan from step one
2. Module requirement pages (found in the Adult’s Personal File)

For this step you need to decide if you will be able to validate the module or whether you need any further learning and support to be able to validate the module.
For each module that you have added to your personal learning plan you need to:

•  Look at the module requirement page in the Adult’s Personal File and decide whether you need to do any further learning for that module. To help you decide, the module detail gives an explanation of what the module is about and what validation is
  required. Most modules have a check your knowledge section or some prompt questions for you to ask yourself. These should help you judge whether you have the right level of skill or knowledge to be able to validate the module.
•  On your draft personal learning plan in the ‘Learning Required’ column write ‘Yes’ if you have decided you need to complete further learning for that module or ‘No’ if you have decided that you are able to validate the module with no additional learning.
• For the modules you have decided you need to complete further learning for in the ‘Proposed Learning Method’ column write the way you wish to complete the learning.

To help you decide, the learning methods are set out on each module requirement page and are on the Module matrix.

If you’re unsure, put a question mark in either column so you can discuss it later with your training adviser. Remember to complete all the above steps for each module that you have put on your draft personal learning plan.

What you need for step three:

1. Draft Personal Learning Plan from step one
2. Module requirement pages (found on pages 24 - 116 of The Adult’s Personal File)

For this stage you will need to meet with your Training Adviser to finalise and agree your plan. This is also your opportunity to discuss any questions you have from steps one and two. Using your draft personal learning plan, agree with your training adviser the modules that are relevant to your role.

For each of these modules, discuss how you could either:

• acquire the skills for those things you cannot do, or
•  demonstrate in practice those things you can already do

At the first meeting you may not be able to agree the learning method, validation, and timescale for every module. It's suggested that you plan between six and twelve months ahead, taking into account any opportunities for validation or learning that may arise in that period. For modules for which you need to complete some learning, agree with your training adviser when and how this learning will take place. Remember that there are a variety of methods that you may be able to use to complete your learning. For modules which require validation, agree with a training adviser how, when and by whom they will be validated.
Keep in mind that it is not necessary for all of your modules to be validated by the same training adviser.

Enter the agreed planned completion dates for the next six to twelve months on your personal learning plan for the learning and validation sections where appropriate.

The personal learning plan is your formal record of completing the modules. Your personal learning plan is uploaded to the membership database, where it is stored and updated as you work through your training. The personal learning plan can be completed by your training adviser directly onto the membership database when you meet to agree your plan.
Producing and agreeing your personal learning plan with your training advisor validates Module 2: Personal learning plan.

What you need for step four:

1. Completed personal learning plan from step three

While you are working on your modules, make sure that each one you complete is validated on your personal learning plan on the membership database by the training adviser who validates it. At least once every six months review your progress with your training adviser and agree a plan for the next six months (you can use the process in step three to do this).
Once you have completed your personal learning plan you will need to agree your plan for ongoing learning with your line manager (ongoing learning is explained in the Adult’s Personal File). If you've gained your Wood Badge by completing your personal learning plan, this will be presented to you.