RSNO Takeover 2014, Day 2: Learning and Engagement

RSNO Takeover is an intensive two-day work experience project which took place at the RSNO Centre on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 June 2014. Cara Stewart, Jenny Alexander and Elizabeth Barke, who have been working in the Learning and Engagement department describe their experiences on the second day of the programme.

Cara Stewart – Airdrie, North Lanarkshire 

Today myself and the rest of the Learning and Engagement team went to a local primary school to carry out the two workshops we worked on yesterday. We had a workshop with the theme of animals for Primary 2 and 3 and a workshop with the theme of commonwealth for Primary 5 and 6. Every class was completely different, some classes a lot harder to work with than others due to behaviour. We received feedback sheets from each of the classes and all comments were positive, the children particularly enjoyed making an advert for the commonwealth games. I have really enjoyed my time in this department and I have learned lots of new skills that will be very useful in the future.

Elizabeth Barke – Highlands

We went to Glasgow Gaelic School to present our workshops to the classes. The classes were of a varied ability which was good as it allowed us to use the different skills we had learnt the previous day – for example different ways to get the classes to be quiet. When the school's day was finished we came back over to the RSNO base and prepared our presentation for the concert later that night. I have loved working with the Learning and Engagement team. I have really enjoyed learning new skills that I will hopefully benefit from later on in life.

Jenny Alexander – Blackwood, South Lanarkshire

For the second day of work experience in the Learning and Engagement department we had to go into the Gaelic primary school and present the workshops we had planned on the previous day. We had classes of P2, P3, P5 and P6. For the two younger years, we decided on an animals theme and for the two older years the Commonwealth Games as it is relevant to them so close to the start of the games in Glasgow. The classes were all varied in age, ability, language (as for many their first language is Gaelic, especially the young years) as well as behaviour and mannerisms. However although these variations were at points in the day challenging, they all proved to be extremely effective and useful in developing each of our skills in presenting our workshops throughout the day, and I can safely say I am looking forward to using these skills to organise and present workshops of my own back at school. The feedback we received from the pupils and the teachers from today were all extremely positive and encouraging – the pupils particularly like the drama and songs we came up with. Over the two days’ work experience I have learned a range of new skills which I look forward to using and developing further as well as making many new friends that I hope I will maintain contact with.

Cara, Elizabeth and Jenny are part of the RSNO's Takeover scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Takeover participants belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.