I found this page on Facebook, it had 21,100 fans (far more than many degree related pages), and many of the comments on it were about exam stress, a lack of engagement in subject matter AND most concerningly a view that the degree is lacking in value.

This should be a wake up call for all those who value and care about higher education. It is not a sufficient response to say “Bah Students are never satisfied!” -  and I am sure that there will be those who will remark in this way.

The key, to my mind is to understand what underlies these negative thoughts and rather than brushing them off. To seek to challenge ourselves as providers, supporters and advocates of tertiary education to understand them.

The idea that “We shall build it and they will come” was appropriate previously but in the current and future digital environment where students link up via tools such as friendfeed, facebook and twitter, and have access to more information on courses and universities than institutions could possibly marshall, there is a need to understand the needs of the student body in terms of learning style and engagement.

In no way do we advocate the simplification of subjects, materials or the intellectual challenge which are key reasons why we study what we study. It is our responsibility to understand how technology can be adopted and adapted, not just through the use of Virtual Learning Environments or ejournal platforms, but fundamentally into how courses are designed, presented and assessed.

The approach (and this, to us at Reference Tree, is non-negotiable) must hold the concept of reading for a degree as an intellectual and academic exploration of a subject at its core. Studying the why leads to enhanced understanding and new techniques and approaches, studying the how leads to repetition and perhaps some refinement.

Within the UK Higher Education space there are frustrations, and pages such as this one provide an insight into the thoughts of students about their course as they happen rather than after the fact proxy analysis based on exam results.

Our suggestion is to not only rely on satisfaction surveys or polls but to ask the question “Do we really know the level of engagement of students on their courses?” and answer it through supplementing formal attitudinal research with the less formal, more freeflowing and in many cases more accurate attitude barometers represented by the page above.

While sitting at the table at a very good Mexican fast food joint in Angel, I was munching into their delicious totopos (Tortilla chips with beans, cheese, roasted vegetables, guacamole…) while discussing the fascinating world of Eyes.

Our discussion centred on the importance of continuous learning and education. Although my friend, (and champion and supporter – Thank You!) had just successfully completed a set of qualifying exams she had already started to consider how to continuously up her skills and knowledge levels.

Whilst there are those whose reaction to the completion of professional exams is a big sigh of relief, it’s those whose thirst for knowledge is only partially parched that will go on to lead their field.

So how to quench this thirst?

The thought we had was as follows, to share the knowledge gained with a motivated group of professionals who can all contribute their brain power to investigate and diagnose conditions whilst continuing their professional education. The mechanics of this and the tools needed are everywhere from the required discussion fora to the means to share imagery and run conference calls. All that is required are the motivated professionals whose views of the field go beyond their consulting rooms.

This approach is not just limited to one field…so if you know of any successful models in this vein (sorry) then email us at info@reference-tree.com

To share knowledge is the learn from it, to learn from knowledge to is develop and through developing one can find new avenues and thoughts to further enhance one’s knowledge.

Collaboration, discussion, knowledge sharing = the new continuing professional development.

Reflecting on the last week, I realised that we always, though not consciously, make choices on what levels of information we require and importantly, what levels and quality of information we think­ others need from us.

Whilst speaking and communicating with potential investors, depending on the type (known), risk appetite (unknown but guessable), funding potential (unknown but figure out able) of the investor, we have to make a decision regarding what to say and how to say it. This is where listening to others is absolutely key, for its not the questions they ask, but the way in which the questions are posed which speaks volumes about their prevailing viewpoints.

Its all a learning process, but a key lesson is that one has to listen out for the ‘meta conversation’.

‘Meta conversation’ = The conversation about the conversation.

The ‘meta conversation’ makes itself known through signals and visual clues, rarely is it spoken, it appears through intonation, speed of elocution and volume. Someone you are talking to keeps your gaze for the whole time, speaks clearly and openly? They are engaged…they look around and try to glance at the clock above your head, while batting back incomplete answers to your questions? Time to get to the point or politely walk!

The meta conversation….bear it in mind, for its not what you say but how you say it that influences my belief in you and consequently changes my information requirements.

….would be a lot harder if it was easy

Reference Tree has been growing over the past few weeks and months, and with it I (amil) have been growing too. From a team of 1 we now have about 8 working full/part time on the Reference Tree. Each one has talent and skills beyond what I bring to the party!

Each day is a new challenge and learning experience, (which is good given we are an Education company).

If I got a dollar for each time someone said to me, “running your own company, why would you do something like that?” I would have a few dollars rolling around my pockets. But why do I do something difficult?

Because its the choice I choose to make.

Its your call every time. Do you do the easy thing, not look for the game changing opportunity, continue that work around because thinking of a new way to do it just is too much effort, or do you take the challenge and work to make what you see as the right way happen?

Interestingly – the question arises, if you take the easy way, and the alternative is to try a little harder, do you get to increase your moaning rights?

I bet many a person would get indignant that they can’t increase their moaning rights….let them, just don’t let them see the big yellow ear plugs you are wearing…

Enjoy and relish the challenges for one day you will be challenged no more.

I have just been chatting with friends who are all heading to or are just starting bachelors and masters programmes, and what struck me is the genuine excitement and motivation to go to University to party (of course) but mainly to study their chosen subjects.

These are individuals who have read much wider than school needed them to, worked harder at work (experience) than their peers to be able to truly understand the subject area they are moving into. The passion is tangible and for someone excited about learning their attitudes are inspiring.

But sometimes, when we get to university we lose sight of the core motivations we had to study, but why?

• Is it the partying?
• is it a worry about the financials?
• the intimidation of having to self-manage one’s time, one’s reading and studying?

I think its the latter, as the partying is important, and I think that whether one’s wallet is fully loaded or empty, financials are a constraint (More on this later). The reason its Time, is that it is so easy to miss a reading or a lecture/seminar. Having missed one, perhaps by accident, we give ourselves permission to miss another. The permission can turn into further permission to miss a course. The short term gain of coffee with friends or a lie in is wonderful…the longer term aaarrrgh factor is the mouse, that grows into an aardvark, that grows into the elephant of unread course material combined with looming deadlines in a corner of the room.

So we need to determine how to manage one’s time so that we can read, we can study and party hard too (remember that is really important!).

There is plenty of stuff out there to support learning about time management, some write to do lists on their hands (or write with a biro on a banana), stick notes on walls, or use something like tada lists. I would recommend you invest in either a time management course or work your way through this book, which has excellent tools and techniques for making your time more efficient, effective and more fun.

Next time the choice arises between the lecture or the lie-in, remember bed will be there in an hour…but the opportunity to learn may not.

I have just had a great conversation with a potential publishing partner, the representatives on the phone were interested in the concept and stated that they look forward to seeing it happen as we move forwards. The impressions I obtained, was that there is a belief that this is a good concept.

At this stage, a belief is what one has, but it is through the understanding of the execution that you know what you have is good. To all of the publishing partners who agree with the great people I speak to about the idea, I say thank you for your belief in Reference Tree.

Now begins the fun part, turning that belief into a knowing not just a gut feel “I get it” or “sounds good”, but to make it into a tangible product.

Its time to Make It Happen

Interactive Mix Limited’s Aaron Savage spent a couple of hours with myself (Amil) and Nayan (the Intern) yesterday. He took us through how he would recommend that we market Reference Tree, and how, something not explained too well elsewhere, the various types of marketing one can do interacts with the various stages of the customer acquisition process.

Our minds were filled with insight, and our feet light, as the marketing concepts we arrived with were removed from our consciousness by a skilled orator and a man who makes sense and has true ability!

There are those that feel they market when they are advertising and there are those who generate the market – Aaron is most certainly the latter.

Check out Aaron’s site at http://www.interactive-mix.com/