The Union Learning Climbing Frame*

The union learning climbing frame has at its core a holistic approach. This approach recognises that union learners have aspirations, skills and experiences which relate to all aspects of their lives: their current jobs, possible career routes and their personal situation. The climbing frame has been designed to support the interaction and transferability of skills and experiences.

The climbing frame is an electronic tool for ULRs and others who work with learners. A unionlearn* climbing frame has been produced for use by all ULRs. Unions can produce a bespoke version of the climbing frame to suit the needs of their members and the sectors in which they work

The climbing frame has 3 main functions.

• Information through the Learning themes section : To provide a 'one stop shop' source of up to date information and advice for ULRs about a broad range of learning opportunities. Each learning theme contains a library section, and a ULR* notes section where ULRs can store their own information.
• Action planning with learners through the learner management section: To enable ULRs to construct a personal climbing frame and action plan with learners which can be regularly reviewed and updated.
• Record keeping and data collection through the learner management section :
  • To enable ULRs to keep an ongoing record of who they have worked with, when and how often they have met, actions that have been agreed and implemented.
  • To provide unions and ULRs with aggregated information to illustrate the profile of their learners.

Design of the Climbing Frame

The climbing frame has 2 main sections: Learning themes and Union Learner Management.

Learning themes

The learning themes provide on-screen information about learning opportunities for union learners. In addition there are external links to relevant websites, and internal links to PDF files of key documents which are contained within the climbing frame. The climbing frame will support ULRs, project workers and other union officers to update and inform themselves on a broad range of learning themes and issues. All information can be printed.

The Climbing Frames are compiled by selecting up to 9 Learning Themes of which there can be 2 sorts.

1. Generic learning themes which provide the national information for that area of learning; these themes are written and regularly updated by union learn . There is a bank of generic themes.

2. Bespoke learning themes for each union, covering union and sector specific information; these themes will be written and regularly updated by individual unions.

Generic learning themes

• Information and signposting
• Learning and organising
• Learners with disabilities
• Skills for Life*
• Trade union education
• ICT*
• Learning for leisure - and personal development
• Higher Education
• Learning with unions - and sector specific information

Union Learner Management

The Learner Management section enables ULRs to construct a personal climbing frame and action plan with individual learners to help identify and access learning pathways. The ULR can:

• add a new learner and create union learner details records
• create a personal climbing frame and action plan with each learner which can be regularly reviewed and updated
• go to the climbing frame of a specific learner and review edit or delete union learner details

Records of each meeting are stored and can be updated after each discussion. At the end of each session a personal climbing frame and an action plan can be printed for the learner to use as they wish.

The climbing frames sit on unionlearn's server. ULRs will regularly upload learner information and a variety of reports can be produced.

All information is secure and each union with a bespoke climbing frame will have secure access to their own version of the climbing frame and the learner information generated by their ULRs. Training is being integrated into standard training for ULRs.

For further information contact Louisa Shaw lshaw@tuc.org.uk

Briefing document (700 words) issued 20 Sep 2007

EVENT - Accessing Higher Education in the Workplace - Project Dissemination
1 September 2010

CV Preparation workshop
9 August 2010

Local MP presents award to union learning project at Tristar Homes
5 August 2010

unionlearn
Congress House
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3LS

Telephone 020 7079 6920
Fax 020 7079 6921
Email ulweb@tuc.org.uk

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