Ben Chapmans' Enviro-blog

While others try to frantically cram for thier exams, I prefer...

Wed, 26 May 2010 09:58:38 +0100

While others try to frantically cram for thier exams, I prefer the method where you go to the library, open your books/laptop and pretend to revise… It makes you feel clever and works right up to the point until you enter the exam abd realise that you know nothing…..

The best things in life are free! - was part of a gift from some...

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:00:55 +0100

The best things in life are free! - was part of a gift from some customers where I work! The peppermint one is lovely!!!

Work Based Learning: The New Degree??

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:24:37 +0000

Work based learning has become well established and has gained popularity all over the world. However, there seems to be a considerable lack of clarity with the concept. The british government are still adamant that the way forward is to cram 50% of young people into university courses by 2010. However, I strongly believe that this policy is setting the next generation of adults to fail; starting their grownup lives with an average of just under £20,000 of debt. Is this drowning the university degree into insignificance through over subscription?

I’ve had my share of institutional education. But would I still be the same person if I hadn’t had worked part-time jobs? Or gained work experience in my chosen career path? Over the years, I have worked for a number of companies and organisations:

Cafe pot wash: easy work and gained pocket money for bubblegum and penny whistles…..and……stuff (aged 15)

Insurance company: loads of different roles throughout college. Met lots of people, never been better paid, good hours and several promotions…… After three years I got bored and left to work at a……

Pub: oh yes!!! The pub was an exercise in developing my charisma from the demented door-mouse that I was to a more approachable and professional worker. Pay sucked, hours sucked, customers were drunks and the manager didn’t give a toss… but on the upside I was a bit happier and introduced me to student culture; drink some beer, get a hangover, then drink some more!!

Work experience for an environmental charity: got some contacts, developed some of my existing skills. Learnt techniques in auditing, understood a lot more about how businesses are run, especially those on a tight budget. Volunteering is a good resource for businesses as they are a free, eager source of workers

The crucial role of a learning is to customize the program of study around the students career aspirations; while I worked in an office for an environmental charity, I gained the skills and experience that I felt would be most suitable need to secure a good job in the environmental sector. According to Candy and Crebert (1991), there is a growing gap between higher education and workplace expectations. One of the main criticisms that employers make of their new graduate employees is that they tend to emerge from university with their heads full of theories, principles and information but are often ill-equipped to deal with aspects of the workplace such as problem solving, decision making, working in a team, and interpersonal relationships. As a result, the new graduate entering an unfamiliar work setting is commonly confronted with “reality shock” (Arnold, 1985). I firmly believe that the experience gained from work based learning is of more value to me in the future than writing an academic paper.

I am also a strong believer that experience is a large factor that directly affects charisma and confidence. Shifting from an educational institution to a busy ‘nine to five’ career can be very alienating, often reducing the individuals confidence and creating a negative feeling towards the company or colleagues. Team work is a prime example of how confidence must be at a high when commencing with a career. When working in groups, it is important to stand forward and express some ideas, otherwise you may risk falling behind on work, compromising the project and potential contracts, and falling out with colleagues due to your ‘lazy work ethic’.

The majority of my personal work experience was gained from two companies; one was an insurance company for which I worked evenings; I did this efficiently and it gained me the confidence of my team leaders and fellow twilight workers. Afterwards, I worked for a Pub Co. This job role was paid less, had unsociable hours and occasionally required a firm hand when dealing with intoxicated customers and anti-social behavior. However, it was a job that I thought would ‘bring me out of my shell’ as mundane and repetitive office work had taken it’s tole on my social skills.

So not everything can be learnt in the classroom; Many large companies require more than just a list of paper qualifications. Cv’s are becoming more about experience and extra-curricular based activities, and graduates are often having to take extra work experience to add extra credits to their Cv’s.

Lower your carbon footprint and save money? Part 1

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:52:24 +0000

Food Co-ops - not to be mistaken for the supermarket chain, can work on a number of levels with unlimited available members. The idea behind them is to buy in bulk, from ethical sources, divide into potions, and resell at cost price. Everything is done voluntarily and often takes place in some musili eating vegans’ front room. Anything which is ethically sourced is available; so long as there is a demand.

Most food co-ops will sell the following:

Cerials, Grains and Flakes
Canned Foods
Cerial Produce
Dried Fruit
Sugar, Coffee, Tea, Cordials, Juices, Dairy Alternatives, Spreads
Oils, Sauces and Condiments
Sweets
Toiletries and Cleaning Materials

Of course, on top of these co-ops, you could find a local meat supplier for the occasional Sunday roast, a veg box scheme or very good green grocer with local seasonal produce. They’re not all vegan groups (but most specialize in that area).

To find your nearest food Co-op, have a look on foodcoops.org

Community gardens - are generated and run for a number of...

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:37:23 +0000

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Community gardens - are generated and run for a number of reasons. It could be for inner city communities don’t have a lot of open space, a place to learn, meet with the community and take part in educational projects.

Ropewalk Community Garden in central Southampton does all of the above. Surrounded by housing and located in one of the souths most diverse areas, the garden acts as a meeting point for…..oh, never mind, I’ll let Gavin Marsh explain it for me!

Ropewalk is the perfect example of a successful community project. It is going from strength to strength and is even introducing new educational projects such as a greenhouse and raised vegetable beds; made entirely from recycled materials.

Video

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:34:14 +0000

Incineraters have such a bad name. They’ve got a really...

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:42:40 +0000

Incineraters have such a bad name. They’ve got a really bad name. This is marchwood energy recovery facility near Sourhampton. Develops 16mw and has really tight emmisions restrictions! I honestly thought they were alot worse but supprisingly cleaner burning than you think!

Most frustrating 24hrs of my life!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:28:24 +0000

Only Another 24hrs left until the internet is connected to my flat. from thereon, benchapman.me will be updated almost daily… I promise!! right now, I am in a very dreary Solent Uni I.T centre. I have no money with me because I forgot my wallet, I have a field trip to an incinerator this afternoon…..FUN! and almost certainly a hectic evening, either acting as technical support to my dad, or cleaning a flat which will not co-operate!!

Last thursday I took part in a survey of the solent (around...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:23:00 +0000

Last thursday I took part in a survey of the solent (around Southampton waters). Data was collected, tea was drunk and biscuits were devoured. The Data collected will be analysed tomorrow and hopefully i’ll have a nice factual blog post for you by the end of the weekend!!

Here are some of the photos of our day out. there were five of us on the universities survey cat; three students, technician and a pilot. A really good day out and hopefully a successful field study report will follow…

Did You Go To A Festival Last Year?

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Did You Go To A Festival Last Year?

Hello Tumblr!

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This is the Home of a new Blog, from Ben Chapman; a Geography and Environmental studies student from Southampton, UK.

the aim of this blog is to continue my learning through blogging, discussing and sharing environmental views, statistics and updates of my day to day life.

Today is my twenty first birthday……this is both a good and a bad thing:

The good things:

I am going out this evening for dinner with my friends
This morning i got lots of cards from my family.
I feel a little older.
I suppose a little wiser too.

The Bad things:

I have only eight weeks of Uni left!

To many that would seem a good thing unless (like me) you havn’t been doing enough work up until now……in which case you are bricking yourself in anticipation for the sheer amount of work that you have to do from now until that joyful summer afternoon when you finish your last exam and realise you are free!

oh Joy!…….

my aims for this blog is to post something meaningful every week and update every now and then with a pretty picture and possibly a couple of video blogs.

here’s hoping for a good year and a good blog!

Ben