Reporting Skills and Professional Writing Training; A Report

Introduction:

This report gives information about the completion of 5-day long reporting skills and professional writing training at Empowerment and Learning Development center (ELD).

ELD is right place for such types of trainings. ELD is UK based organization and continuously providing such trainings in Nepal since 2000. The training was held at ELD's office, jawalakhel from 22nd to 26th June 2009. There were 18 participants from different organizations. The training hall was away from the direct disturbance and can accommodate the participants well. The training materials provided are unique. The training includes Participatory, Learner-centered, Interactive / lively and Task-based / practical methods.

This report contains
• Day to day Course Management
• Teaching methodology
• Management of Food for participants
• Conclusion

Day to day Course Management:

The course is well managed. Entire course is divided in different headings according to different process during writing. Separate day is chosen for separate headings. Three days is spent just with thinking, analysis and planning while the last two days for drafting and editing reports.

Day-1:
It starts with brief introduction of the course and the participants. Then objective of the writing is set and day ends with the knowledge of various methods of data collection: survey, interview, desk study, observation, focus group discussion and case study.

Day-2:
This day is all about data analysis. First Quantitative data analysis through charts and diagrams and secondly qualitative data analysis through clustering, sub clustering and mind mapping.

Day-3:
This day we talked of writing skills; different tools to make our writing clear, reader friendly and effective; organization and principles while writing paragraph.

Day-4:
This day is allotted for planning and drafting the report.

Day-5:
Whole session is ended with drafting conclusions and recommendations, editing and review of course.

Teaching Methodology:

Teaching methodology employed in the training is effective. Each day was divided into two shifts: morning shift and afternoon shift. Each shift is also divided by short breaks. The training is handled by two resource persons. To maintain continuous attention of the participants several games are played in between the sessions. Every session includes lots of discussions and practical works. Some discussions are individual based while others are group tasks. To make more clear one case study is given at the starting session of day-2 and whole process of writing is done with the same case. During the course, a brief introduction to use software applications like mind manager, MS word and the use of internet to calculate clarity of writing is also discussed. Hands out of each session is given at the end of the day.


Management of Food for participants:


The management of food for the participant is also good. Each day started with the breakfast containing tea/coffee, biscuits and fruits. The breaks during the session also include refreshments. Variety of dishes is served in Lunch including meat/fish for non-veg. every alternate day. Clean utensils and friendly environment during meals is appreciative.

Conclusion:
The training all in all is effective and fruitful. This training is sure to change the writing skills of the participants. The participants are able to differentiate between academic writing and professional writing by the end of whole session. The presentation of the edited version of reports of different groups concludes that the training has developed skills in their writing.