Pathways Badges

In the Pathways program you receive badges when you reach learning milestones; these are displayed in your Eportfolio in Base Camp. I recently completed another Path and went looking for the new badge. That’s great – I can now share these badges in my Personal Eportfolio.

This WordPress blog is my preferred site for my Eportfolio to showcase and reflect on my Pathways achievements. You will notice that a new Page has been added to my Blog site designated as my Pathways Eportfolio.

Following on from my previous post, I am recommending a few easy steps to creating your own Pathways Eportfolio. If you want a more in depth learning opportunity you can visit the EPCOP google site, the Eportfolio Community of Practice Learn Space, one of my projects from long ago.

Planning your Pathways Eportfolio

Step 1: Determine where you wish to share your Pathways achievements

For instance you may have your own blog site, website or social media presence. The choice will depend on who you wish to share with and how interactive you want to be with your viewers.

• If I post to a Blog, like this one, viewers can leave a comment. I can choose to approve its publication to the site and to reply to the poster.
• If I post to a website like this old Eportfolio from the past, then there is no interaction enabled or expected, its just there.
• If I post to my social media presence, such as my Timeline in Facebook or my Account in LinkedIn, the format is somewhat limited but I can get more networking.

What I recommend is that you create a separate Page in your Blog and invite your followers to view it from a Blog post like this one. The linking process is made simple in WordPress by enabling you to link to any other part of the Blog site from a drop down list. Most Blog platforms provide you with the ability to create Pages and provide lessons on how to do it. Please visit my Pathways Eporfolio page here.

Note: If you don’t have a Blog site you may wish to try out the Google Sites as the tool for constructing your Pathways Eportfolio in easy steps. There are many online video tutorials on how to set up Google Sites, available in YouTube. This recent video tutorial from TeacherCast, provides a great introduction to creating a Google Site.

Step 2: Determine how you wish to add the content about Pathways

If you follow a Reflective Practice process this task becomes quite straightforward.  If you have already prepared and delivered the Reflect on Your Path project you can use the outline of that for your content.

• Describe the Path and its objectives – add your reasons for choosing the Path
• List the Electives you chose and why – the level of detail here is up to you
• Provide a list of the outcomes of your projects – the tangible evidence of your work
• Analyse the impact of lessons learned from your experiences – provide thoughts on Evaluations
• Give a brief conclusion about your experiences – synthesize what you could have done differently
• Describe your forward plans – helps to articulate your next steps in Pathways

Step 3: Determine the most appropriate and convenient times for sharing your Pathways Eportfolio

Step 4: Revisit your Pathways Eportfolio and add more reflections as your progress.

It began for me, about a year ago. The PQD for District 73 sent out an invitation to Toastmasters who wanted to be Pathways Guides for clubs in areas close to them. Now, my location, spans two Districts – 70 on the NSW side of the border and 73 on the Victorian side of the Murray River. Clubs in Areas Monaro 34 and Northern 29 were all familiar to me – I had been an Area Director in both – and I felt sure that I could continue to support them all.

Eight to Ten clubs were to be supported for recognition as a Guide over a six month period – from September 2017 to February 2018, and rollout for us in Region 12 was scheduled for December 5.

Brick Wall 1: 18 Tasks

As a Pathways Guide I was required to jump over a number of hurdles in gaining completion of my online learning modules. This was a strange an unfamiliar process and one that did not sit right with me from the start; I knew that reading a plethora of 18 online resources did not constitute effective training for me. Where was the opportunity to practice meaningfully before launching into my role as a Guide? Everything was lock step – that is – each component in the learning modules needed to be completed in sequence.

I persevered, knowing that this was my path to becoming a Guide and achieving another award towards my third DTM.

Brick Wall 2: No Entry

I felt like I was leading in the dark for those early months – without yet having access to Base Camp before rollout I relied on my colleagues who had experience already. There were a few of my international Toastmaster friends who had taken the plunge and joined clubs (in districts where rollout had commenced) as virtual members. They were my targetted support team – I could go to them and ask for help.

Julie Kertesz in District 91 in the UK was one of the first to ‘showcase’ her Path Projects in Base Camp. A snapshot that gave me the insight I needed to feel confident in my support for others. Thanks Julie.

Break Through 1: One Path Complete

Once rollout commenced, I was poised and ready to select my Path. I had done my homework and determined what was the best Path to start with. I chose Effective Coaching, even though the Base Camp system had suggested Strategic Relationships. I put that one aside to do next.

I thought that Effective Coaching projects best suited my planned goals and projects for the first half of 2018. It felt really great as I completed each project and proceeded to the next in Base Camp. Each new project opened up more possibilities for me to grow.

Completion of my first level was cause for a celebration and I was happy to download my first Level Completion Certificate.As each level was completed I was learning new skills and expanding my leadership horizons  – the experience of those first six months was exhilarating. It felt like I was on the top of the mountain looking back on the pathway I had successfully traveled.

Brick Wall 3: Guiding Others

Nine months had passed since I first embarked on my Pathways journey! I had written about my experiences in my blog posts – each of the initial posts was designed to complete my first elective: Write a Compelling Blog. I used a story structure to tell of my adventures, just like the hero in the Hero’s Journey.

My story was told in 12 chapters and they seemed to write themselves as I contemplated what it felt like in enthusing others about Pathways. This was a tough part of the journey as it was TOO EARLY for many Toastmasters in Region 12 to give much thought to their Pathways. Summer holidays and the start of a new season of meetings took precedence over anything in Pathways.

My High Performance Level project was to build and steer a team of Online Pathways Guides in providing support for club executives from over 160 undistricted clubs across the world. Wow – that was the most stunning achievement for me – and a real bonus to work alongside many skilled Toastmasters from many Districts. On completion of my first path, Effective Coaching, I posted my thoughts on reflection in Follow the Yellow Brick Road post.   

Break Through 2: Support for Base Camp Managers

The next part of the journey for me was closer to home as we determined the needs of clubs in our District 73 – especially after the election of new club executives – and in particular how to support the Base Camp Managers.

At the same time leaders in District 70 had begun to build a D70 Team Pathways and I had been invited to participate. This gave me the inspiration to begin D73 Team Pathways. By leading this team as Pathways Coordinator, I could fulfil another required project for my second Path, Strategic Relationships. Team Building was easy as the process was endorsed by the District leaders, and a team of six began to meet and discuss the different ways we could support new Pathways champions across the states of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Simultaneously, the Pathways Discussion Forum was launched – managed by Michelle Alba-Lim from District 7 – supported by skilled Pathways champions from around the world. This forum opened up a whole new community of collaborative and cooperative learning opportunities. New learning and new activities (using the latest Facebook tools of Mentorship) has added value to what can be done in supporting large numbers of Toastmasters across the globe.

The journey does not end here! My third Path, Visionary Communication, is taking me to new heights in inspiring and facilitating my land-based clubs. For them I am seeking new ways of building membership (virtual attendance) and new ways of conducting executive committee meetings (online meetings).

The Region 12 Base Camp Managers community in Facebook has begun to provide much needed assistance for BCMs who are new to their roles and the tasks required of them in Base Camp. This community has potential for growth and influence, and will be a feature of the responsibilities of the D69,  D70 and D73 Team Pathways.

Continue reading “My Story: where has Pathways led me?” →

Base Camp Managers!

Are you a President, VP Education or Secretary for your Toastmaster club this year?
Did you know that with these roles comes the added responsibility of being a Base Camp Manager?
Do you know what your Base Camp Manager tasks are?

When I became a Pathways Guide, I realized that Base Camp Managers were going to require ongoing support for integrating Pathways into their clubs. This is a new task and one that they may not yet have received training for. Team Pathways in your Districts can help with that! Seek out your Pathways Coordinators and find out what the District has in place for your support this year.

What to do next?

Why not consider these strategies for keeping it basic in Pathways.

Many Toastmaster members of your clubs are embarking on new journeys into the Pathways education system and need your help in supporting their progress. You will be required to help them understand what they will encounter and what steps they need to take. You will need a Base Camp Management team.

Base Camp Management Team:
(VPE, Sec, Pres, VPM and Mentors)

Here’s some suggestions for what the BCM team can do?

1. Provide clear explanations of the Pathways program and how their online activities supplement their in club experiences. My diagram above displays a typical workflow for what the Toastmaster will do in Base Camp and at Meetings. This is a simple way to introduce Pathways to your new club members: as a slide, as whiteboard notes or as a verbal explanation.
2. Collate materials for your New Member Pack and keep it simple!
3. Collaborate and share the tasks of supporting new club members as a team of Base Camp Managers and Executives. Determine tasks that can be part of each executive’s role, rather than expecting the VPE to do everything.
4. Send links to members with useful information on the Paths and Electives from:
   https://www.toastmasters.org/pathways-overview
5. Keep the club members up-to-date with member progress in their Paths and report level completions to the President.
6. Provide short Pathways training sessions for individuals or all club members as educationals.
7. Request to join a specific Base Camp Managers social media group where relevant.

Now consider how specific roles can be delegated to specific BCM team members! Include these in your Club Officer pack.

Secretary (BCM role)

Download a copy of The Navigator as a PDF document and provide some printed copies for those new members. These can be made available at meetings as part of the induction of new members by President.

Apply for Level Completion Awards at Club Central!
Help the member print their Certificates from Base Camp. See the Tutorials and Resources library for help with these.

VP Membership

Point out some of the basics of club membership and direct their attention to pages 5, 6 and 7 of The Navigator as a starting point.  These pages are of particular interest to new members as they describe the

• structure of a Toastmasters meeting
• an explanation of the meeting roles
• description of the tasks of committee members.

Provide copies of the new Navigating Pathways flier and suggest they share one with a prospective member or at their workplace.  eg Transform Your Talent 

Work with the VPE on updating records of individuals achievements in Pathways. eg use of the Communication Charts in easy-Speak.

VP Education (BCM role)

Focus on introducing the Pathways education program outline using pages 9, 10 and 11 of The Navigator. These pages describe the learning experience and how it works.

The Ten Paths are described briefly and the five levels are examined giving the Toastmaster a broad overview of their ‘journey of possibilities’.

Schedule speeches as required for members to complete their Pathways projects.

Show how to navigate in Base Camp; launch and complete a project; and how to complete a level. Finally verify level completions as they are notified.

Establish a Club Mentoring Team and elect a leader.

Mentor Team Leader

The leader of a Club Mentoring Team can then:

• ensure that new members have access to the support of mentors from within the club
• encourage existing members of clubs to become Mentors;
• help them select the Toastmasters Mentoring Project once they have finished Level 2 in a Path
• provide Mentor Survival Packs (Navigator, Path Guides and Mentorship documents)
• help the Mentors to use The Navigator to help the Proteges.Optional:

Lead individual mentors to the Pathways Discussion Forum Mentorship facility. Note: They will need to answer some entry questions to gain access. Then you will be able to opt in as a Mentor or Protege to this voluntary Pathways Mentorship program facilitated by Facebook. Mentors could use this service alongside their formal Toastmasters Mentoring Program.

Mentors

Help the new member to understand the steps required as they embark on the Pathways journey.

• Complete your Levels 1 and 2 in your Path and elect to complete the Toastmasters Mentoring Program
• Access the Pathways Mentor Program Guide
• Make use of page 14 in The Navigator and the Mentorship documents in the program to step through the basics with proteges.
• Provide handouts of the Pathways Levels Guides as required.
• Help the new member consider the content of each Path before they go online to choose one.
• Help them step through the self-assessment questions and consider the recommended Path.

With some further explanations of what is involved with each Path the Mentor can help steer the member towards the right Path for them.

President (BCM Duties)

Be a role model for the club members and Choose a Path! Establish a Mentor relationship for yourself with another experienced Toastmaster eg Immediate Past President. Set a goal to complete your first two levels during the first six months in officer as President.

Emphasize the Toastmasters Journey with this quote from page 3 of the Navigator as you perform a new member induction.

Every Toastmaster’s journey begins with a single speech. Now that you’re a member, you will prepare and deliver speeches at club meetings based on the projects in the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience.

• Guide the executive teams, Base Camp Management team and invite Mentoring team leader to contribute to your executive meetings.
• Check that the email address listed for your club is correct at TMI (Note: check that in the Club Contact and Meeting Information in Club Central.) If this is your email, ensure you Forward emails from TMI about level completions promptly to your VPE and Secretary.
• Check in with the Secretary and VPE on completion levels and awards to be announced at meetings.
• Establish rapport with your Club Mentoring Team leader and enable them to provide feedback  about protege progress at convenient club business segments in meetings.

What are your strategies for supporting the Base Camp Managers in your Toastmasters clubs?

Its all about the Team and its all about the Base!

Congratulations if you have chosen your Path at Base Camp. You may already be well on the way to completing your first level and happily planning your speeches. The five levels in a Path provide you with sequential development of skills, aptitudes and competencies. This month’s post will focus on:

Level 1: Mastering Fundamentals

What are the fundamentals?

Creating a speech outline, delivering a speech, listening to feedback, researching a topic, giving feedback and practicing your leadership skills.

Each of these are learned in Level One on Base Camp and provide you with  instructions on how to request speaking opportunities in your club meetings.

Level 1 requires you to complete four speeches and one evaluation and to do this you will need to:

• access your Path transcript and open the curriculum
• view each online lesson and download the project checklist, project description and evaluation resource (note: store those in your own computer folders for your Path)
• finish each project by completing the online self-assessments (note: be sure to complete both the Before and After surveys)
• schedule the required speeches with the VPE(s) of your club(s)
• deliver the speeches and have them evaluated (note: simply completing the online lessons does not constitute completion of the project – you are required to give speeches)
• continue with each subsequent project and note the requirements (as above)
• notify your VPE(s) when your level is completed (note: simply waiting for the system to notify the Base Camp manager (VPE) may be insufficient – send an email to your VPE and send copies of the Evaluations completed for all projects to verify completion)

Steps for Success

Your steps for success in Pathways may include some or all of the following activities: mentoring, self-help, further research, planning ahead and networking.

• Mentoring 
  Get help from a mentor in your home club or seek a mentor from the Toastmasters Pathways Forum: Mentorship Program. Preferably a Toastmaster with experience and/or a person who has completed Levels 1 and 2 and/or the Toastmasters Mentoring program.
  Your mentor can provide support for your selection of speech topics, creating the speech outline, methods of delivery and ways to incorporate feedback.
  The mentor may also provide advice on how to plan ahead for other levels in your Path, technical assistance for navigational issues in Base Camp, and completion of your projects and levels.
• Self-Help
  Read the Navigator!
  This document provides you with a clear overview of expectations at club meetings and how to navigate in Base Camp. Available in Base Camp as both a downloadable PDF and an online version.

You can also access a copy of the Paths and Projects Catalog. Thanks to D57 for this dynamic Pathways Paths and Projects Catalog-1 .

Access and download any of the self-help resources you need from the Base Camp Tutorials library, as PDFs from the Tutorials, in a language of your choice from Base Camp at Toastmasters International. eg: Quick Reference Guides

Further Research
Depending on your personal learning style, the blog posts or YouTube videos from fellow Toastmasters may be useful for your further research.
Blogs

Access the Blog of Pathways Champion Julie Kertesz; many helpful hints for those beginning their Pathways Experience. Search for other blogs!

Read the Tech Tuesdays blog post from GALE or the DTM Journey from Pete Punwani or the succinct summary post of the Pathways Learning Experience from Rodney Denno.

Read other posts from this blog by accessing the menu for Toasted Training and subscribe to have my latest posts sent to you via email.

YouTube videos:

D7 Toastmasters Pathways Virtual Academy: Pathways 101 – an Introduction

How will Pathways transform your career 

Completing a Toastmasters Pathways project

Pathways Sample path

How to get the RED CHECKMARK on your Pathways project!

Where are the Evaluations?!! D7 Toastmasters Pathways Virtual Academy

Uploading evaluations you have been given to Base Camp in Toastmasters Pathways

And if you hold the club officer title of President, VP Education or Secretary, watch this selection of YouTube videos:

How to: Pathways Level Completion 2-step for VPEs!

Where are the Pathways Level Completion Emails GOING?

Toastmasters | Navigating Club Central

Further short videos on all the tasks involved at Base Camp are provided here:
TI Pathways

• Planning Ahead

Now you can plan ahead for completing the projects in Level One Mastering Fundamentals and earn your first Level Completion Certificate!
You can access a copy of this Tracking Spreadsheet by clicking on the Path Planner Template V2. The sheet contains a sheet for each of the ten paths.

• Networking 

Attend additional Pathways workshops at Club Leadership Training events and any online education sessions provided by your District as scheduled.
Talk Up Pathways in your own social media.
Join the Pathways Discussion Forum in Facebook.