Ciara O'Donnell describes how she utilized feedback from her mentor and colleagues during her internship in the Curriculum and Assessment Policy unit. She provides examples of improving her communication, conducting research on departmental age profiles, and enhancing a document on a new award based on feedback received. Ultimately, she emphasizes her commitment to actively seeking and applying feedback throughout her experience.

1. Ciara O’Donnell

2. I believe that I have effectively utilised the
feedback that I received from my mentor Liz as
well as those working in the Curriculum and
Assessment Policy (CAP) unit to inform my
approach towards my work in the unit.

3. This presentation will provide a few examples
of how I took feedback from others on board
during the course of my internship.

4. Image source; http://www.picturequotes.com/feedback-quotes

5. 1). When my Mentor visited me in the CAP
unit, after speaking with her about what I had
accomplished in my first few weeks, she
encouraged me to try to push myself so as to
ensure that I would make the most out of my
experience.

6. I believe that I took this feedback on board and
exemplified this when I began to more
confidently articulate my thoughts and feelings
during meetings and volunteer to take
responsibility for more demanding projects,
such as composing the Oireachtais Committee
meeting briefing note.

7. Image source: http://www.lumesse.com/blog/power-feedback-are-we-
pulling-when-we-should-be-pushing

8. 2). Following a discussion with Liz, she
encouraged me to investigate the reasons why
a disproportionate age profile had developed
within the Department of Education and Skills.
I conducted research via the internet, spoke
with colleagues and collected their views and
reflected upon this issue.

9. 3). While composing the introductory
document that explains the new ‘Student
Enterprise in the Curriculum’ award, I sent an
initial draft to my supervisor Anita so as to
ensure that I was completing the task correctly.

10. She informed me that while it was very well
written and researched, I needed to include
more data that would explain why
entrepreneurship is important within
education.

11. I took this feedback on board and developed
the document with her recommendations in
mind.
I decided to write two additional paragraphs
entitled ‘Political Context’ and ‘EU Context’.

12. Image source: http://www.quotemaster.org/accepting+feedback

13. As I had already thoroughly explained the
benefits of partaking in the awards from the
perspective of what skills students would
learn, I decided to provide information
detailing the current political focus on
enterprise.

14. I explained that the government hopes for
Ireland to become one of the most
entrepreneurial nations in the world and
recognised the education system as a way to
foster an enterprise culture. I outlined how new
enterprise award reflected the government’s
commitment to promoting entrepreneurship
within education.

15. Additionally, the EU council is currently
considering the place of Entrepreneurship
Education from primary education right
through to third level.

16. To conclude, I feel as though I have made a
concerted effort to both seek and use feedback
to inform my approach to any given situation
throughout the duration of my internship.

17. Image source: https://quotefancy.com/quote/756957/Elon-Musk-I-think-it-s-very-
important-to-have-a-feedback-loop-where-you-re-constantly