Teaching - the first step towards teacher-training.

[watervole]

I've just signed up for an Open University short course on Exploring the Oceans.

This may not seem like an obvious first stop towards doing teacher training, but in fact it is.

There's a scheme (Open Univeristy Student Associates Scheme) which allows students to do two paid work placements in schools to give them practical experience of what teaching is actually like before they commit to a teacher training course.

But, you have to be a student to qualify for a place. So, I've just picked a short course (a mere 99 pounds...) in a subject that I know will interest me.

They'll send me the paperwork for the teaching experience and I'll give it a go when schools start in September. Becasue the only way to find out if my health problems are compatible with full-time teaching is to stop dithering and actually try it.

Hm, anyone want to help me come up with a suitable icon for teaching?

Comments

[scarlatti.livejournal.com]

Ooo, good luck! The oceans course sounds interesting.

*thinks*
It's just math you teach, or other subjects as well? An icon with mathematical formulas on it could be good. And dougs has one of himself delivering a presentation at a Dangercon that he uses for "education"-type posts -- have you got any photos of yourself in similar circumstances?

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I mostly teach maths, but I've done a bit of English and a little bit of science now and then.

I haven't got any suitable photos of me. I guess I need a blackboard with a quadratic formula on it, or something like that.

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

like this?

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I don't recognise the character, so that one doesn't work for me.

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

It's Will Hay, in one of his stock characters - appeared in many films playing the same part.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good plan to me.

Gina

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

If you decide to go for teaching the graduate in service scheme can be good. We've run it in our department a few times. The last trainee was a disaster, and gave up after one term. But you do need a good mentor.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

How does the scheme work? Can it be combined with distance learning?

[ia-robertson.livejournal.com]

Go for it - as you say, it's the only way you can find out if it's for you! Also don't rule out the possibility of a "full time" PGCE - the bursary scheme is not bad - see the various websites about it.

Alastair

[watervole.livejournal.com]

You get the bursary on a flexible PGCE as well.

If the taster works for me (ie. doesn't set off too many aches and pains) then I'll got for a PGCE in one form or the other.

[ia-robertson.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest care - AIUI some schemes get it, some don't. I know that the Graduate Teacher Program doesn't (that's the one done "in-service") and certainly when I did mine a few years back, only some subjects qualified as well.

Alastair

[watervole.livejournal.com]

AIVI? That's one I don't know.

Flexible PGCE students get a bursary of £6000, half on starting, half on completion. You qualify as long as your tuition fees are paid by the TTA and the main requirement for that is to be a UK national. You don't qualify if you're already working as a teacher in schools.

Shortage subjects get a golden hello after you finish your first year in a school.