While teaching I make extensive use of resources as I feel they assist my students learning and make me a more effective teacher. The three primary resources I use are PowerPoint presentations, Handouts/Worksheets and Realia. Beyond these there are others that are ubiquitous to my subject area, such as computers, internet and specific software, such … Read more
When designing resources, it is important to integrate the principles of resource design. Using resources is an excellent method of targeting different styles of learnings, while targeting a student’s specific style of learning is largely disproven, it is important to utilise a variety of learning styles to ensure inclusive learning. For example, when designing a … Read more
A Self-Assessment Review (SAR) is a review of what the teaching establishment, department or strand has carried out over the last year, including an evaluation against the teaching establishments own internal criteria and Ofsted requirements. When completing a SAR, it is best to “imagine that you were sitting down explaining how and what you did … Read more
Within most teaching establishments there is a wide variety of support available for learners, every learner has a designated tutor, this will be the first person a student should talk to as their tutor will be able to refer them to the correct location. Alternatively, students can go directly to the appropriate person/department with their … Read more
Shirley Shirley wants to do a Health and Social course. She is from Brazil and is aged 30. She wants financial support with the fees. She would like to know if the teaching establishment can pay for her to study an ESOL course in order for her to be able to study here. While Shirley … Read more
Teaching organisations do not work in isolation and receive support from external third parties in numerous ways. A simple way that I work with external stakeholders and partners to support learners is collaborating with local businesses, these relationships have provided projects, equipment loans and work experience placements, benefiting both the teaching establishment and the local … Read more
In some classes it is common to create Individual Learning Plans (ILP) with individual learning goals for each student based on initial and diagnostic assessment. Initial assessment may include an assessment of their English and Maths this may go into their ILP in order to decide which group they should be in, whether they need … Read more
When a student is struggling and behind with their work it is common for them to block out all correspondence from the teaching establishment and ignore any messages from tutors and lecturers. This is a theme that in my experience is consistent with all learners, no matter their age, level of study, gender, etc. This … Read more
It is fundamental that learner progress and targets are reviewed on the date originally specified when creating the target, without the review students will not be motivated to meet the target and all future targets will be undermined, being considered optional by students. Reviewing targets also lets students know they are on the right track, … Read more
When designing resources, it is important to consider the theories, principles and models that are to assist the process with the goal of creating better resources. For example, different resources will suit different stages of the Kolb learning cycle: Concrete Experience is best suited to resources such as Realia or using relevant equipment, allowing students … Read more
