James Barron

My first experience of teaching was in 2016, when I was asked to deliver a talk to a group of 16-year-olds on what it was like to start your own business. I immediately knew I wanted to become more involved in teaching but I didn’t know where to start as I had not previously considered a career in education. A few weeks later I agreed to teach a class of Chinese students from the Shanghai Technical Institute of Electronics and Information, who had travelled to the UK to learn English and Software Engineering, after that I was hooked. Within the next few years, I taught hundreds of students of many different nationalities, aged from 16 to 60, and from levels 2 to 6. I focused my time teaching with Bath University and Bath College for several more years until I felt a change was in order. For the last few years, I have taught remotely with several private training organisations, provided dedicated one to one coaching sessions, provided consultancy on teaching and assessment practices and written about my experiences as a teacher. I plan to continue with my current activities for the foreseeable future but I’m always open to new teaching experiences.

working together

The Roles of Stakeholders and External Bodies in Education and Training

Leave a Comment / Partners & External stakeholders /

It is rare for any organisation to work in isolation, there are normally interactions with stakeholders and external bodies, this is especially the case within education and the following are third parties that have a role within the teaching sector: ESFA The Education Skills Funding Agency is responsible for all matters relating to funding within […]

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professional values

Ways in which Own Professional Values Influence Own Practice in an Area of Specialism

Leave a Comment / Role & Responsibilities /

Abstract This article delves into the crucial role of professional values in the teaching realm, emphasising integrity, motivation, curriculum expertise, assessment proficiency, and behaviour management. Drawing from personal experiences in the industry, it underscores the importance of modelling professionalism, aligning teaching with industry standards, and ensuring that instructional methods are in sync with student needs

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dual professional

The Concepts of Professionalism and Dual Professionalism in Education and Training

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Abstract This document delves into the concept of professionalism, highlighting the attributes and qualities that typify individuals trained in professional roles. Drawing from various sources, it outlines recognises professions and investigates different models for defining a profession, particularly Millerson’s “Model of Professionalism” and Hoyle’s “Model on Professionality”. Special emphasis is given to the dual roles

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The Implications of Intellectual Property Rights and Copyright for the Development and use of Resources (Case Studies)

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Copyright and intellectual property rights is an important aspect within my area of expertise, it is something that I am passionate about as a software developer, having my work pirated is extremely frustrating and being able to educate from personal experience is very effective, for example, when I hear a student discussing software they have

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legal

Legal Requirements and Responsibilities Relating to the Development and use of Resources

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It is essential to consider the legal requirements and responsibilities when creating and utilising resources. The primary legal aspect is intellectual property protection which helps you to stop people stealing or copying your resources or work you have created. (Gov.uk, 2013) This protection must also be considered when using resources that you have not created

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code of conduct

Policies, codes of practice and guidelines of an organisation

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Abstract This document provides an exhaustive examination of the importance of policies and procedures in teaching establishments, highlighting how they shape the fabric of educational institutions. It underscores how such policies emerge from broader legislative frameworks, ensuring tailored relevance for specific educational contexts. Key policies covered include the Equality Policy, which champions inclusivity and diversity,

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political houses of parliament

Social, political and economic factors influence education policy

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A wide variety of factors will influence educational policy, these include social, political and economic. A social factor influences a considerable number of individuals within society, a political factor relates to government policy and practices, and finally, economic factors include aspects that affect the economy, specifically financial matters. “Just 17% of those working in Technology

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bored student

Factors Which Identify Learners at Risk of Disengaging From Learning

Leave a Comment / Behaviour /

There are many factors that are early identifiers that a student is at risk of disengaging from learning, the first being poor engagement within class. If a student suddenly stops engaging by not answering questions, completing tasks etc., it is highly likely they are disengaging from learning and every effort must be made to ensure

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motivate

Strategies to Enable Learners to Engage with Learning (as a tutor)

Leave a Comment / Student Support /

Assisting learners to engage with their learning can be an essential element of being a tutor, especially at key points throughout the year. It is very common for students to approach the end of their course and lose motivation to finish their course. At times like this it is necessary for tutors to have strategies

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students

A Learners’ Socio-economic, Cultural and Personal Background, Work History and Educational Achievement Can Affect Their Needs, Aspirations, Decision-making Abilities and Approach to Learning

Leave a Comment / Equality and Diversity /

A learner’s socio-economic, cultural and personal background will have a significant impact on their education, including the aspirations, needs and decision-making process. A very large number (approximately one in five) of families within the UK are deemed to live in poverty, research has shown people who live in poverty face daily challenges that affluent children

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