7 ideas to prepare students to be work ready How well-prepared for employment did you feel when leaving education? The majority of courses within Further Education provide learners with vocational pathways, which means that learners expect to leave equipped to deal with at least the initial demands of the workplace. In addition to the specific…>
Using Technology In Teaching
It is no exaggeration to state that technology has revolutionised the way we learn and the way that we teach. In 2013 the Further Education Learning Technology Action Group (FELTAG) was established and its initial report, published in 2014 stated that ‘the pace of technological change is accelerating and the impact of digital technology will…>
5 Ways To Be A Great Mentor
What makes a good mentor? Is an effective mentor born or made? What values, attitudes, beliefs and qualities characterise the best mentors? Most of us have had at least one mentor during our lives, whether this is a formal arrangement or an informal relationship. Reflecting on my own experience of being mentored, I can now pinpoint several…>
10 Tips For Trainee Teachers
Starting an initial teacher training course can be daunting. Everyone embarking on initial teacher education brings with them a range of expectations and experiences. If you’re about to begin training, you may be coming fresh from university or have several years of teaching experience. You may be working full-time, part-time or fitting the course in…>
A Practical Guide To FE Teaching: Part One
The path to becoming a Further Education (FE) teacher can be a confusing one, yet the routes into the profession can also be tailored to suit a candidate’s experience and qualifications. The Government removed the requirement to gain teaching qualifications for the FE sector in 2013. However, most employers continue to expect that you have…>
A Practical Guide To FE Teaching: Part Two
Which qualification is right for me? What are the qualifications, how and where do you gain them and how much do they cost? Here we look at the practical elements of each course. Make sure you read part one of this guide for the pathways into FE. FE-specific qualifications These are standalone qualifications which are…>
Are your students understanding the course?
Is progress a synonym for learning? In Ofsted’s terminology, I think it probably is. This might explain why the new FE inspection handbook contains no less than 181 references to the word “progress”. This not only refers to colleges’ progress in response to feedback from previous monitoring visits but for FE teachers, there is a…>
Giving Your Students Feedback: Dos And Don’ts
“Improve drawing, C+”. This was a teacher’s comment on a picture of a lion which I had carefully drawn at age 7 and is a perfect example of poor feedback, with a meaningless grade with no information as to how I should improve. There is a distinction made between formative assessment, or “Assessment for learning”, which involves checking…>
Why Teach STEM In Further Education?
There is currently a significant demand within the Further Education sector for teachers of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). STEM disciplines affect virtually every part of our lives. As an example, our economy revolves around mathematics and our efforts in renewable energy comes from the sciences. STEM skills play an increasingly important role in…>
Working With A CSA: Dos And Don’ts
Working as a Curriculum, or learning support assistants (often abbreviated to CSA or LSA) play a vital role in the life of any Further Education College. Their job is similar to that of a Teaching Assistant in schools and your college may deploy them in various ways. They may be required to work with a…>