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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New FE trainer help

24 replies

BrandNewTrainer · 08/09/2013 21:02

Ok posting here for traffic & NC

I need some help / advice.

I have just started a new job in FE and I have been asked to design and deliver a course... Which is fine except I am not yet qualified as a FE teacher, I have been given about a month to do it (i am part time - o.5 of timetable and had a weeks A/L in that) and I am the only person in my subject area.

I have started planning and writing powerpoints but I just feel completely lost. My boss is good but mentioned that it took her and a colleague six months to design the same course in her last job Blush

WTF do I do? I am considering writing the sessions for first two weeks and basically living on a wing and a prayer.... Does anyone know where I gain some support with resources, etc?

Help? Anyone?

OP posts:
nobodysbaby · 08/09/2013 21:05

Can you tell us the subject area?

Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 08/09/2013 21:09

It may well out me / end up on google Confused

Think the younger end of the spectrum Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 08/09/2013 21:11

I suppose what I need to know is do I just need to man up and get on with it as this is just how it is or have I been given an impossible task?

OP posts:
TheUnsinkableTitanic · 08/09/2013 21:12

ccld?

Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 08/09/2013 21:15

Titanic

Wow! Thank you!

Hit nail on the head

OP posts:
Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 08/09/2013 21:15

Am I being a bloody wuss?

OP posts:
TheUnsinkableTitanic · 08/09/2013 21:21

what level ie lots of practical stuff needed or level 5/hnc level. do you have awarding body or standards? i usually just work a few weeks ahead (but i am slackGrin ). start with scheme of work then you can lesson plan after this.

Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 08/09/2013 21:24

Level 2 & 3 who they want me to teach together. I have done the session plans but at the moment they are not making sense as the differentiation is all wrong because the standards for level 2 & 3 are different in terms of content (obviously) and how they need to be assessed (some in workplace).

I literally have nothing... It's not been delivered before in this format

OP posts:
nobodysbaby · 08/09/2013 21:25

You aren' t being a wuss. FE is notorious for this kind of thing. Is there another college nearby where you could visit to find out how they do things? Not somewhere your place competes with for students, obviously. Other than that, the exam board may have suggested schemes of work, and there will be good stuff online if you can sort through the less useful stuff to find it.

Don't hesitate to speak up to your line manager if you are struggling, your students deserve a well planmed course, not something half arsed you've been forced to rush.

TheUnsinkableTitanic · 08/09/2013 21:28

i don't think you can teach 2+3 together! so, i'm not much use Sad let me have a think lol. good idea about visiting someone else who is doing this already.

Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 08/09/2013 21:31

You lot are making me feel better if nothing else Smile

The qualifying body has resources which, judging from another sectors version, is excellent but my sector hasnt had one purchased yet so I have nothing.

A similar course is being ran in my organisation but for issues I can't go into I can not access their resources. My line manager is aware and trying to support but I think I am coming across as over thinking - I have really high expectations of myself and want to get it right for the learners.

OP posts:
Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 08/09/2013 21:35

Titanic

I don't think you can teach 2 & 3 together either but when I raised it I was told its difficult but possible... Just Blush Argh!!!

OP posts:
nobodysbaby · 08/09/2013 21:37

And you are in the right there, not over thinking. I also think teaching 2 and 3 together is a terrible idea.

Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 08/09/2013 21:58

I've even found the delivery guide for the qual on the awarding body website but my centre is not registered so I can't access anything I need...

I feel absolutely useless at the moment and wonder if I am actually capable to do this... Can stand upon front of anyone but jeez....

OP posts:
greenfolder · 09/09/2013 06:41

This type of stuff is one of the many reasons I fled from fe teaching back to industry! I gave it a good 18 months and concluded they were all mad (not helpful). You need to be incredibly pushy and assertive -your boss says level 2 and 3 can be taught together? Show me how? Your boss says it took them 6 months to put their programme together? Ill have your materials please. All the resources you need are available but your centre isn't registered? Spend a morning finding the person responsible and stand over them until its done.

sashh · 09/09/2013 07:23

Take a wander over to the TES website - we actually share (I know, not very FE minded) resources.

OK I'm health and social care, so there is a bit of an overlap with CCLD (you did say that's what you are teaching)

I'd start with unit 2 (just had a quick look at BTEC spec, obviously if you are doing a different board this is useless) - it covers lots of health and safety and there are lots of things that are common sense so will build confidence in your students.

OK role play. Spit the group with a ratio of 1:4, the 1 will be a nursery worker and the 4 young children. Send the nursery workers out while you brief the 'children' - they have to be inquisitive, they must not do anything that will put them as 16-19 year olds in danger, but they can do things that would put a child in danger. (you will need to do a risk assessment)

Then, if you have outdoor space take them outside and let lose. There are two many for the 'nursery workers' to hold hands and they can do things like hang from tree branches, try to climb a wall, run off, sit on the floor and fake eating dirt. Give one some Reeces peanut/chocolate cups (as long as you have no one with peanut allergy in the group) and another some grapes.

After 20 mins bring them in and get them to talk about their experiences and then start writing down things that would have made the place safer

more people
fewer things to climb
let them make a list of 20 things that could be changed.

TheUnsinkableTitanic · 09/09/2013 19:43

some good advice :)
i spoke to a few colleagues today and they suggested similar ie show me how this can be done to your line manager
we would all hate the thought of having to do this but felt a similar approach to sashh would work ie concentrate on core units eg safeguarding / H+S / observations / developing yourself
this will help you get to know students and capabilities and then you could better plan once you knew this (ie could be very strong level 2 students and then won't be an issue.....)
Good luck!

Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 09/09/2013 21:18

Thank you everyone.

I feel I have made an ok start... I've mapped the standards to a set of subjects to deliver and I am starting with communication as it feeds into everything else.

I have started the session plans but just hit the level 2 / 3 thing again. People keep moving the goal posts and my timetable has changed again to the point where I was asked to share a classroom with another tutor (I put my foot down!)

I am not happy and looking elsewhere but determined to plan atleast the first few months so my learners have an ok transition when I leave (yes I said when!).

I am going to TES but you lot are fab!!

OP posts:
neunundneunzigluftballons · 09/09/2013 21:40

Ah welcome to my world after years of this new subjects each year handed out September 1st you get used to it and that is at honours degree level. Anyway a wing and a prayer and plenty of student collaboration has worked well in the past for me. Luckily for me a lot of my subject area is practically based which helps too.

I suggest you look at the syllabus if there is one, look at the learning outcomes, do up a very loose flexible plan, plan some assessments in detail and work backwards from there looking at how you can teach the students in a manner that will prepare them for the assessments always looking back and checking that you are meeting the initial outcomes. Try to vary the assessment strategy as best as you can. Best of luck you will be fine.

greenfolder · 09/09/2013 22:06

My final straw was being told that I should deliver a course to students varying from E2 to L2, on a roll on roll off basis over 16 weeks.
The manager just could not accept me challenging this; I pointed out that every one of her staff had been off with stress for substantial amounts of time.

TheUnsinkableTitanic · 09/09/2013 22:43

bloody hell greenfolder! E2 to L2 with roll on/roll off!
i have officially heard it all now!

did anyone ever manage it?

greenfolder · 10/09/2013 06:57

Not that I am aware! I came into FE from a professional training background and taught in a "beacon" college. I came to the conclusion that if the badly managed shambles was the best of the bunch, it was not a sector I wanted to work in! I had to point out very forcefully that differentiation over one band was feasible and all part of the job; doing it over more than one was actually 2 courses in my view; they just wanted to get the numbers on the roll for the cheapest possible cost.

Original poster
BrandNewTrainer · 10/09/2013 16:59

Did I not mention that my course is 'roll in, roll off' too?

It's work based learning you see plus i am the only person in my sector too... It's pants Hmm

I have my flexible timetable ready but someone else will be delivering it as I intend to leave. I have a job interview next week and a plan B.

Proper outing myself if recognised.

One thing is keeping me sane... The team I am in are fabulous and recognise the same pressures and are very grounded Smile

OP posts:
greenfolder · 10/09/2013 18:24

Good on you! Its not you, its definitely them x

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