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Crap Writing Course

16 replies

MrsMint · 16/05/2018 08:06

Excuse me while I have a little vent! I have just decided to leave an evening writing course at my local college. The tutor, while a nice enough chap was incredibly lazy; he just downloads other people's writing tips from the web; he even copied other peoples prompts to use as homework exercises and passes it off as his own! The other students just seem to use it as a social club and chat away; he loves this as he doesn't have to do any actual err...TEACHING.

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LIZS · 16/05/2018 08:09

If it is taught at a college the quality of teaching should meet certain standards, as it will be Ofsted inspected and subject to internal observation. Make sure you complain in writing to the college and request a refund.

MrsMint · 16/05/2018 08:27

All these Inspections don't seem to make much difference IMO; it's a late evening course so he's probably inspected rarely if at all...

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LIZS · 16/05/2018 09:08

If the college is government funded via SFA each tutor has to be observed at least once a year. There will also be paperwork evaluating each student's progress, their view of their own progress, schemes of work and lesson plans. This is all reviewed by those organising the course, so your views are integral to this.

Honeybooboo123 · 16/05/2018 13:46

Is this an adult learning sort of course?

MrsMint · 16/05/2018 15:58

@Honeybooboo123 Yes.

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GemmaB78 · 16/05/2018 16:03

I worked as a tutor for a local authority delivering craft courses (knitting and crocheting). I was expected to have a scheme of work and lesson plans. And I was observed as part of the process. And all my paperwork was scrutined as well. It's part of the funding so taken very seriously. What I am trying to say very longwindedly is that is he failing to deliver and you have the right to complain.

Honeybooboo123 · 16/05/2018 16:13

See I'm doing a similar course and it is quite relaxed. We have vague homework but the course time is spent talking and sharing our work. What I have been surprised by is how little some participants write between sessions. It depends what you are after from the course?

MrsMint · 16/05/2018 16:50

@Honeybooboo yes I know writing courses are spent talking about work; but they normally have some instruction as well. Problem is the fact they seem to chat about anything and as I said he doesn't really attempt to teach. I have a feeling he is out of his comfort zone, he is a poet and the course is in scriptwriting which I don't think he knows much about really. I blame the college too for that. I think it is not worth me complaining in a way; the others on the course seem quite happy to use it as a glorified social club. I will either do an online course or shell out for another more expensive course which I know will be good.

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LIZS · 16/05/2018 16:56

No you should complain. He is being paid to deliver a writing course but can't or won't. It may be student led but sometimes people will just settle for what they get and nothing improves. If you don't say something now your feedback later will look like a whinge.

bastardkitty · 16/05/2018 16:58

You should complain. I complained about a music teacher who taught a group but didn't bring any music with him but asked my child to 'print some off the internet for everyone'

Honeybooboo123 · 16/05/2018 17:43

I think a more structured course would suit you more, my course is filled with people who like the idea of writing but it's a nice evening out each week.

Our tutor is a full time writer in the field I'm interested in so I just pick her brains constantly, but i may look for a more structured course to do alongside it.

Scriptwriting sounds like a very particular skill set, and he doesn't have them.

PeaPodPopper · 16/05/2018 20:23

He may be a darn good poet, but not have a clue as to how to teach poetry.
Ask him if he has an Adult Education Teaching Certificate, or any other teaching certificate.
Also, ask him for a copy of the Course Outline if you haven't got one already(each student should receive one at the start of each course), and it should outline week on week what you should be doing/studying/etc. You should also be made aware of your aims and outcomes by him each week.
If none of this is forthcoming, then PPs are right, He's not doing his job properly and you are entitled to a refund.

I have sometimes found that the problem with Ofsted is that the place of teaching being inspected often has prior warning, and so it's easy to make it look like the job is being done correctly at that point.

As for you saying it doesn't seem worth complaining - it absolutely IS worth it, otherwise he will just carry on delivering 3rd rate courses at 1st rate prices. Not good, not good at all.

MrsMint · 18/05/2018 20:00

Thanks PeaPodPopper you've convinced me: I've downloaded a complaints form and I'm going to send it in. It's the cut and pasting of ALL the handouts without the citing of any sources that gets me the most; he must think we are all idiots who never use a computer...

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PeaPodPopper · 20/05/2018 15:50

MrsMint - sorry for my delayed reply - was out for all of yesterday.

I've been an Adult Ed' Tutor for almost 20 years, and say that your situation can only be likened to you going to a store and paying for a product that is not as described. You would take it back as faulty, and expect to be offered a replacement or full refund, wouldn't you?.

For my courses - art based - I create my own handouts on 'how to' eg make a particular style greetings card (I don't really teach this). I would first, out of class time, create the card, noting down the process, any difficulties, and any equipment and materials used.
If this was to be a whole 10 week course in cardmaking, then I would create 10 various styled cards in this way. These 10 cards are created well BEFORE the course begins, as they form the base on which to write the course outline/lesson plans.
Once satisfied with that 'product' I would then type out the handout in a 'recipe' format, to then be given to the students in class.
I wouldn't just give out this handout in class and expect the students to get on with it though. We would all go through it, discuss the design, any possible difficulties - eg if someone dislikes the colour - how it could be changed, any additions that could be made to it, and so on.
Incorporated into the course would possibly be an overview of the history of greetings cards, or certain card manufacturers, or card design employment, so that there is a variety of learning - discussion, practical, research etc.
This way it's not just a broken record that causes that class to be a place that you just don't want to go to.

I love my job, and at risk of sounding immodest - but just trying to be matter of fact - I like to make my class interesting and fun. I've had people enroll whilst walking through the door, wondering what the heck they're doing in an art class, and yet years down the line they've a pretty full understanding of the subject matter, created their own fantastic works of art, and have both exhibited and sold it too. What fabulous achievements they've made!
I feel the luckiest person in the world that I get to teach the thing I love most - AS MY JOB!!!

Along the way friendships have been made between people meeting in my classes, and they've arranged to socialise OUTSIDE the teaching times, because they WANT to learn whilst they're there.

It's the tutors responsibility to ensure the class runs smoothly and correctly, that the subject matter is taught, that any difficulties are dealt with, and that the students leave that session with a disbelief that 2 hours cannot possibly go by so quickly, that they're going to 'have a go' at their chosen subject at home, and have enjoyed it all so much that they can't wait for the next week.

Your tutor Does sound either out of his depth, or very lazy, or both, and I'm sad that you have experienced this - please don't let it put you off trying another course.
When in class, if a students sends the discussion adrift, he should guide it back to the subject matter.
However yes, do complain, ask what knowledge, skills and experience - though a poet - this tutor has in scriptwriting. Has he written scripts? If so, who for? Were they used? If not, why not? and so on.

Good luck, and please let me know how you get on.

PeaPodPopper · 20/05/2018 16:05

Ps - should have said 'please let me know how you get on if you wish

MrsMint · 23/05/2018 07:14

PeaPodPopper I got a reply from them with 'sorry you have those concerns etc etc' and telling me it has been passed to the head of department. They said the head wanted to speak to me personally about it, but as the course is nearly over anyway I think I will probably leave it at that. I was very clear about what I thought was wrong so there would not be any more to add if I spoke to her in person. It is up to her if she wants to look into how the course is run. I feel better for having voiced my concerns to them anyway.

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