Any Instructors/Trainers on here?

[wobbler]

I am thinking of going for the snappily titled "Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector [url="http://www.cityandguilds.com/45858.html"]PTLLS[/url] qualification. Then go on to teach woodland and forestry skills through LANTRA.


I am not looking to make mega money, but it will cost a few bob to get trained and assessed,
So, my question is, am I on a hiding to nothing, or are the rewards worth the hard work and cost?

The best part of my old job was training newbies as temporary cover for me during my holidays. It could be several months between them being trained and having to do the job for real, they still remembered everything they had to do.
This makes me think I must have been doing something right.

Any advice gratefully received.

 

[annedonnelly]

I am thinking of going for the snappily titled "Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector PTLLS qualification. Then go on to teach woodland and forestry skills through LANTRA.


I am not looking to make mega money, but it will cost a few bob to get trained and assessed,
So, my question is, am I on a hiding to nothing, or are the rewards worth the hard work and cost?

The best part of my old job was training newbies as temporary cover for me during my holidays. It could be several months between them being trained and having to do the job for real, they still remembered everything they had to do.
This makes me think I must have been doing something right.

Any advice gratefully received.

Hi Wobbler

I've done the PTLLS course. If you're going to do any tutoring that is government funded, e.g. in an FE college, then you must have this qualification - or a higher one. I don't know whether it's a requirement for the course you're thinking of teaching though.

I didn't enjoy the actual course - I found our tutor disorganised and irritating ;-) However, a lot of the course content was interesting - lesson planning, assessing students, etc. I found the part where we had to actually teach our fellow students useful - getting feedback from the tutor on your performance.

The course hasn't really affected the way I tutor individual students or small ad hoc groups but I'm due to deliver a six week course in September and I'll be doing proper lesson planning for that.

I expect it'll depend on the sector you're working in but I'd imagine that some potential employers would prefer someone with the qualification to someone without it.

I think I paid about £130 to do the course - so not a huge investment.

HTH

Anne

 

[Night Train]

I've done the PTLLS.

It is simple so long as you follow the instructions and do as asked. You also have to write a diary of all your teaching experiences.

The course is badly designed though and very frustrating. Also the paperwork isn't simple and there are lots of bits of the portfolio that is irrelevent and in the wrong order and sometimes it is difficult to work out which bits are there and which bits you need to photocopy a few of before you write on it.
A good tutor will tell you in advance. A bad one will tell you off after the event.

Be prepared for a lot of it to mean nothing to your subject or learner needs as it is a often a 'tick boxing' process.

If you are told you need to be a member of the IFL, you don't. The IFL takes your money but gives you nothing in return except another process stage repeating what you have to do anyway.

I'm giving it up and not doing the second year Cert Ed. It isn't paying for me to be a teacher anymore. 40 hours a week work for 12 hours pay and no time to earn a living elsewhere.

As much as I love teaching I also need to pay bills and teach my adults learners as intelligent fee paying adults and not as 14 year olds everytime I am inspected.

Sorry, its getting a bit ranty, I've not had a good experience but it is worth doing if you want to teach or train.

 

[wobbler]

Thank you both for your replies.

I will give it a go.

 

[gavroche]

PGCE and Cert Ed are exactly the same qualifications. It is only called pgce if you already have a degree., that's all.

 

[craigwend]

You will need a Cert Ed or PGCE if you 'teach' through an FE or 6th Form College or possibly (from memory) some LSC (Learning Skills Councill - if they still exist) funded courses,

Also there are ways of converting the above be able to work in schools; though that would involve working with children


The PTTLs seem fine as a qualification in many organisations, in our department it ranges from 'experiential' teaching' experience, nursing teaching qulaifications, C&G 'boeing' 737 (or something like that), Cert Ed & PGCE.


Ps - nobody snears at 'those' without a PGCE, it's not their fault


Pps - training is a very enjoyable profession

 

[gavroche]

You will need a Cert Ed or PGCE if you 'teach' through an FE or 6th Form College or possibly (from memory) some LSC (Learning Skills Councill - if they still exist) funded courses,

Also there are ways of converting the above be able to work in schools; though that would involve working with children


The PTTLs seem fine as a qualification in many organisations, in our department it ranges from 'experiential' teaching' experience, nursing teaching qulaifications, C&G 'boeing' 737 (or something like that), Cert Ed & PGCE.


Ps - nobody snears at 'those' without a PGCE, it's not their fault








Pps - training is a very enjoyable profession

I have a Cert Ed and apart from teaching for my local FE college ( part-time), I also do supply work in Secondary Schools through an agency. All you need is a Enhanced Disclosure every year.

 

[wobbler]

I'm picking up some mixed vibes here.
I am still going for it.
I think the 5 day intensive course £350 could be for me.

I did not enjoy school very much, too many pupils not enough teachers perhaps.
Training at work was completely different. Some good and some poor trainers. I tried my best to copy the good ones.
Thankfully I never saw that look on any of my trainees faces, you know, the one when both your brain and your bum go numb!

 

[vernon]

I have a Cert Ed and apart from teaching for my local FE college ( part-time), I also do supply work in Secondary Schools through an agency. All you need is a Enhanced Disclosure every year.

But do you get paid the same rate as PGCE holders?

 

[gavroche]

Yes I do.

 

[vernon]

You are working for a very generous agency then.

 

[Trembler49]

This thread seems to sum up all that is wrong with our education system. Beaurocracy and snobbery in equal measures.

 

[wobbler]

Right then, for the moment forget which qualification you all have. Are you all still motivated to train/teach? Or has all the cr@p that surrounds the job kicked the stuffing out of you?
Some folks seem to enjoy the job, or at least get their heads down and get stuck in. Others seem more like if you won the Lotto tomorrow you would be out of it quick as a shot.

And another question, hands up those who chose to go into teaching of their own free will? As opposed to those who got told by their boss. "You are now going to be responsible for training, along with all the other things you do, so we are sending you on a course".

 

[craigwend]

I train / 'teach' in a similar environment to Maggot, this was entirely my 'career' choice, never regretted it.

Again we are not as obsesively inspected as FE / 6th forms/ schools etc, but could be OFSTED or CQC inspected so try & keep up standards, so the reason for most of us having a training / teaching qualification.

I do thoughrougly enjoy the job, it can allow you to have the enthusiasm that can be lost in practice.

From a personal point of view I am also more autonomous in my role & therefore flexible when needed.

huge range of learners in my groups; so have to be flexible in delivery

If you enjoy reading up & research on your subjects/s,
lots of preperation work
working with people (who don't always want to be there)
generally trying enthusiastically to get the subject across - go for it!!


PS - I have no idea how our interactive whitebaord works either




The legislation (Further Education and Training Act 2007) to which I referred badly (link below) inferred many of our dept should have a teaching 'qualification & hinted to join the IFL (which I'm now not bothering to renew, now the free funding has gone, & it seems I don't need to join it)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/25/notes/contents



Good site for training freebies etc

http://www.businessballs.com/

 

[wobbler]

Thanks again for the replies.
I'm trying to work out if I am looking at this through rose coloured specs. There is obviously a big difference between training someone you work with and half a dozen strangers. I don't want to find out my expectations were completely unrealistic.