> Perhaps, rather than just doing a post graduate certificate, lecturers
> should be encouraged to do a masters in education. That way there would
> be no doubt as to the amount of work that went in to obtaining the
> qualification,
Oh no, please! An 'M' level PG Cert as a requirement for new staff is bad
enough - I think there's a real danger that in insisting on new lecturers
doing a qualification at this level, with all the other pressures they have
to contend with, what they get is a surface level of theory and no real
development of their skills and confidence in observing and monitoring
their own practice. Let initial programmes concentrate on supporting new
staff on what they need to survive and developing the habit of collecting
evidence on the effects of what they do - this way, once staff have found
their feet they are more likely to come back for further help, advice and
support - and maybe to enrol on programmes which will take them through to
Masters.
Maybe my perspective is biased by the institution I work in, but it's of
vital importance to me and my colleagues that new staff perceive our unit
as being helpful and continue to want to use our services as they develop
in their career. We offer a suite of qualifications from Certificate
(notionally level 3, compulsory for new staff) through PG Cert and PG
Diploma to Masters. The staff who come on these come because they have a
genuine interest in theorising as part of the development of their
teaching. They're a joy to teach and they act as ambassadors and change
agents for us back in their departments.
I do agree with David B. that observation of teaching is the important
ingredient missing from the individual RP route. New staff learn a great
deal, not just from being observed but from observing a range of other
teachers (and not just in their own subject). I would certainly build this
into all programmes for new staff.
Janet Strivens
Centre for Lifelong Learning:
Learning and Teaching Development
University of Liverpool
128 Mt Pleasant
Liverpool L69 3GF
tel: 0151 794 1167
mobile: 07939 521554
fax: 0151 794 1182
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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