The theoretical aspects of the course (nothing quite like a touch of theory late on a Monday afternoon!), I.E. 'Principles of teaching', 'Teaching and learning strategies' etc is something I am able to grasp with a minimum of fuss. Insight into the vagaries of the psychological aspects of the learning process (eg Reflective learning theories and methodologies) also has a lot to commend to it and has succeeded in fingering the intellectual G-spot! Indeed I have applied myself rigourously to all things theoretical vis adult/post-16 education by reading a very accessible tome entitled TEACHING ADULTS by Alan rogers and Naomi horrocks (but not a load of!). A lot of what they have written seems to be sinking in!
So far so good! however, and as touched upon in the previous drone...I mean blog, I found the ICT aspect of the course rather daunting and did not look forward to attending the classes. Indeed I sort of avoided any attempt to apply myself to this aspect at home by launching into the above textbook, a time honoured delaying tactic with the added attraction of it being relevant subject matter rather than some indulgent 'reading around the subject'.
Fear not! The ICT instruction is beginning to sink-in (I think!) and I can hear the (albeit rather quiet) sound of the occassional penny dropping a few inches off the edge of a toadstool. The proof is the very fact of my writting and sending this doggerel but, all things being equal (a radical notion in the Cameron/Clegg dispensation), as my knowledge and confidence increases I shall continue to warm to the manifold intricacies and attractions of ICT. In its stretching of my (previously prone) technical abilities and knowledge this element of my training could very well prove to be one of the most satisfying aspects of the course! Wither my fear of ICT? I bloody well hope so!
Sunday, 31 October 2010
An All-Hallows Eve cobweb and dust-encrusted account of Ty's preliminary weeks as a new student on the PCET teacher training course!
As suggested in the above blog title, what follows is an account of the thoughts and feelings I have experienced as a first year student during the opening weeks of the PCET course at Swansea Metropolitan University (Townhill division!).
Well I'll be damned!! I seemed to have mastered the in's and out's of how to access and send a blog! Whilst having a relatively long-term experience of using a computer, in the sense of having acquainted myself with the requirements of home computing via a succession of PCs and laptops and having found my way around Facebook (and its trite attractions) and the medium of email messaging, Word and a few other delights, I had not previously sent a blogg message (as opposed to reading other peoples blog sites).
In truth, during these opening weeks my experience of the ICT element of the course has been daunting and not a little worrisome! I suppose the key reason for this has been a profound lack of confidence in applying myself to IT in a controlled teaching environment with the consequence that I tend to get into a right old kerfuffle with what should be reasonably straight forward tasks. There is an annoying tendancy on my part to lapse into wondering mind syndrome. This is a symptom of the lack of confidence vis the IT and a punishment for crimes against technical competence! Thankfully there are more technically competant fellow students who at this stage I lean-on somewhat and who are supportive and wonderfully helpful.
Well I'll be damned!! I seemed to have mastered the in's and out's of how to access and send a blog! Whilst having a relatively long-term experience of using a computer, in the sense of having acquainted myself with the requirements of home computing via a succession of PCs and laptops and having found my way around Facebook (and its trite attractions) and the medium of email messaging, Word and a few other delights, I had not previously sent a blogg message (as opposed to reading other peoples blog sites).
In truth, during these opening weeks my experience of the ICT element of the course has been daunting and not a little worrisome! I suppose the key reason for this has been a profound lack of confidence in applying myself to IT in a controlled teaching environment with the consequence that I tend to get into a right old kerfuffle with what should be reasonably straight forward tasks. There is an annoying tendancy on my part to lapse into wondering mind syndrome. This is a symptom of the lack of confidence vis the IT and a punishment for crimes against technical competence! Thankfully there are more technically competant fellow students who at this stage I lean-on somewhat and who are supportive and wonderfully helpful.
Monday, 11 October 2010
Monday, 4 October 2010
The utter ineptitude of my attempts at engaging in this form of communication.
In a dust covered corner of the room there appeared the wizened features of ms Martha Flange. Born in a Nissan hut on the outskirts of Penge, ms Flange had experiened a particularly unpleasant dose of irritable bowel syndrome. Nevertheless she continued to exude a certain youthful zest that belied her 87 years.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)