UK e-Learning

Author: Lyla

  • Is 6 weeks off school for the summer holidays too long?

    The summer 6 week holiday has been a bone of contention for a number of years now amongst parents, teachers and the education authority. Some people say that a solid 6 week period of little to no education sets students back massively and can cause big problems when it come’s to those children that are less academically gifted. The 6 week period over the summer was originally derived from farming families who needed the help of their children during harvest to get all the produce harvested and dried ready for September. This is obviously very outdated now and can actually make childcare for working parents a bit of a nightmare! Children can of course go to summer clubs or activity days however these are not cheap and can be a bit of a hassle to arrange.  

    So what would be the alternative? Some schools have trialled using a different split and taking 2 of the weeks of holidays at different times of the year such as at half term instead. Which can make vacations much more affordable however if you have children at different schools this could be very tricky. There’s no easy solution but by the end of those 6 weeks most parent are more than ready for school to start up again!

  • Monitoring the Progress of Students

    When you teach students of any level of ability, their growth and progress is the most important thing, not the starting point. It’s therefore very important that you can successfully monitor the progress of your students and ensure that they are learning continually – if not, then something needs to be done to rectify this.

    If you monitor the progress of your students through data, this is highly useful for a number of reasons. It will give you a record of their progress and will also allow you to see how they have learned and developed over time, so you can take steps to improve their progress where needed. Data on student performance should be safely and securely stored, so you can refer back to it when necessary as their teacher and you can use it to inform and progress individual learning programmes. It can help you individualise the learning experience, as well as basing it on concrete evidence of success.

  • Learning Online: How to Make it Work for Students

    Teaching online poses challenges for teachers and pupils and it can take a while to get used to working in this way. Here are some tips to help:

    • Give yourself more time. It’s never a good feeling when something takes longer than usual, but e-leaning will take a while to adjust to. Be patient and spend a little more time getting your resources ready.
    • Make sure pupils can still learn in different ways. Have options for visual learners and audio learners – this might mean distributing resources and leaning materials before lessons.
    • Communicate clearly. When you cannot be in the same room, good communication is more important than ever. Encourage students to be open and honest about what is working and how they might want to learn.
    • Be understanding and compassionate. Learning online will have its challenges and will be difficult for pupils, too. Pupils and teachers alike should be patient and understanding so they can overcome challenges together.

  • Helping Students Following Exam Results

    Exam results can be a difficult time for the students you teach if they are unhappy with their results. They may want to appeal them, resit their exams, or they may not be sure what steps to take next if they have missed out on university places. As a teacher, this can be difficult and they will most likely rely on you to give advice. It is important to be on hand when you can be and ensure that your students know where to turn if they are concerned about their exam results.

    Exam results can also be a time of celebration if students have done well in their A levels, AS levels of GCSEs. It is a rewarding feeling as a teacher to be able to celebrate your students’ successes and help them take the next positive step forwards. If they have done better than expected, they may also look for advice from teachers.

  • Education in Work – Improving your Skills

    Just because you’ve got the skills to do your current job, doesn’t mean that there isn’t room to improve. Once you enter a company, you will be expected to grow and develop within your position. Usually, this means learning new skills and undergoing some form of education so that you can become even better at what you do.

    It’s important to work with your employer in your own education. It’s a two way street. They should be responsible for your development and arranging your training, but you need to take responsibility for your own learning as well. If you have ideas about training you would like or courses you want to take, ask for a one to one. Just bear in mind that they will need to be relevant to your role – if you are undertaking vocational training because you want a different position, this should probably be done outside of work.

  • How to Improve your Current Employment

    How to Improve your Current Employment

    Looking for a new job isn’t for everybody – it’s a long, stressful process that is never going to be without its difficulties. If you generally enjoy your current position and don’t want to consider leaving, then there are many ways in which you can improve your current employment situation and make the most out of it. Here are some ideas:

    • Actively seek a promotion. Make it known that you are ambitious and would like to move up through the ranks. People will appreciate your drive and commitment.
    • Ask to have further training. You get more out of your work when you are well trained and can perform your duties to the best of your abilities.
    • Look beyond the work. Enjoy time spent with your colleagues, engage in active one-to-one about your workplace and ask your manager about team building and incentives. They can be a good way to help you bond with your team.
  • What Could be Affecting your Job Applications?

    What Could be Affecting your Job Applications?

    If you are applying for positions but aren’t receiving any invitations to interview, you might be doing something fundamentally wrong with your applications. It’s worth considering some of the most common factors to affect a job application, so you can then put them right and make your applications stand out.

    Think about these points:

    1. The time you apply. If you always get your application in at the last minute, the employer might think you come across as disorganised. Try to apply in plenty of time.
    2. Your grammar and spelling. Always read through an application after you have written it, before submitting it. Check your grammar and spelling thoroughly and ask someone else to read it if possible – many jobs require good attention to detail.
    3. The substance of your covering letter. Make sure you are covering all the points of the person specification in your cover letter, to show explicitly how you would be suitable for the role.
  • Committing to Finding a New Job

    Committing to Finding a New Job

    Finding a new job is never an easy process. You are always going to have lots of work to do, finding the schools where you would like to teach, seeking relevant opportunities and filling out the lengthy applications. However, you must remember that there is something driving you to apply for a new job in the first place. Once you have found a position that is more suited to you, then you will be happier in the long run.

    Make some time each week to sit down and look at new jobs. It might only be 5 minutes, but that is all you need to spot an opportunity. Be methodical in your search, as this will make it more successful. Record the opportunities you have already looked at so you are not duplicating your work, and sign up for email alerts regarding relevant positions. Make sure you allow enough time to apply, so you are not feeling pressurised.

  • Working in Administration for a School

    Working in Administration for a School

    A school environment is a good place to work, alongside a team of enthusiastic and committed people. You don’t need to be a teacher in order to work in a school – there are many jobs you can take on that fall into the administration department of the school. Here are some examples:

    • Office administrator
    • Receptionist
    • Timetable co-coordinator
    • Accountant
    • PA

    There are also many other options if you would like to work in a school – many of these will depend on the school itself and its administrative requirements. Some schools will outsource some of their admin, meaning there is less need for them to have in-house staff.

    If you would like to work in a school, there are many benefits, like good holidays and job satisfaction. You will be working with a good team of people and helping to support the education system, so it is a very important role to take on.

  • What are you Going to do with Your Career?

    What are you Going to do with Your Career?

    Whether you are in school, university or in a job, you should put some thought into what you are going to do with the rest of your life. Chances are, you want to do something a little bit different if you are in work, and there may be things that interest you if you are still in education. It won’t be easy to make future plans, but you will be relieved when you do.

    You also don’t need to have your whole career planned out. The best situation to be in is to know the field of work you enjoy and to have an idea of what you may like to do in the future. You should also be a little bit flexible though, as it can be hard to know exactly what you want to be doing in a few years time. Focus on what you enjoy, but allow some room to be flexible and change your mind.