Anyone ever been a college lecturer/tutor?
Discussion
Morning all,
I'm asking because my girlfriend has applied for, and been selected for interview, for a position of 'Lecturer' at the lcoal city college, fairly big modern place, that seems to offer a lot of vocational courses from hairdressing/engineering to Diplomas and suchlike.
Now the problem is, I don't know anyone who teaches in anything other than a primary school so I have no idea what this job might be like for her as we have no one to ask.
The pay seems ok, starting at £23k moving to £33k+ over the course of 3 or 4 years, but they seem vague about the hours in the job information pack.
The position is Lecturer in 'Public Services' which is essentially teaching people about careers in Fire, Police, NHS, Army etc.
Can anyone offer any more information on what it's like to do that kind of role in a college? Workload? Tasks? Holidays?
Anything she should ask during the interview?
Thanks
I'm asking because my girlfriend has applied for, and been selected for interview, for a position of 'Lecturer' at the lcoal city college, fairly big modern place, that seems to offer a lot of vocational courses from hairdressing/engineering to Diplomas and suchlike.
Now the problem is, I don't know anyone who teaches in anything other than a primary school so I have no idea what this job might be like for her as we have no one to ask.
The pay seems ok, starting at £23k moving to £33k+ over the course of 3 or 4 years, but they seem vague about the hours in the job information pack.
The position is Lecturer in 'Public Services' which is essentially teaching people about careers in Fire, Police, NHS, Army etc.
Can anyone offer any more information on what it's like to do that kind of role in a college? Workload? Tasks? Holidays?
Anything she should ask during the interview?
Thanks
My Father has been for years and years. She will most likely end up working a lot more than her contracted hours! And also there are so many boxes that have to be ticked. For example; the college here won't let any student fail, or they get severely reprimanded if they do. Students are lazy tossers. So the majority of work is force fed at tutorial time. A farce. So much so that he's retiring early.
After I finished my photography degree, I taught at an FE college for a year (I was classed as visiting lecturer, so I didn't have to do the PGCE).
I quite enjoyed it, and it paid £100 per day when I was a skint ex-student, so that seemed good at the time.
The staff were a real mixed bunch. You had those looking to climb the ladder to college head (where the salary becomes pretty good), the 'hippy'dippy' type (it was an old art college that still specialised in those subjects) and the cynical, bitter ones who chain-smoked and saw everything as a capitalist plot to personally ruin their lives. Fun bunch when taken with a pinch of salt!
My 'students' were a varied bunch too. I had a class doing what you used to call 'City & Guilds' and most of them were older than me and hoping to develop (no pun intended) a career as a wedding photographer or some such. They were diligent, but quite demanding (fair enough, as they were paying for the course).
My other lot were 16-year-old BTEC students, who were mostly just there to massage the dole figures. A couple of them were quite good, and I'm proud to have helped three of them go on to university. The rest were amusing, but ultimately going nowhere. We had a good banter, and they were usually well-behaved, given some of the backgrounds they had. I did tell one girl that the only thing she needed to learn for her future career was the phrase 'do you want fries with that' - but she took it well.
Not sure I could have made a career out of it though. That level of education (at least in the late 90s) seemed stuck in a sort of 'no man's land' between school and university.
I quite enjoyed it, and it paid £100 per day when I was a skint ex-student, so that seemed good at the time.
The staff were a real mixed bunch. You had those looking to climb the ladder to college head (where the salary becomes pretty good), the 'hippy'dippy' type (it was an old art college that still specialised in those subjects) and the cynical, bitter ones who chain-smoked and saw everything as a capitalist plot to personally ruin their lives. Fun bunch when taken with a pinch of salt!
My 'students' were a varied bunch too. I had a class doing what you used to call 'City & Guilds' and most of them were older than me and hoping to develop (no pun intended) a career as a wedding photographer or some such. They were diligent, but quite demanding (fair enough, as they were paying for the course).
My other lot were 16-year-old BTEC students, who were mostly just there to massage the dole figures. A couple of them were quite good, and I'm proud to have helped three of them go on to university. The rest were amusing, but ultimately going nowhere. We had a good banter, and they were usually well-behaved, given some of the backgrounds they had. I did tell one girl that the only thing she needed to learn for her future career was the phrase 'do you want fries with that' - but she took it well.
Not sure I could have made a career out of it though. That level of education (at least in the late 90s) seemed stuck in a sort of 'no man's land' between school and university.
in my humble opinion the majority of students at FE college's are there for their bursary and not much else. Keep the attendance above 85-90%, sit the exams (don't need to pass) and they get their £400+ a month to spend whilst living with mum and dad. Easy life.
FE colleges need to make a move to rewarding students for success not just turning up regularly.
I'd say about 15% are actually there to achieve and better themselves.
FE colleges need to make a move to rewarding students for success not just turning up regularly.
I'd say about 15% are actually there to achieve and better themselves.
NinjaPower said:
Thanks for that, interesting stuff.
Was there much work in the way of setting course syllabus and writing the exams etc? Or was it more that you are given a curriculum to follow and you have to teach it?
Sorry, just noticed that this has been moved.Was there much work in the way of setting course syllabus and writing the exams etc? Or was it more that you are given a curriculum to follow and you have to teach it?
I recall (it was a while ago!) that I had a syllabus to follow, but I set my own lesson plans. It was easy for me as I'd just finished my degree, so I had an 'education head' on, I loved my subject and I was only doing 2 days a week, so plenty of time to prepare.
Being an 'art' course, there were no formal exams, but I think the students had to demonstrate competence in key skills (in my case, using the camera, loading film, using the darkroom etc).
NinjaPower said:
Morning all,
I'm asking because my girlfriend has applied for, and been selected for interview, for a position of 'Lecturer' at the lcoal city college, fairly big modern place, that seems to offer a lot of vocational courses from hairdressing/engineering to Diplomas and suchlike.
Bold Text-- Great stuff: getting through to interview is no mean feat.Bold Text
Now the problem is, I don't know anyone who teaches in anything other than a primary school so I have no idea what this job might be like for her as we have no one to ask.
Bold Text-- I assume she has a job description? She should then arrange to visit the organisation for a look around and to meet a few of the other lecturers where she can ask questions and gauge the mood of the place.Bold Text
The pay seems ok, starting at £23k moving to £33k+ over the course of 3 or 4 years, but they seem vague about the hours in the job information pack.
Bold Text-- Teaching/lecturing is still seen as a vocation rather than a place to simply turn up, do one's contracted hours and then go home. There will be an expectation that this is how prospective staff view things. There will be an anticipation that an employee will want to form an emotional bond with both the organisation and their pupils and be willing to go the extra mile for both their benefits. This is where they will hope she will derive her work satisfaction from. 'Hours' will be meaningless, and if this is an issue for her, then, if their interview techniques are good, they will spot this. Bold Text
The position is Lecturer in 'Public Services' which is essentially teaching people about careers in Fire, Police, NHS, Army etc.
Bold Text -- I assume she has some insight in to these organisations or she wouldn't have been shortlisted? Bold Text
Can anyone offer any more information on what it's like to do that kind of role in a college? Workload? Tasks? Holidays?
Bold Text-- I refer you to my earlier answer re it being a vocation rather than a job, and so she should expect to do what is necessary to help make her steeds as successful as they can be. Workload will depend much on her own experience and competency. Holidays I would anticipate as statutory; again, this would normally be in the job spec. If not, a quick call to HR will confirm this. Bold Text
Anything she should ask during the interview?
Bold Text-- I do recommend the pre-interview visit. This will not only answer many questions, but should also be seen as a positive at interview. Any outstanding questions, or new ones as a result of the interview, can then be asked on the day.
Teaching/lecturing are really important roles, affecting as they can the futures of those you will be privileged to influence through quality learning. Good levels of subject knowledge, self awareness, emotional intelligence, commitment, and a sense of humour, are in high demand. Good luck! Bold Text
Thanks
I'm asking because my girlfriend has applied for, and been selected for interview, for a position of 'Lecturer' at the lcoal city college, fairly big modern place, that seems to offer a lot of vocational courses from hairdressing/engineering to Diplomas and suchlike.
Bold Text-- Great stuff: getting through to interview is no mean feat.Bold Text
Now the problem is, I don't know anyone who teaches in anything other than a primary school so I have no idea what this job might be like for her as we have no one to ask.
Bold Text-- I assume she has a job description? She should then arrange to visit the organisation for a look around and to meet a few of the other lecturers where she can ask questions and gauge the mood of the place.Bold Text
The pay seems ok, starting at £23k moving to £33k+ over the course of 3 or 4 years, but they seem vague about the hours in the job information pack.
Bold Text-- Teaching/lecturing is still seen as a vocation rather than a place to simply turn up, do one's contracted hours and then go home. There will be an expectation that this is how prospective staff view things. There will be an anticipation that an employee will want to form an emotional bond with both the organisation and their pupils and be willing to go the extra mile for both their benefits. This is where they will hope she will derive her work satisfaction from. 'Hours' will be meaningless, and if this is an issue for her, then, if their interview techniques are good, they will spot this. Bold Text
The position is Lecturer in 'Public Services' which is essentially teaching people about careers in Fire, Police, NHS, Army etc.
Bold Text -- I assume she has some insight in to these organisations or she wouldn't have been shortlisted? Bold Text
Can anyone offer any more information on what it's like to do that kind of role in a college? Workload? Tasks? Holidays?
Bold Text-- I refer you to my earlier answer re it being a vocation rather than a job, and so she should expect to do what is necessary to help make her steeds as successful as they can be. Workload will depend much on her own experience and competency. Holidays I would anticipate as statutory; again, this would normally be in the job spec. If not, a quick call to HR will confirm this. Bold Text
Anything she should ask during the interview?
Bold Text-- I do recommend the pre-interview visit. This will not only answer many questions, but should also be seen as a positive at interview. Any outstanding questions, or new ones as a result of the interview, can then be asked on the day.
Teaching/lecturing are really important roles, affecting as they can the futures of those you will be privileged to influence through quality learning. Good levels of subject knowledge, self awareness, emotional intelligence, commitment, and a sense of humour, are in high demand. Good luck! Bold Text
Thanks
I used to Lecture Mech Eng in local Tech college, I loved it - well motivated students, no hassle whatsoever in teaching them.
Sadly college changed from a Tech to a business college, I moved on, eventually teaching Maths/Physics in a comprehensive.
Bad move - I hated it - horrible kids, no motivation whatsoever, Left after one term, worse job I've ever had.
Sad but True.
Good luck with your Teaching Career - you'll need it
IMO - work in Industry better conditions and NO Ratty kids to deal with.
Sadly college changed from a Tech to a business college, I moved on, eventually teaching Maths/Physics in a comprehensive.
Bad move - I hated it - horrible kids, no motivation whatsoever, Left after one term, worse job I've ever had.
Sad but True.
Good luck with your Teaching Career - you'll need it
IMO - work in Industry better conditions and NO Ratty kids to deal with.
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