Interview Presentation Help

Jedraith

Hi, just looking for some advice 
I have an interview on Monday for a teaching assistant post at a secondary school (I was only informed that I was shortlisted on Friday (yesterday) - I'm looking to retrain as at the moment I am an administrator in 18+ education and have never worked in a classroom.

I have to do a 10 minute non IT presentation on how I would support a secondary school child with a SEN need. I was hoping to make some resources and print them off at home as example of how I would support said child. Does the no IT mean no access to a computer during the interview so I need to present my info on something other than a PowerPoint or does it mean literally I shouldn't use of IT of any kind for resources. 

I have no experience in this area and I'm looking to move into the role and have got a place on a college course to qualify as a TA and I feel very unprepared. I didn't even expect to get an interview!
Any help would be appreciated

Savvy_Sue

I'd say you can use IT to prepare, but you won't be able to do a PP presentation. But I am not the school. Hard though it might be, it might be worth seeing what you can do by hand. Above all make it memorable - I know you have a subject, but one of my friends gave a presentation on headlice in one interview when given a free choice, which I doubt the interviewers ever forgot! 

My thinking is running to a clipboard with a 'reveal' presentation: pre-folding some cover sheets which you'd then fold back to show what's underneath. 

Drawing a border around the page makes it stand out more. 

Good luck! 

PS I have no experience as a TA ... 

Jedraith

I'm thinking that I shouldn't use any IT now but I'm really struggling as I know literally nothing about the subject that I'm supposed to talk about for 10 mins. I've never done an presentation interview so I'm super nervous. Especially nervous of the awkward silences when I have no clue as to what I am going on about!

gettingtheresometime

If you've no experience of the exact subject I'd think laterally and describe how you would support someone generally in a classroom setting but bear in mind of the pupil's additional needs

your plan to do handouts is a good idea (just make sure you have plenty of copies to hand out) and you can refer to it in your presentation ...imo they should be a synopsis of the presentation rather than a written regurgitation. Also if it helps, when I do a presentation I write it down on large index cards & use them as prompts

Savvy_Sue

Jedraith said:

I'm thinking that I shouldn't use any IT now but I'm really struggling as I know literally nothing about the subject that I'm supposed to talk about for 10 mins. I've never done an presentation interview so I'm super nervous. Especially nervous of the awkward silences when I have no clue as to what I am going on about!

Then practice, practice, practice. Present to your friends, your family, your pets, the mirror. you'll feel ridiculous, but the more times you say what you want to say, the easier it will be to say it when you want to say it. 

bouicca21

Maybe the first thing to ask is what kind of special need? learning difficulties, autism, dyslexia, mobility issues?  You can't support a child without finding out what the need actually is.

[Deleted User]

Research lots and learn about the role - it has to be something that you really want to do, and comes across that way. The presentation should be knowledgeable, passionate, clear and concise.

gwynlas

If the interview is tomorrow then you have been given no time to prepare a tem minute presentation.it would be best if you reitereated this and that you would have liked more time to prepare . 
Then said that off the cuff and without specialist knowledge what you would do.
I would start by saying that you would need to clarify the needs of the child by reading and discussing the SEN report and reviewing if you had access to the resources to meet that need. The professional involved should have already signposted what the needs are. As a support worker you would be looking to enhance your skills and knowledge by reading around the specific SEN and how this impacts the child. This might involve seeking out the required tools to aid understanding eg coloured overlays for dyslexia and ensuring that these were to hand whenever needed. You would effectively be  learning on the job by partaking in training on the relevant subject and putting your knowledge into practice. at all times liaising with the teacher to ensure that the child was able to participate in learning.

KiKi

Non-IT presentation in this context to me clearly means "don't present using Powerpoint or anything that requires tech".  I don't think for one second it means "don't use a computer to research or prep handouts".  I can see a good reason for that - they get to test your understanding, but also the way you talk / interact without doing a formal presentation...which is something you'd need to do with teachers and parents and kids in a school.

Masomnia

KiKi said:

Non-IT presentation in this context to me clearly means "don't present using Powerpoint or anything that requires tech".  I don't think for one second it means "don't use a computer to research or prep handouts".  I can see a good reason for that - they get to test your understanding, but also the way you talk / interact without doing a formal presentation...which is something you'd need to do with teachers and parents and kids in a school.

Or they just think setting up the IT and getting everyone to bring in USB sticks will be a pain!

How did it go?

DCFC79

Was going to reply with a question but then realised the interview was today.
How did it go OP ?
Hope it went well.