Training to become an IT teacher...advice please!

nicki_2

I'm looking to start a career as an IT teacher in a secondary school but I have no idea where to start! I don't have a degree in anything (only a DipHE in "performance and production technology" which is now 9 years old) but I am looking at doing one in ICT through the Open University so that I don't have to worry too much about child care for my daughter outside of school hours and I can work at my own pace!

Can someone give me any advice about which sort of courses I should take with reference to the current curriculum as in what I would be expected to teach? I was also wondering whether doing an "Open Degree" would be better than a specific ICT one so I could then do a management or buiness module as well?

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Fen1

I would go and talk to your local teacher training college as they will know exactly what the requirements are and the best way of going about things, even if you want to go through the OU for a degree first. I would also talk with a couple of different IT teachers from local secondaries to get their opinion.

What they will all want to know is whether you have any classroom experience ( if you don't they may well advise you to try an assistanship for at least a term to see whether you take to it and are any good at it, and it will make your applications easier to say that you have the experience); why you want to go into IT; what are your skills for this position?

[Deleted User]

I believe you'd need a PGCE before you could teach in a classroom, you'd also need an IT background or some formal qualifications (e.g. degree in computer science).

When I was at school (mid 90s), the IT teachers didn't just teach IT... plus they were rather useless. I guess I've got a rather low opinion of them because of that. Home computing is more mainstream now, so I hope it's got better since.

This page may help:
http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/becomingateacher/whatwouldyouliketoteach/teachingsecondary.aspx

Elliesmum

Fen1 wrote: »

I would go and talk to your local teacher training college as they will know exactly what the requirements are and the best way of going about things, even if you want to go through the OU for a degree first. I would also talk with a couple of different IT teachers from local secondaries to get their opinion.

What they will all want to know is whether you have any classroom experience ( if you don't they may well advise you to try an assistanship for at least a term to see whether you take to it and are any good at it, and it will make your applications easier to say that you have the experience); why you want to go into IT; what are your skills for this position?

Good advice. To teach compulsory education you really need a degree and a teaching qualification - essential. You cannot teach without this. Post-16 is different - you do not need a degree or a teaching qual to start with but you have to make a commitment to gain the necessary qualifications within a specific amount of time.

Once upon a time colleges were willing to take on individuals who had industry/training experience and help them get through their teaching qualifications (i.e. Cert Ed or PGCE). It depends on how scarce IT teachers are in your area. They do prefer some experience now a days though. Best place to start for experience would be a Learn Direct Centre or similar that do adult education in IT, maybe Clait or ECDL and see if they need volunteers.

This would give you the insight into teaching and see if you like it. It would give you enough experience (and hours) to maybe get you onto the 1st year teaching qual like C&G 7407. Maybe if you can gain a degree pretty quickly (i.e. convert your diploma) and get onto a PCGE course you could approach your local secondary schools.

Good luck.

EM xx

nicki_2

Fen1 wrote: »

What they will all want to know is whether you have any classroom experience ( if you don't they may well advise you to try an assistanship for at least a term to see whether you take to it and are any good at it, and it will make your applications easier to say that you have the experience); why you want to go into IT; what are your skills for this position?

I have worked with teenagers in a secondary school before but that was about 10 years ago and I really enjoyed it. It wasn't exactly classroom experience as I was a technician but I've always wanted to be a teacher!

The reason I want to go into IT is that it the one area of my studies from school that I've managed to work on and improve (although I have no proof of that as I've not done anything in the way of courses since I left higher education in 1999) and after doing a Learn Direct "assess you skills" thing it said that IT would be a good direction for me to go in. My ex-partner (who I still live with) is a A+ qualified IT Network Manager in a school and he's said that I have the skills and ability (including learning new things) to follow through with a career in IT if I can just get the qualifications to prove it! Everything else I studied was only at GCSE or A-level and I basically failed my A-levels as I'd already got onto a course so didn't put the effort in.

I've already printed off the OU "becoming a teacher" booklet but now I've just become more confused due to all the options etc:o

cazziebo

Are you working just now?

If you qualify for training for work schemes then it might be possible for you to do A+ or Network plus as well as the MCSP or CCNA qualifications and be funded for them.

my experience has rather been like Ringo describes. IT teachers in schools tend to teach other subjects, and the kids are so computer literate anyway. There might be more career mileage in selecting an area of particular interest, like networking or whatever and pursuing that and then training adults or teaching in FE colleges.