Week 2, still confused...

So week 2 of my PGCE has carried on being interesting but has also confused me further, there is a lot to think about. This week we really got into teaching design and what exactly students are learning from us. We were challenged by whether students know what an idea is? Where do ideas come from and how do you form an idea? This lead onto other questions like what is inspiration? It really made me think about how much we assume students already know and by assuming this what do they take away from a lesson? Have they understood anything? We also looked at assessment in education and whether it helps or hinders students, there seems to be too much pressure on results and league tables meaning the struggling pupils just give up. We looked at many of the different types of assessment and which students will benefit best from each type, should all students be tested in the same way when students have such varied abilities, needs and skills?

This week we were also given a lecture on communication and relationships with students and how to gain these with trust and mutual respect. 'Love the sinner, hate the sin' was a quote I really liked, you have to question why a student is causing trouble and if you give up on them where does that leave them?

To mix things up a bit we also left the uni this week and took a trip to the V&A to see the exhibition 'The Power of Making', it was brilliant. I found it really helpful as it covered all areas of D and T; materials, food, textiles and electronics. The exhibition challenged peoples perceptions of how we can use materials and gave a great insight into how technologies have changed, adapted and where they are going in the future. We were asked to think about taking a class to the exhibition and what sort of learning tasks we would set them which again brought back the assumptions we make about students, do they know what 'looking' is at an exhibition? Do they know what to take from exhibitions and how to apply what they have seen to their own work? One of my favourite parts of the exhibition was the 100% Porcelain work by Damien O'Sullivan.

Damian O'Sullivan

Our week was ended with a very inspiring talk from some of the teachers at a local school who loved their jobs so much, it was really nice to see and really made me feel excited about going into teaching. Afterwards we finally got to see the workshops, a place where I really feel at home and became even more exciting about teaching a subject that I love.

First week...

On Monday I started my PGCE course at Goldsmiths where I am training to teach Design and Technology to secondary schools kids. So many people told me how intense the course would be and they weren't lying! We have had so much thrown at us this week which has turned my brain into a bit of a confused mess but it has been a very interesting week. We have had lectures about students who speak English as a second language, students who have special educational needs along with a fascinating lecture about the history of education and assessment and all sorts of other things. I have enjoyed meeting all the other students too, we have a wide age range all with varying degrees of experience and expertise which is great. As regards to work I think we have been let off pretty lightly in our first week with just a few bits and pieces to read through and fill in. Our first piece of homework which we received on Monday, our first day, was to sketch how to make a cup which I am still not sure what the point was but it was fun to sea everyone's different versions. Bring on week 2.

Summer Snaps..

Just some of the many pictures I took this summer.

New phone, new knitted case...

I got a new phone recently so had to knit it a jumper and finally got to use the lovely wool I bought last year but haven't been able to use yet.

Memories...

I have only been back in the UK now for about 4 months but my little trip around the world seems like a life time ago. I was looking back through some of my pictures and remembered I never actually posted any on here, so here are a few of my favourites...

And she's back...

Once again I must appologise for the lack of blogs recently, I moved back to London 3 months ago and it has all been a bit manic as I've got back into the swing of things after living the traveling life. Catching up with friends I've missed, starting a new job, moving flat and the lack of internet have all meant I have been quite absent here. So I thought I would write a quick blog to sum up what I have been up to since moving back to the city I love before getting back to the usual little blogs of knits, photos and other things.

Firstly, I got a job at the Canteen Restaurant in Spitalfields Market. Its a great place and serves awesome food!
Secondly, my boyfriend and I found ourselves a lovely little flat in Bethnal Green (Hackney I will miss you). We are 4 floors up with not many other tall buildings around so we have a great view of the city.
Thirdly, I got full confirmation of a place on the PGCE course at Goldsmiths University so have been getting myself ready to start next week which also means I have had to quit my job at the Canteen and enjoy the unemployed student life again.

Amongst all of this I got to see my best friend graduate from her Masters, very proud moment, visited quite a few galleries and exhibitions, explored some areas of London I have never been to before, had a road trip to Scotland, celebrated birthdays and got quite scared by the riots!

All in all I am so glad to be back in London, have had a great summer and now I am a bit more settled I should be blogging more...honest!