SWOT- How do candidates see it?

swot.docswot.doc Full Report

We asked 11 teachers at the beginning of the year how they saw their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the coming year of professional development on the MA in Education Programme.

• They reported that their motivation and enthusiasm for learning new knowledge, applying it to their work and raising standards. The opportunity of their leadership role was seen as a strength.

• Candidates perceived their weaknesses as a lack of skill, or ability, and a lack of time. Some saw lack of school support for what they were trying to do as a weakness.

• Candidates perceive that the programme offers them the opportunity to develop practice and raise standards, to re-enthuse and gain a qualification and career development.

• The largest perceived threat is a lack of time in busy working lives with sudden and unexpected disruptions, and maintaining a work life balance.

Midwheb ill continue to develop programmes which recognise these issues through for example developing portfolio approaches which fit in with work already done by teachers.

Is MA Education work difficult?

No. Absolutely not.

Most teachers these days have a first degree already. Their job and experience means that they spend most working days collecting data, solving complex problems, implementing best practice, analysing results and communicating with others in various forms. Teachers are, and ought to be learning professionals working in learning organisations.

All professional development should be at postgraduate level, and you might ask yourself why it isn’t ? What is this other low level stuff called “professional development”? We expect you to learn about best known practice, implement it and evaluate what happens. Nothing difficult in that.

Yes. We are challenging provocative, evaluative and analytical. We seek to be at the forefront of best practice. These are the qualities of the level 4 descriptors .

The rather lengthier and wordy QAA level descriptors, which underpin this answer are attached.

Don’t forget that we are there to support you passing our programmes.

Disclaimer

We try to keep this information up to date and correct. But things do change. So here is the standard disclaimer

“The given information in this literature associated web site is intended as a guide to interested parties in MIDWHEB and Middlesex University programmes and, except as otherwise provided in the material shall not be deemed to constitute a contract, or the terms thereof between MIDWHEB, Middlesex University students, the public or a third party. MIDWHEB reserves the right to cancel, suspend or modify, in any way, the matters in this document.”

Give me a call and I will attempt to give you the correct information as I understand it. i.terrell@mdx.ac.uk

Can we do school based work?

All MA Education programmes are based on developing work in schools. The Midwheb Partnership also encourages school’s to lead programmes. These can be tailored by the school to meet the schools needs. Please contact me for details and support in establishing these as a postgraduate module of research and development work.

Can you get credit for NCSL programmes like leading from the middle?

Does Midwheb run leadership programmes?

Yes, we have several based at the University, in partner LEAs and in schools (see attached document for January 2007

What about Leading from the Middle and NPQH (etc)

Can you get credit for NCSL leadership programmes such as “leading from the Middle” or “NPQH”? These are normally not credit bearing but you can gain credit by registering for the MA Education and undertaking the Developing Professional Practice Module. Contact i.terrell@mdx.ac.uk for details.

If you have already achieved these the process is through “accrediting prior and experiential learning”. Apply for details. This option is more complex and you are nest advised to register before undertaking the programme.

can you get credit for the International Schools Award work?

Yes. Of course you can. You need to do the developing professional practice award. Academic awards are for your individual work and not for the school as a whole (like the International School Award). The assignment for DPP is based upon 5 sections where you outline 1. needs 2plans 3 evidence 4 impact 5 what next?

A document is attached explaining the close links with ISA.

Midwheb and The GTC Teaching and Learning Framework

Midwheb MA Education Programme and the GTC Teaching and Learning Framework

You ought to carry on this splendid work and gain a real academic award at post graduate level for improving standards of teaching and learning.

This material is an explanation of how the GTC Teaching and Learning Framework fits the requirements of the MA Education award in midwheb partnership schools.

Participants will need to register with Midwheb prior to beginning the programme (Contact me i.terrell@mdx.ac.)

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