Erin Whitmore took the Human and Social Sciences in the Classroom Module, a one-term placement opportunity that allows students to teach aspects of their degree subject in a local school and gain the skills that will directly translate to a teaching career.
What drew you to the module?
For many years I have watched my mum carry out her role as a teacher with such care and dedication and it inspired me to want to do the same. When I saw that a Human and Social Sciences in the Classroom module (ANTB5560) was an option, I jumped at the chance to improve and advance my knowledge in a classroom and gain any skills I could take forward for the future. This module allowed me to gain further experience that I can take away and use when I apply for my own teacher training.
‘My passion is to help children find their confidence in learning and help them grow and shape themselves into the person they want to become.
Maybe the small part I can play will end up impacting their futures in a positive way.
What did you do during your year in (industry, abroad, another subject)?
For my placement I was working at Dover Technical College where I had to observe, participate and later teach Sociology, my degree subject, to the class. During my observations I was able to make many notes about what I think made the class engage and want to learn and anything I wanted to consider using myself in the future. By participating in the lessons and giving my own input it allowed me to sharpen my knowledge of the topic and gain an understanding of how teachers can have a back-and-forth conversation or debate with their students to help challenge and enhance their knowledge.
‘Finally, after two or three sessions it was my turn to plan and teach a lesson.
This allowed me to really put myself in a teacher’s shoes and feel what it is like to teach a class, the challenges and rewards behind it and really confirmed my passion for teaching.
What was your favourite memory?
When I was able to get the attention of one of the quieter students in the class and have a mini-debate with him about an area of the lesson that he found particularly interesting. It was rewarding to see that not only was I able to get all the students in the class to engage with my lesson but also that I could then challenge them to think deeper about their work and how they could develop their argument in an essay. I also really loved how friendly both the group of students and the teacher were and it was very easy to fit in and feel comfortable, something that is really important for a teacher to be able to do.
What about academic or study support?
For this module plenty of support was offered if any questions or difficulties arose. The module convenor held four guest speaker sessions; they came to talk about their own experiences of teaching and helped us further our understanding of the role of a teacher. There was never a moment I felt confused or unhappy in this module because any questions I had were answered and were resolved with no outstanding issues.
What skills have you developed for the workplace?
I gained and enhanced many skills from this placement.
‘My confidence, especially in front of a class has increased enormously and my confidence in planning and organising for a lesson has improved too.
Simple things like time management from planning my journey getting to Dover in time for the lesson and even feeling more confident in myself on public transport are both things I never would have thought this module could help with and yet it did. Overall, this module has helped in my confidence in a range of different areas, confidence in teaching, confidence in travelling, confidence in planning lessons and just general self-confidence that I am capable of doing whatever I put my mind to. By teaching in a classroom I also picked up on specific details that improve a teachers bond with their class and things that may make a lesson more enjoyable, all things I would count as useful skills to be used in a classroom when teaching.
How has your degree helped your career prospects?
This has hugely helped my passion for teaching. As I get closer and closer to applying for teacher training, experience in the industry is key for improving my CV. By taking this module I have further evidence of my dedication to teaching and direct experience in the industry, not only working in a class but also teaching a lesson. Any experience and skills I can gain in the next two years will add to my portfolio and my employability chances. Teaching is something that to do well requires vast knowledge and experience which can only be enhanced by continuously gaining relevant, on-site practice which this module has provided.
What advice would you give to a prospective student considering taking a year in (industry, abroad, another subject)?
For anyone taking this module I would say not to worry about where your placement is happening. When I found out I would have to go all the way to Dover I was concerned for many reasons but actually I ended up gaining skills in simply planning a journey and the taking that journey successfully. Every step from attending the weekly talks to then teaching in the class is a useful experience with many opportunities to enhance and develop skills. I think this module is excellent for anyone who is interested in potentially going into teaching, even if it is only a small thought at the back of your mind. It is important however to remember that this module is not solely about experiences in a classroom but also about reflecting on that in a logbook and writing an essay to test your academic skills as well as teaching ability. Experiencing teaching in a class, whether it be to a year 7 group or in my case adults, will give you a much clearer idea of whether this is something not only that you may be interested in but also something that suits you or not.
Erin Whitmore, studied for a joint BA (Hons) in Sociology and Social Anthropology.