The 'High-lights' and 'Low-lights' so far...

'High-lights'

There were plenty of these precious moments that I can't leave out of this post. Graduating with my degree and Msc in Psychology and child development, working with the most amazing teaching teams in Scotland and Cornwall. Stepping out of my comfort zone to volunteer within organisations supporting children through alcohol and drug misuse within the family (NACOA) and working in care to support adults with degenerative disorders. Set aside from the travelling and general enjoyment of life, my experiences pre-PGCE informed my practices today as a lecturer, colleague and professional.

During the PGCE I think the most exciting aspect has been the exposure to so many opportunites and theorists. Recently, I supported two members of staff within the humanities department on a trip to Rome. It wasn't until I was sitting in the Sistine Chapel looking up at Michelangelo's masterpiece that I really became overwhelmed by all of the opportunites I had been given. Academically, this year has exposed me to some influential theorists that I know will inform my practice in the future, mainly because they help to evidence my thinking. Bronfrenbrenner and Baxter-Magdola are two that I continuously refer to. The different ecologies and systems that individuals are exposed to influence and continually act upon each other (Bronfrenbrenner) have really eneabled me to appreciate my role in supporting students to develop their self-efficacy (Bandura) or belief in their own ability. Baxter-Magdola discusses self-authorship; the need for individuals to work towards their goals and manage their own learning to enable them to develop into mature students or have the skills needed to manage their lifes post education.

'Low-lights'

At first, it was hard to think of the negatives, mainly because I am always such an optomistic and positive person. I do however feel that this year has been a challenge in terms of my confidence in myself. Whilst I have welcomed the observations and feedback in my work, I have learnt that often I am the most critical person to myself. Whilst I think of this as a positive trait, it hasn't helped in my belief of teaching. Anyone wanting to embark on this journey should really consider the challenges you will face, but ultimately, I feel that the educational system and it's methods of monitoring for Quality Assurance are often separate to the actual essence of teaching. I feel that there should be more weighting for reflective practice (Kolb, Schon, Gibbs) in terms of Quality Assurance and the value of the individuals beliefs in their own ability.

#PGCE #Teaching #Journey