tutor vacancies!?!?

[Greg:]

I had a recent chat with a staff member at a "learning centre" (trying not to be specific here) and the topic of staff recruitment came up. Apparently they don't get a high quantity and sustained quality of candidates when taking on electrics tutors.

Any ideas why this is and what's going on?

 

[karlhill]

I have just started doing the 2330 lvl2 and the tutor we have is a legend and makes each session a lot more memroable and enjoyable and really opened my eyes to think that later down the line after I'm fully qualified and have a wealth of experience I would love to give tutoring a go.

If it's a paycut fair enough! but you are taking on a room full of school leavers or mature students and turning them into electricians and I think seeing all your students become qualified sparks would be the best job satisfaction you could ask for.

 

[tutorsteve]

Glad your enjoying the course Adam. I agree that when you get a good tutor it can inspire you alot. Does he even make health & safety fun? Surely not, tell me his secrets, lol

 

[clicon357]

My first year of Level 2 2330 was farcical when it came to tutors. A succession of different guys for the theory (five I think from memory). 1st guy was agency and kept quoting Mein Kampf - they got rid of him asap, then an ex student of the college who whilst working in the trade had suffered a brain tumour and upon recovering had gotten a job at the college. Decent guy, but I think the theory was maybe a bit too much for him to teach so I think he went and did the practical night. Ended up with a lad who was an ex technician at the college who they had made up. Lovely bloke but when it came to teaching........! He'd start a topic by saying he hadn't done much on that particular subject so to "bear with him". Then he'd walk round the class and say things like "Can I copy how you're doing that calculation please!". He would disappear for half an hour "to do some photocopying" then hand out the same stuff 3 weeks in a row. In the end we basically taught ourselves and ignored him. Second year of the 2330 and they sorted it with one good lecturer all the way through. The kicker was at the end of the second year they told us anyone wanting to do Level 3 would have to change colleges which is what I had to do!

 

[ackbarthestar]

My first year of Level 2 2330 was farcical when it came to tutors. A succession of different guys for the theory (five I think from memory). 1st guy was agency and kept quoting Mein Kampf - they got rid of him asap, then an ex student of the college who whilst working in the trade had suffered a brain tumour and upon recovering had gotten a job at the college. Decent guy, but I think the theory was maybe a bit too much for him to teach so I think he went and did the practical night. Ended up with a lad who was an ex technician at the college who they had made up. Lovely bloke but when it came to teaching........! He'd start a topic by saying he hadn't done much on that particular subject so to "bear with him". Then he'd walk round the class and say things like "Can I copy how you're doing that calculation please!". He would disappear for half an hour "to do some photocopying" then hand out the same stuff 3 weeks in a row. In the end we basically taught ourselves and ignored him. Second year of the 2330 and they sorted it with one good lecturer all the way through. The kicker was at the end of the second year they told us anyone wanting to do Level 3 would have to change colleges which is what I had to do!

Well, unfortunately using internal staff and making them up is the cheapest, and most convenient method for line managers to get teaching staff in place before the courses start.

Some of the salary examples quoted in earlier posts were less that my salary 10 years ago.

 

[Sparky Ninja]

My initial introduction into lecturing was workshop based, then after two years they popped me straight into the 2330 Level 3. That college in particular is an absolute disgrace at the moment and the managers were brickies by trade and so have no technical knowledge. I'm being approached to work there and am fortunate enough to refuse outright.

 

[ackbarthestar]

My initial introduction into lecturing was workshop based, then after two years they popped me straight into the 2330 Level 3. That college in particular is an absolute disgrace at the moment and the managers were brickies by trade and so have no technical knowledge. I'm being approached to work there and am fortunate enough to refuse outright.

IMO I would never turn down the opportunity to take on work. I suppose your line managers considered a 2 year apprenticeship enough time to get to grips with the department and subject matter. They probably thought, as well, we'll get this bloke at half the price of the previous one!

Well, you know the college, the managers, other members of staff and if you consider them to be a bunch of 'you know what' then you would have my support.

 

[Sparky Ninja]

IMO I would never turn down the opportunity to take on work. I suppose your line managers considered a 2 year apprenticeship enough time to get to grips with the department and subject matter. They probably thought, as well, we'll get this bloke at half the price of the previous one!

Well, you know the college, the managers, other members of staff and if you consider them to be a bunch of 'you know what' then you would have my support.

Not really mate, I was already times served and more competent than all the full timers by then.
Plus I'm now in a full time job as head of training so all the complications and shinannigans of the other place would not be tolerated by me.

 

[morph]

kids need a good beating but alas it is not allowed!
I taught a Btec first construction course at a ESD school, now that was a challenge albeit amusing shall we say

 

[tutorsteve]

I've found that if you spend most of your lesson dealing with the disruptive students your being unfair on the keen ones. Your teaching courses tell you every student matters but in reality the tools they tell you to use don't always work. You just have to do your best with what you've got and hopefully get the students through the course.

 

[karlhill]

Glad your enjoying the course Adam. I agree that when you get a good tutor it can inspire you alot. Does he even make health & safety fun? Surely not, tell me his secrets, lol

To be honest Steve he is the most un p.c. guy I have ever met and is a sandwich short of a pinic but is extremley clued up. Like you I don't think he has been doing it long but the college will certainly be getting a letter at the end of the year so as they know they've got a good tutor they need to keep hold of.

His Health & Safety topics covered him using a fluroescent tube as a light saber and nearly being blown through an up stairs window whilst trying to fix a tv he concluded this part in tears laughing his head off.

I did the what was 2360 part 2 and 3 about 10 years ago with a private company who went bust so I never got the actual certs and as it was an apprenticeship my employer didn't want to pay again so I got laid off but the lecturer I had for that course was the most boring person I have ever known.

I think it's the fact that as a room full of mature students we can relate to some of the tales he tells us where as school leavers will think you're telling an old wife's tale from "the good old days!"

 

[morph]

all of them were disruptive ! just some more than others LOL , i agree with you though it is unfair to the willing ones, even though we are supposed to be inclusive the reality is different...I kept 8 grade ones in class all day and the head was amazed at that... as it happens most of them passed too!

 

[Dimebag213]

Some of the comments are spot on here ha ha! Been teaching in FE in Electrical Insrallation for 10 years now for my sins.......How do i do it? God knows!! And good tutors are very hard to find nowadays as they either know very little....or know alot and cannot get it across for love nor money...... Its very hard to balance this correctly! But get it right and teaching is quite easy and straight forward....apart from the ****e like IV ....... EV's and all the pointless redtape and babysitting that comes with it...ha ha ha....... but there is far worse jobs out there though!

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I came off the tools quite recently to go into lecturing and it is definitely a eye opener. The money is pretty crap and it takes alot of energy and balls to stand infront of 16-19 year olds who see college as a doss.
Saying that i am enjoying the challenge and being in a classroom does beat a cold building site in winter.

I have no problems with students who want to doss. I point out to them that they have left school, and different rules apply. If they dont want to be there then they dont have to come. I quite happily kick them out, and free up their place for someone who does. Result.......16, 16 to 19 year old apprentices through NVQ L1 and L2 in 22 weeks, no problems.

Cheers............Howard