What it’s really like to study Primary Computing
Student Sarah Aliwell tells us all about her experience of studying for a PG Certificate in Primary Computing in preparation for her job.
I am a Primary School teacher currently teaching Year 6 and recently took over the role of computing subject leader.
All Primary teachers have their subject strengths and subject weaknesses; in an ideal world all subject leaders would be passionate and skilled in their area of responsibility but in our school, the job fell to me by default given the best fit of other staff members to other curriculum responsibilities. Therefore, in addition to taking on the responsibility of subject leader, I also have to take into account the different levels of staff confidence, the limitations of the resources we have and my own limited subject knowledge.
My Headteacher recommended the PGC in Primary Computing to develop my subject knowledge and leadership skills. I was unsure I was up to the challenge of a 2-year part time course in addition to my teaching role but (even though I am still daunted by the requirements) I am currently appreciating the usefulness of this course.
I chose to study at The University of Northampton because it was convenient for me and it was also close to the area where I worked. The group (a small select few!) has weekly virtual chats facilitated by course leader Helen. These Google hangouts (lasting no more than an hour) give us the opportunity to reflect on our experiences of the week and discuss the reading material set as ‘homework’ following the previous meeting. Other participants have different backgrounds and levels of expertise — I am able to just follow their lead, read the articles suggested by Helen or other members, and consider what the research means for my own teaching methods.
We will have a termly face-to-face meeting at The University of Northampton (for those who can make it) and there is a residential weekend coming up. We are currently preparing six 400-word blogs about our own experiences of putting the theory of teaching and learning computing into practice. I am definitely looking at what and how I teach in light of the reading we have done and the next step will be to put together a research project for the second assignment later in the year. I am also building a sense of how I need to lead the rest of the school forward in their teaching of the computing curriculum.
I am also building a sense of how I need to lead the rest of the school forward in their teaching of the computing curriculum.
Are you interested in studying PG Certificate in Primary Computing, if so find out more on : http://bit.ly/PGCPrComp
