Unrealistic expectations

[satehen]

I've started a masters level teaching post grad. The first proper week has just ended and we've been given our assignment hand in dates. One assignment draft is due in, in 3 weeks time. We have not had any lectures on the content, it's going to be 50% of the module, we've been told anything below a C is a fail and the books in the library are barely NVQ level 3 standards let alone masters! I've also checked out all of the journals, but non have any relevent content. I've been onto Athens, or what we are permitted to use of it and that wasn't too helpfull either. I'm not happy. Has this happened to any one else?

[Kentish]

Speak to your tutor. They'll be able to point you in the right direction.

What's it on?

[otter]

yeah. but you're at masters level now. its not about them "teaching you the content"... its about getting to grips with it all yourself. but like Kentish said, you can always ask your tutor to "point you in the right direction".

[satehen]

But i've never had a lecture on this subject full stop, i think i'll need to do a lot of research! It's on legal responsibilties of SEN (special educational needs), the importance of promoting positive values and strategies for working with others. I have a tutorial Monday so i'll be telling my lecturer i'm not best pleased. In the mean time i'm being pro active, i'm heading off to my old uni to photocopy some of their books!

[BumbleBee]

My friend is currently doing a post grad teaching qualification and it is bloody hard work. I don't want to sound too harsh but your expectations of post grad study seem to be a little low. As someone else pointed out, it isn't about being taught as such, it's about using your initiative. I know you're being pro-active now, but moaning about not being taught the content won't get you anywhere... some of the most important things you can learn are the things you 'teach' yourself.

[littlemissy]

Originally Posted by BumbleBee

My friend is currently doing a post grad teaching qualification and it is bloody hard work. I don't want to sound too harsh but your expectations of post grad study seem to be a little low. As someone else pointed out, it isn't about being taught as such, it's about using your initiative. I know you're being pro-active now, but moaning about not being taught the content won't get you anywhere... some of the most important things you can learn are the things you 'teach' yourself.

I am currently doing a PGCE and we have been there 3 weeks now. We start placement on Monday and we are told that our first assignment is due not long later. They have given us 2 lectures on the subject and we are told to go do it. And most of us have been (it is also worth 100% of the module) We have been doing it all off our own back, using our own initiative and getting on with it. In fact, most of our assignments and folders are based on subjects we will only get one or two lectures on because there is so much to the PGCE that there just isn't enough time to teach everything in any amount of depth.

Most of uni, particularly post grad study, is about being told what to hand in and when to hand it in. I'm afraid the rest is up to you.

[satehen]

I know i have to do my own research, but all the other assignments are in a few months after the lectures. Plus the college doesn't have the right resources.

[littlemissy]

Originally Posted by satehen

I know i have to do my own research, but all the other assignments are in a few months after the lectures. Plus the college doesn't have the right resources.

You know the title so now you have to go and research it.

Just because the college doesn't have the right resources it means you have to find them from elsewhere. Either the city library, the internet, resources you have gathered through experience or previous courses.

Tbh, I will be extremely surprised if you cannot find information on SEN in your college library. Maybe try the law library for the legal stuff.

They ain't going to set an assignment that you just cannot do. Simple as.

[satehen]

The books that are in there are no higher than NVQ level 3, the public library has very few academic books and i can't write an assignment purely on what i find on the net. But i will be going to my old uni to see what they've got. I was going today, but i found out it was shut at 5.30

[Mist]

To be honest you can either sit here and moan at us about it, or crack on and do some work. Speak to your tutors if you think that the resources really aren't up to it.

To be honest, if your hand in is in three weeks then you have time to learn more about it anyway.