CPD
CPD courses
are not always
affordable or
easy to access
and finding the time to
study is often an issue.
The Open University has
introduced CPD courses
for teachers. Helen Kaut
investigates
HE OPEN University (OU) offers 10
T
bespoke CPD courses for primary and
secondary school teachers.
Courses for secondary school
teachers include “Learning to lead”,
“Classroom research and action”, and
“Using virtual learning environment
(VLE) in my teaching”.
The courses last for 18 months and learners have
plenty of time to finish them. The courses are delivered
online and take on average 30 hours to complete.
Learning advisors support students with advice and
answer queries, which can be submitted via email or
through the forum.
So far, about 160 teachers have taken a CPD course
with the OU. The courses are divided into modules
which can be mostly studied flexibly and include online
learning, reflective practice, and the final assessment
Open learning
which is a work-based activity.
June Hitchcock, learning advisor for the courses
“Learning to lead” and “Classroom research and action”,
explains what typical work-based activities cover.
“Learning to lead is aimed at teachers who have “It was all marked online which I thought was also ran workshops for teachers in the Environmental is looking to introduce more over the next two years.
some experience in school but who are looking at fantastic, because one of the things nowadays that Education Centre of Paranesti in Greece. These will not only look at teaching skills, but also at
exploring aspects of school leadership to further their pressurises teachers is the marking, so anything that can The feedback from students is positive according other core skills teachers would benefit from such as
career. So their research project would have a slant reduce the marking is brilliant.” to Ms Lambert and the main reason for this is the high stress and time management. SecEd
towards leadership and management. The results he got with his own pupils were part of quality of the courses.
“Whereas Classroom research and action can his report. He also asked his colleagues to take part in “We have all the quality assurances in place that • Helen Kaut is a freelance education journalist.
involve focusing on work in the classroom and school the quiz and evaluate it. He thinks that the course has have the same standard that graduate and postgraduate
improvement. Their assessment would be tailored helped him not only with how to use IT applications degrees have. So our CPD courses, though they are
Further information
particularly to the individual needs of that student such as blogging, which he is currently introducing at short, still undergo the vigorous processes of the rest of OU course fees range from £235 to £495 and teachers
within their workplace context.” his school, but also with his career prospects. the university,” she said. can apply for funding from their school. Teachers
Students are free to suggest their own research Biology teacher Eleni Saravanou, who lives and “We are the world leader in distance education, receive a certificate on successful completion, but the
projects and their learning advisors guide them works in Drama, Greece, took the course “Classroom so when students study at a distance they are fully OU CPD courses are not credit-bearing. However, if
in terms of what would be worthwhile within the research and action”, which introduces the principles supported by learning advisors, who are practising teachers decide to go on to study an MA in education,
word limit. They are encouraged to discuss what and methods of research and looks at how to identify professionals within the education sector.” the CPD course can be counted towards this course. See
they learn and their projects with their colleagues and investigate a research project. The OU currently only offers 10 CPD courses, but http://www.open.ac.uk/cpd/index.php?q=node/104
at school. It also encourages them to implement their findings
The work-based activities can include PowerPoint to improve their school. Ms Saravanou also works as
slides or screen shots and a maximum of 15 slides, an advisor of environmental education and co-ordinator
while notes can be between 800 and 1,000 words long of projects in the secondary schools in her region and
and handouts should not exceed 2,000 words. she took this course because she wanted to work on a
According to Jo Lambert, product manager, CPLD, project about environmental education in schools and
Attitude is crucial
at the Open University, “Using Virtual Learning involve teachers and students in it.
Environment (VLE) in my teaching” is one of the most She started the course in July 2008 and finished
popular courses. It introduces various components of in July 2009. This was not the first OU course for Ms
Dot Struthers
Finding the motivation
a VLE and explores how teachers can use VLEs to Saravanou and therefore she was very familiar with One to the best ways to overcome procrastination is
support pupil learning and assessment. online learning. She liked the flexibility of the course.
Craig Smith, who teaches IT at Great Barr School “The course was practical as I had the flexibility to
discusses how
to adopt an attitude called BANJO – bang a nasty
job off.
in Birmingham, chose this course because he wanted to submit the final work-based activity practically whenever
improve his career prospects. I would be able to complete it,” she said. “As I had to
your attitude
When you just jump into tasks without thinking
too much about them, it energises you. And, even if
you do not complete the task, it breaks the negative
can affect your
thought pattern which causes you to procrastinate.
‘
Students are free to suggest their own research
Another really good way to find motivation for
personal efficiency
tasks is to line up a reward, like having a cup of tea
and slice of cake or going for a short walk. Only treat
projects and their learning advisors guide them
yourself once the job is done otherwise you reinforce
WE ALL know how important it is to be organised the need to comfort eat.
in terms of what would be worthwhile. They are
in a school environment because so many things can If you are tackling a job you feel you do not have
throw you off track. You can have the best plan and the skills or experience for then ask for help. Why
encouraged to discuss what they learn and their
system in place, but if your heart is not in it then it is have a dog and bark yourself? Use your team and
not going to work. colleagues at work.
Attitude is everything and the key to personal
projects with their colleagues at school
efficiency. Here are three areas that can help you to
’
develop the right attitude and approach.
Positive routines
Habits are what you fall into and routines are
The VLE course seemed perfect to him and he apply activities in school and outdoors with teachers and
Respect
processes that you deliberately create to make you
applied successfully for funding from his school. students, it was essential not to be pressed by time.” The best way to show respect to yourself and others more effective. We are all creatures of habit and like
He enrolled in May 2008, finished it in January this There were only a few students in her course and is to turn up to meetings on time and if you are to do things in a set way, and unless you take charge
year and did most of his studies over the Christmas they worked on different topics so the forum proved running a meeting which starts late, do not extend of those you end up with bad habits which do not
holidays. not to be that helpful. However her learning advisor it, finish on time. Also, set a standard time to leave serve you.
“I liked the fact it was online. and I liked the fact helped her to choose her topic, which was about how work, allowing time for your hobbies and family You have heard the saying, less haste more speed.
that it logs your time when you’re on – it tells you when to increase motivation in environmental education – they are an important part of managing your work/ Well this is true. When you slow down you perform
you’ve completed something,” he said. “There was a through outdoor activities. Her work-based activity was life balance. better because you mind and your body are working
lot of reading resources to cover on there and as well very valuable to her and she was able to apply it at three Take some time out to reflect on your performance in perfect time. When you lose confidence, you
as the reading around the subject there was a practical secondary schools. each day. While this might seem time-consuming at speed up and make mistakes.
assessment.” “All the environmental activities produced as a first, you will soon notice how taking time out to By respecting yourself and others, finding the
For his work-based activity, he set up an online quiz result of my coursework were applied in the field and learn from your mistakes will give you time back in motivation and adopting positive routines, you
in Moodle, which gives the pupils feedback on whether assessed by teachers and students. We also discussed the long run. will manage your attitude which will make your
their answers are correct or not. how to improve them in the future,” she said. “I learned Allocate time for just “being” with parents and efficient.
“It was basically something I‘ve not come across a lot from the course material and field practice and this staff, this will show you care and regard this as an
before and something I was interested in beforehand. way I became more efficient in my work.” important part of your job, and when you honour • To find more resources on how to improve your
Someone had told me about the learning platform that Last year Ms Saravanou presented the results of her your commitments you will prevent things from personal efficiency and to get a free monthly CPD
they used at their school and found that they could set research in a seminar for teachers of English and this year building up behind the scenes newsletter, register at www.merechats.co.uk
up quizzes,” he continued. she presented it to teachers of physical education. She
SecEd • March 11 2010 13
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