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?

 

[johnboy6083]

because the money probably isnt very good! also i doubt if there is any chance of an early shoot, and no overtime. I also reckon that there is a lot of prep work and marking ect that they dont get paid for.

 

[ackbarthestar]

Lecturer's holidays are pretty good - 50 days a year included statutory holidays, is the maximum.

Its rare that you will get someone who is vocationally competent and has the personal, teaching skills required to tutor caged animals.

Most training centres are looking for a punch bag to absorb punishment while the training management looks towards their productivity bonuses.

 

[Greg:]

because the money probably isnt very good!

Serious question though - how very would it need to be?

It's not something I've researched but here's some random ad. quotes:

Electrical Tutor

Location:
Pontefract (WF7) View map

Salary: £26,000+ commensurate Date posted: 11/11/2011 12:05Job typeermanent Company: Apprenticeship Training Limited Contact: Human Resources Ref: Totaljobs/Electrical Tutor - Featherstone Job ID: 51920155

Lecturer - Electrical Installations

£22,857 to £30,726 plus £598 College Weighting.
The closing date for the position Lecturer - Electrical Installations has now passed.


AND

Lecturer's holidays are pretty good - 50 days a year included statutory holidays, is the maximum.

but yes, it would be nice if tutors did regular, prelesson prep work. Marking? Really?.

 

[telectrix]

i can do that. gizza job.

 

[ackbarthestar]

Serious question though - how very would it need to be?

It's not something I've researched but here's some random ad. quotes:

Electrical Tutor

Location:
Pontefract (WF7) View map

Salary: £26,000+ commensurate Date posted: 11/11/2011 12:05Job typeermanent Company: Apprenticeship Training Limited Contact: Human Resources Ref: Totaljobs/Electrical Tutor - Featherstone Job ID: 51920155

Lecturer - Electrical Installations

£22,857 to £30,726 plus £598 College Weighting.
The closing date for the position Lecturer - Electrical Installations has now passed.


AND


but yes, it would be nice if tutors did regular, prelesson prep work. Marking? Really?.

Well, I agree. Tutors who do not
1/ prepare adequately,
2/ assess fairly and impartially,
3/ submit coursework and assignments fraudulently
4/ play politics with other members of staff
5/ wind up students to cause disruption in others classes
6/ bugger off on holiday when they are contracted to work

and

Students who do not
1/ lie when accusing members of staff of poor assessment
2/ complain about their assessment because they haven't the self-awareness or intelligence
3/ expect to be forced fed with the answers to every question
4/ do homework assignment set to help them understand previously taught principles
5/ Turn up for classes on time and refrain from executive lunch breaks
6/ Turn up on a regular basis rather than, as one student was heard to say, "Well, name of tutor withheld, I've decided to leave your class." When asked why, the answer was, " I've decided to go into full-time drugs !

So it could be argued that it is 6 of one and half a dozen of the other

I can feel steam coming out of my ears !

 

[solway-energy]

hello chaps its my first post, i am an electrical tutor based in the northwest, i have been a tutor now for 2 years this being my third season, it is a great job and compared to the tools a lot more less demanding, how ever it is very stresfull and pressured at times.
i am entitled t 45 days holiday but with reading and study days along with some industrial uplift you can see the high end of 50 days paid holiday per year!

wages are low considering the qualifications needed to be considered for an interview, i ask with 50 days off per year how much could you guys still make on the side? £5,000...£10,000???

have a go its a great career choice.

 

[Greg:]

Students who ...
1/ lie when accusing members of staff of poor assessment
2/ complain about their assessment because they haven't the self-awareness or intelligence
3/ expect to be forced fed with the answers to every question
4/ do homework assignment set to help them understand previously taught principles
5/ Turn up for classes on time and refrain from executive lunch breaks
6/ Turn up on a regular basis rather than, as one student was heard to say, "Well, name of tutor withheld, I've decided to leave your class." When asked why, the answer was, " I've decided to go into full-time drugs !

I'd imagine that teachers may be faced with extremes at times but, for the sake of all the committed, fee paying students out there, I'd hope this doesn't prevent people applying.

it is a great job

Tutors are there to tutor
and students are there learn.

I'm done with "stewing".
Ackbarthestar's example of steaming seems a lot more positive.

 

[ian.settle1]

Lecturer's holidays are pretty good - 50 days a year included statutory holidays, is the maximum.

Its rare that you will get someone who is vocationally competent and has the personal, teaching skills required to tutor caged animals.

Most training centres are looking for a punch bag to absorb punishment while the training management looks towards their productivity bonuses.

Yeh the holidays may be good but what are you going to spend during all this time off if you don't get the money ?

 

[the pict]

My wife a teacher of chemistry, has a saying, a good teacher must be able answer more quetions than they ask, a skill in my experiance not a lot of lecturers have
Pict

 

[ackbarthestar]

My wife a teacher of chemistry, has a saying, a good teacher must be able answer more quetions than they ask, a skill in my experiance not a lot of lecturers have
Pict

I would wholeheartedly agree, but you have first got to get the rascals sitting down and listening, then they need time to reference it all, difficult when its time for their drugs; Where on Maslow's pyramid of hierarchical needs would you expect to find most failed GCSE students?


Generally, question and and answer is probably one method of teaching that works well with those who have something to lose and those who want to learn.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Yeh the holidays may be good but what are you going to spend during all this time off if you don't get the money ?

Ian.settle, how long have you got, I could fill the next 170 years if somone would hand me a pittance to get by on !

Seriously, you don't need much to have a great day every day, its all about ones perspective. sip that guiness don't gulp it!

 

[tutorsteve]

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.

 

[ackbarthestar]

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.

After several years of teaching, I still think its an honourable profession to be able to get ideas across and watch the lights turn on.
However, wait for the petty professional jealousies and back biting and political manoeuvrings and you will soon find your energies absorbed up in stupidity.

 

[tutorsteve]

Must admit i have started to see that side of teaching and i am trying to steer clear of the office politics. At least on the tools you sorted out any problems in a more direct manner shall i say. I agree it is good to see the lads get it, especially with the maths and science stuff. Is your college delivering the new 2357 diploma yet?

 

[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