author of the following text books, many of which are now in new editions (listed here in alphabetical order). Details can be found on her website: www.anngravells.com/books
• Achieving your Assessment and Quality Assurance Units (TAQA)(2014)
• Delivering Employability Skills in the Lifelong Learning Sector (2010)
• Passing Assessments for the Award in Education and Training (2013)
• Passing PTLLS Assessments (2012)
• Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (2012)
• The Award in Education and Training (2014)
• What is Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector? (2012)
She is co-author of:
• Equality and Diversity in the Lifelong Learning Sector (2012)
• Passing CTLLS Assessments (2010)
• Planning and Enabling Learning in the Lifelong Learning Sector (2010)
• The Best Vocational Trainer’s Guide (2015)
• The Certificate in Education and Training (2014)
• Passing Assessments for the Certificate in Education and Training (2014)
She has edited:
• Study Skills for PTLLS (2012)
PREFACE
Congratulations on purchasing this book which should cover everything you need to know to start a career teaching and training those aged 14 and above, in the UK and beyond. The book includes short activities to help you relate theory to practice, gives real examples of teachers’ experiences and contains examples of documents a teacher or trainer might use.
I have written the book mainly for new teachers and trainers, whether they are:
• currently teaching
• considering a teaching career
• undertaking a work experience placement
• working towards a teaching qualification
• taking an apprenticeship programme.
However, it will also suit anyone who is more experienced but who would like to refresh their knowledge.
I haven’t made reference to too many complex theories within the chapters. Where theories are mentioned, I leave it to you to research them further if you wish. I would recommend anyone taking a high level teaching qualification to read other textbooks besides this one. Different authors write in different ways, theories differ and there will be some topics not covered in this book which can be found in others. I have included reading lists at the end of each chapter with relevant texts and useful websites. I also have a very comprehensive reading list on my website: www.anngravells.com/reading-lists/index
Please read the introduction chapter first as this will help set the scene regarding teaching in the further education and skills sector. The subsequent chapters, although in a logical order, can be read according to what you need to know at any given time. You can refer to the index at the back of the book to locate relevant topics or look in the contents list.
There are some aspects in this book which have previously appeared in my other textbooks, but which have been updated for inclusion in this book.
I hope you gain what you need from the book and I wish you success with your career.
Ann Gravells
Introduction
Introduction
Teaching and training is about helping someone to gain the skills and knowledge they need at a given point in time. The approaches and activities you can use to achieve this will be explained throughout the chapters of this book.
This chapter will explore how to use this book and what the further education and skills sector is. How to work towards a teaching qualification is covered, as is how to obtain a teaching position and evidence your practice.
You can work logically through the book starting with this chapter, or you can just look up appropriate topics in the index (at the back of the book) or the contents, to access aspects relevant to your current area of study or interest.
This chapter will cover the following topics:
• The structure of the book
• The further education and skills sector
• Qualifications and standards for teachers and trainers
• Study skills, academic writing and referencing
• Obtaining a teaching position and progressing further
• Evidence-based practice
The structure of the book
If you are aiming to be, or are a new or inexperienced teacher or trainer, this book is for you. It will guide you through the terminology, principles and practices of teaching and training, to enable you to understand what the role involves, and/or to work towards a relevant teaching qualification if necessary. Although the book has been written with new teachers in mind, it will also prove useful for anyone who teaches in any situation. For example, human resource staff, administrators, technicians, managers, or those in staff development and train the trainer roles. The book will also help experienced teachers and trainers refresh their knowledge of teaching and assessing learning.
Topics covered in the book include:
• the role of a teacher or trainer
• how to plan and prepare sessions for groups or individuals, in the workplace or in a teaching/training environment (on- or off-the-job respectively)
• how to deliver sessions using different teaching and learning approaches and activities
• how to communicate with learners and manage behaviour
• how to assess that learning has taken place
• how to evaluate your own practice to make improvements.
Due to the terminology used throughout the further education (FE) and skills sector, you will find lots of abbreviations and acronyms used within the book. A list of the most commonly used ones can be found in Appendix
