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This project aimed to represent PGCE trainees' voices to improve their experience during a challenging year. By canvassing opinions through interviews and group meetings, key issues affecting trainees were identified. Findings revealed that over 50% regarded the PGCE year as the hardest of their lives due to stress and overwhelming demands. The project emphasizes the significance of support, organization, and well-being, providing valuable advice for future trainees. Engaging with student feedback is crucial for refining PGCE programs and addressing challenges faced by trainees.
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A PGCE Student’s Voice Mike Lamb – PGCE 7-14 Science 2007-2008
Representing the views of trainees • Communicating the views of trainees to the PGCE course convenor • Canvassing opinion and relaying information • Creating an effective conduit for opinion, ideas and suggestions for improvement • Recognising that what was needed was a • Survival guide to the PGCE
ESCalate • Student grants are available for small scale projects • Project outline was presented to ESCalate and university tutor • Project agreed by ESCalate • Project involved interviews and group meetings with trainees to establish which aspects of the PGCE caused issues and problems and how trainees can overcome them
Results • Results are still being analysed • Over 50% thought that the PGCE year was the hardest year of their life reasons cited included • ‘(it) took over my whole life’, • ‘the stress of the classroom’ • (lesson planning left me)‘feeling more tired than I ever thought humanly possible’. • The work resulted in advice areas being identified with associated student comments
Getting the work-life balance right • ‘Make a real effort to meet up with old friends - they've provided me with endless support (and wine!)’
Make friends with course colleagues • ‘…because nobody else really knows what you're going through.’
Be organised • ‘Buy some lever arch folders and plastic pockets and start filing everything regularly from the very start.’
Develop effective relationships • ‘Smile and be polite all the time and don’t be afraid to ask for help’.
Keep Healthy • ‘Home-cooked meals, Vitamin C, Echinacea and walks down the sea-front got me through this year’
Relax • ‘Relax before the course starts as you won’t have much time to when it begins – get plenty of sleep!’
Keep positive and enjoy… • ‘It makes it all worthwhile when you realize that you’ve taught them something important about life and not just your subject’.
How important is the student voice? • As tutors we may think we know what the pressures and problems are for trainees • But a tutor’s perspective arises from a different context from a trainee’s perspective • Listening to what the trainees say creates the pressure and how they deal with that pressure can allow for changes to the programme, approach or support provided and ease/head off certain pressures