On a related note, anybody have bad (and bitter) experience of you - as a student teacher  having far greater knowledge of ICT than your silly mentor? I certainly have: my mentor was just so jealous, quite unbelievable really how 'excellence' is punished. Pupils - and these were very good pupils who wanted to learn - would complain about to me about her: 'We have learn nothing today Sir, all she does is shout at us etc.'. Some of them threatened to complain about to her to the Headteacher and being 'professional' I would advise them against doing so (stupid me!). 

How easy is it to get a job as an ICT teacher? It’s not a black and white answer, but ….

ICT is consistently one of the subjects that has the most adverts for ICT teachers.

Are you prepared to move? If you live in e.g. Cornwall, you may have a problem. If you live in e.g. Kent, you won’t.

Do you know your ICT stuff? Is it above and beyond A Level standard?

Can you program (gives you another opportunity where A Level computing is taught)?

Do you have a real passionate interest in all things ICT, to the point where you are constantly wanting to try out new software, new hardware and different approaches to teaching and learning this subject?

Are you a clear communicator?

Are you level-headed? Are you humble, self-reflecting, supportive of others, able to ask when you need help, a ‘nice’ person, kind to animals and small children?

Do you actually like young adults?

Do you have a classroom ‘presence’ that pupils will respect?

Can you keep calm when pupils are not playing the game or some are playing up, using a range of verbal and non-verbal, psychobabble techniques?

Have you interests outside of school?

Have you got lots of energy, are enthusiastic (but not too much), adaptable, flexible?

Will you have up-to-date knowledge of the syllabus, latest initiatives etc?

Can you time-manage heavy workloads and work that extra bit when you need to?

Are you a ‘sulker’ or can you accept decisions you don’t agree with and give it your all?

Can you argue your corner and make good contributions?

Can you / will you provide extra curricula activities for pupils, run trips etc?

Do you have a good attendance record?

Can you follow procedures?

Do you know how to say sorry when you are wrong?

Are you a reflective practioner?

Etc.

While you are learning this trade, read widely, watch others carefully and be willing to experiment, try out new ways of doing things, and reflect on the above. Your training period is your opportunity to get right all the things that will be asked of you when you start applying.

planetx:

busencumen:

 On a related note, anybody have bad (and bitter) experience of you - as a student teacher  having far greater knowledge of ICT than your silly mentor? I certainly have: my mentor was just so jealous, quite unbelievable really how 'excellence' is punished. Pupils - and these were very good pupils who wanted to learn - would complain about to me about her: 'We have learn nothing today Sir, all she does is shout at us etc.'. Some of them threatened to complain about to her to the Headteacher and being 'professional' I would advise them against doing so (stupid me!). 

 

You can see elements of this in this forum.

Subject knowledge in ICT in education is an irrelevance at best and often a bloody hinderance. . This is a direct contrast to the software industry, where teamwork is very much the rule. It is best to play down industry experience. You will find a lot of hostility and rudeness towards "those that can."

Red rags and their reactions (paraphrased to protect the guilty):

"I can program." "What bloody use is that?" 

"I think that children should enjoy what they do in the classroom." "Well go and get a job as a clown."

"We should teach to serve the broader needs of the students in their school work and beyond." "Your main focus has to be results."

"I managed a software development company." "And what has that got to do with anything?"

I record everything and have hundreds of these exchanges. It's the contempt and dismissiveness I dislike the most, usually from some pompous oaf. The above, and a host of other factual statements made in a matter of fact way in response to questions will get some put down or other.

What they want is jargon. There's safety in jargon. "We're all singing from the same hymnsheet." Jargon means they don't have to think. The answer is encapsulated in a three letter acronym. You have to be like Father Jack in that classic Father Ted episode. "Yes," and "That is an ecumenical matter," or their  ICT equivalents are the parrot responses and if you happen to know them you're in.

 

 

LOL. Well said and I absolutely agree.  "Senior teachers don't like to employ people better at it than them" - could not agree more.

Geez who is this planetx geezer and should he really be in this profession?!!

Anyway, Paul I hope you found your answers eventually. I haven't even began training yet (starting PGCE in Sept) but already looking into patterns of jobs available and potential prospects in local schools.
From past feedback and general observation it would seem that experience is definitely the key. I can't say that the salary cut sounds too pleasing obviously but if it something that you have your heart set on and passionate about then go for it as best you can.

Nobody can see what will happen in the future (regardless of what some might say or think!) so I cant see how it is a 'very real prospect that there will be no ICT positions come 2010'.

Good luck with your venture, im sure it will be worth the leap!

planetx:

reddhedd:

Geez who is this planetx geezer and should he really be in this profession?!!

 

I took the trouble to qualify. I didn't know at the time that schools were extremely hostile to people with expertise and industry experience. I've been regularly insulted in education. I never was in business.

The real question is, "should the current crop of arrogant, rude and lazy ICT teachers be in the profession?'

ICT in schools is, with a few exceptions, a national disgrace and a waste of money. PowerPoint, posters and as much about spreadsheets  as the average year 6 could learn in a couple of hours - which is why years 6s often pass ICT GCSEs. I've seen a few people doing good stuff in ICT. I've worked in a school with one this week as it happens, but it is such a rarity. Kids play games in ICT lessons because they're bored.

Should I be in the profession? Why not? I'm qualified and competent. I teach Maths. I teach English. I teach some Humanities and I get asked back. No school ever asks for someone who can teach ICT because they know it is not really likely to be important. Anyone can teach it.

Coincidently, a fellow supply colleague got an interview for an ICT HoD job last week. Just an instructor and no ICT expertise but all the school needs. Apparently, ICT specialists try to do to much.

ICT is a 'soft' subject. It can push up your 5 A to C quota. 

I agree with much of that. Schools are not interested in competent ICT Tecahers; they could not care less. I've seen ICT teachers teaching the subject matter completely incorrectly and no one bats an eyelid. It's almost as if subject knowledge does not matter. And as I've said before, there is a huge amount of jealousy, especially with so-called 'mentors' who are unhappy that you - as a trainee teacher - know far more than they do. Also, I used to work in a primary/junior school for 6 yrs as an ICT Engineer, but I also helped out massively in the curriculum side. Children there were doing stuff far more advanced and 'correct' than pupils in many of the secondary schools I've worked in. In much of Secondary ICT, I don't see any advancement of pupil's subject knowledge because the teacher(s) has little or no knowledge of ICT subject matter. It beggars belief....but it's true.