2 June 2005

First distance learning teachers ready to graduate

The first cohort of secondary school teachers trained under a pioneering new course which allows distance learning and part-time study are set to complete their studies at the University of Dundee.

The post-graduate course allows people who may never have been able to take on full-time, on-campus, teacher training to enter the profession.

Among the 24 full-time students set to complete their study at the University this week is Susan Richardson, from Thurso, who thought she would never be able to realise her dream of becoming a teacher.

"I have wanted to do this since 1997 but distance had always been the barrier," said Susan (46), who has worked as a learning support auxiliary in the classroom.

"I would have had to have been away from home for eighteen weeks, and with two young children in school that just wouldn’t have been possible. But this course at Dundee has removed that problem of distance by letting me do most of my study at home."

Ann Hall, from Haddington, also found the course allowed her to overcome hurdles which would have previously prevented her becoming a teacher.

"I also had a young family and being away from them to study just would not have been practical," said Ann (41). "The flexibility offered by this course at Dundee has been fantastic"

Last week Education Minister Peter Peacock announced that the Scottish Executive wants to see more part-time and distance learning teacher training courses to try and attract more people into the profession.

The success of the pioneering Dundee programme shows the University’s Faculty of Education and Social Work is already meeting those objectives.

"We have produced 24 teachers, people who may otherwise have never been able to do this, and they are all in shortage subjects - English, maths and physics - where they can help meet the national demand," said course leader Graham Williamson.

"The course means that people can stay near their own community, near their own family, and even continue to financially support themselves through part-time work, while studying to become a teacher."

The course is set to double in student numbers next year, with modern languages added to the available subjects. For session 2006-07, chemistry will also be added, and the student roll is targeted to double again, with hopes for 100 new teachers from that year alone.

The 24 students completing their studies this week all completed the full-time course, but the distance learning aspect meant they could spend as little as seven weeks on campus, as opposed to the eighteen that would have been previously required. The rest of their study is carried out at home through the University’s comprehensive Virtual Learning Environment, which they can access through wireless laptop computers provided by the University.

In addition, another three students are halfway through the two-year part-time course which allows even wider access. They include a lawyer and a property developer.

"We are talking about highly qualified, professional people who we can offer accessible, flexible courses to and bring into teaching, something that would have been much harder to do before," said Graham Williamson.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Graham Williamson, Susan Richardson and Ann Hall will all be available for interview/photographs at the press call.

By Roddy Isles, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, r.isles@dundee.ac.uk