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Ben
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- Response 1h
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1st lesson free
- Basic computer skills
- Computer Science
ICT and Computer Science are the keys to the modern world
- Basic computer skills
- Computer Science
Lesson location
About Ben
I believe that my broad life and teaching experience, in addition to my technical background make me a interesting and useful tutor.
Choosing to become an teacher was, for me a logical progression for my career so far. I started my working life as a Research and Development Trainee, studying computers and electronics as well as the
associated industrial processes. From there I continued my education with a degree in Computer Studies (Artificial Intelligence) completing my placement year for that course as a technician at High Peak College.
Upon completing my course I returned to industry working for a computer networking company, Cabletron Systems in Newbury and Paris for 18 months. These experiences have given me a firm technical base and an understanding of how organisations work and how computers are used in the real world.
After working for Cabletron I decided to broaden my horizons through travel in Australia and South East Asia. This improved my appreciation of other cultures and peoples, something I have found useful in the teaching profession.
After returning from travelling I became a Development Instructor, spending 6 months in Norway training and raising funds, and then 6 months working in Angola. While waiting for this post to start I worked for the same organisation in a school in Demark, which initiated my interest in education. Upon returning
from Angola my partner and I decided to teach in Japan. This experience confirmed in my mind the desire to pursue a career in education. I found teaching both enjoyable and rewarding, gaining particular pleasure
from seeing the progress students made and knowing I had been a part of their success.
Having decided to become a teacher, it was a logical choice to combine my strong technical background and interest in computing with my interest in teaching by becoming a Secondary school ICT Teacher.
After completing my PGCE I chose to start my career in more challenging schools to give myself a solid foundation on which to base my career. After having taught for two years in an Academy and two years in an Inner City Pupil Referral Unit, I have returned to the Southwest to put down roots and establish
myself in a school while developing my teaching further.
I have developed a particular interest in electronic learning and how it can improve attainment both in ICT, Computer Science and other subjects. To this end I raised the profile of computing at Southwark Inclusive Learning Service (KS3 unit). I did this by setting up the Fronter MLE at the school and at the
request of the school implemented reporting through SIMS from installation of the system to supporting staff using the system for the first time.
I also set up SAM learning for the school, which served as a stop gap measure until use of the MLE was fully taken up. I hoped it would also provide a simple and easy to use gateway encouraging teachers to use electronic education techniques and making it more likely that they will engage in the MLE. This I feel is particularly important, as in my experience so far, many teachers are much less enthusiastic about electronic education than students.
I have also used my technical skills to improve my use of APP with: class record keeping that produced individual feedback to students; behaviour tracking, feedback and reporting sheets; starting the school website; and in my first school I helped with data analysis for whole school “value added” and CATs analysis. In addition to this I created/collated the school newsletter at SILS3.
In my first teaching post I taught DiDA at Key Stage 4 achieving good results, and introduced ICT Functional Skills to my year 9 students. Functional Skills was piloted in Southwark although not on our site, so I used this opportunity to introduce the test to SILS3 students as I believe it is a good way of
ensuring students have the practical skills to use computers effectively in their future lives. This eventually resulted in the students taking the exam at the Unit and gaining favourable results.
In my previous full time post I was the only person in the department, so developed many skills associated with running a department. However I also enjoy working in larger departments, as I believe it allows the
sharing of good practice and improves the quality of education being delivered.
Recent changes in education policy have brought Computer Science to the fore, and allowed me to put my Computer Science degree and industrial experience to full use. I have greatly enjoyed learning new
languages and reacquainting myself with the subject I originally studied at university. The new Computer Science curriculum is challenging but provides great opportunities for students to gain real quality skills and knowledge. Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to experiment with various ways of delivering the curriculum including, different off and online resources and industry concepts such as Scrum. I have also been involved with delivering ECDL to the entirety of year 11 last year and the year before; and while the ECDL may not be applicable for progress 8 in the future, I do feel that more digital literacy outside the remits of Computer Science is important.
Increased literacy in any part computing is massively important and I have the range of skills and experience to build these skills and knowledge in others.
University :
- University of Derby - BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) [2:1]
- King's College London - PGCE ICT [passed]
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About the lesson
- Primary
- Secondary
- Matric/GCSE
- +14
levels :
Primary
Secondary
Matric/GCSE
AS Level
A Level
BTech
Adult education
Undergraduate
Masters
Diploma
Doctorate
MBA
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Professional
Kids
- English
Languages in which the lesson is available :
English
Computer Skills teacher at Saltash.
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Recommendations
Recommendations are written by the tutor's friends, family, and acquaintances.
1
Ben is an excellent teacher of Computer SCience, taking students all the way through from KS3 - KS5. Ben is very experienced in all aspects of the curriculum and is able to challenge the able, as well as coach the students who need more support.
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Rates
Rate
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Package rates
- 5h: R5495
- 10h: R10990
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