Describe_What_Your_Role,_Responsibilities_and_Boundaries_Would_Be_as_a_Teacher_in_Terms_of_the_Teaching_Training_Cycle

Describe what your role, responsibilities and boundaries would be as a teacher in terms of the teaching/training cycle Role, responsibilities and boundaries are qualities of a teacher that can be assessed and reflected upon using a teaching/training cycle such as the Kolb or Wheeler cycles. I have chosen the Wheeler cycle for the purpose of this essay (See Figure 1). Figure 1: The Wheeler Cycle The roles of the teacher One of the roles of a teacher in the lifelong learning sector is to value all of their learners individually and equally. Also their role is to create effective and stimulating opportunities for learning through high quality teaching that enables the development and progression of all learners. The teacher should identify the needs of the learners and account for any special needs, learners’ motivations and previous educational experience. The teacher should plan their sessions via lesson plans and prepare teaching materials. They should ensure sessions’ aims and objectives are meaningful and appropriate to students. Learning styles within a group should be assessed and learner’s motivations for attending the course considered. This will help to identify teaching methods that could be useful throughout the program. I teach “Why is losing weight so difficult'” and my role is to create a safe learning environment to establish an open and trusting relationship between myself and my learners. The teacher should deliver and facilitate the session by teaching and using resources in a suitable manner. Teachers should assess their learners and ensure learners have learnt the necessary skills and knowledge. This could be via formal or informal assessment. Teachers should evaluate themselves and their course delivery. They should obtain feedback from learners to modify or make changes in the future Teachers should complete attendance records, maintain records of learner progress via individual learning plans. By keeping their own records and reflections on sessions allows evaluation and changes to forthcoming aims and objectives to be made appropriately. Other roles of the teacher are to have a duty of care to their learners, inducting learners to the organisation and course, follow professional values and ethics, and act and speak appropriately, The responsibilities of the teacher One of the responsibilities of someone teaching in the lifelong learning sector would be to ensure they have the skills, which are required for the subject in which they teach. To make sure they possess relevant literacy, numeracy and IT skills and qualifications. The responsibility of the teacher is to facilitate learning for everyone, without discrimination. The teacher should work at each individual’s level and to assist learning to their capabilities e.g. accounting for individual needs such as dyslexia and dyspraxia. The teacher should make sure that all handouts, lesson plans, presentations etc are fit for purpose. The teacher should ensure that aims and objectives are met, to continually undertake assessment and give constructive feedback to learners. The teacher will support each student, observing how they are coping with the work and offering assistance if needed. Course structure and its coherent delivery are responsibilities of the teacher which require adaptation and flexibility to reflect newly identified needs as seen in the teaching/training cycle. In my “Why is losing weight so difficult classes'” my responsibility is to encourage progressive reflection in learners to allow their personal growth and development to be useful to their lives. Boundaries Boundaries are essential to recognizing our own limitations and realising when changes may be beneficial. Obvious boundaries include an appropriate teacher/learner relationship. This may include making telephone calls to learners but not harassing them, not getting overfriendly or personal with learners. Teachers should try not to get emotionally involved and always keep contact on a professional level. A teacher must be able to recognise when additional help is required to further the learning experience. Understanding when a student requires further help beyond our own remit is a boundary which should be adhered to. The teaching/training cycle provides a sound structure in which roles, responsibilities and boundaries can be assessed and reflected upon. The structure of the cycle is such that an effective teacher will address numerous stages in a constantly evolving way. Wheelers cycle of teaching and training is a useful tool to ensure appropriate and effective training is provided.