Teachers need to get out more

working with industry - beyond the limits of the program - has a huge impact on students and teachers, and provide teaching moments golden "

As most people are aware of the teaching can be a very difficult and demanding. Programming models evolving and review of programs put enormous pressure on the teacher provides teaching and learning in the classroom. But the well-being can be huge when you witness the impact a teacher can have on performance and motivation.

I recently had one of those teachable moments when Gold alumnus, Zainab wrote to me to say thank you, and tell me what he was doing now was for employment opportunities and had given him. Zainab is in a program called the sabbatical year Industry organized by a charity called educational EDT. Zainab works at the Royal Institution of Great Britain and was the organization of mathematics and master classes for students of engineering enthusiasts in London.

Another student now in 13th year, is back with an enthusiastic attitude toward engineering after attending the event International Women Day in Arup offices last year. "Now I know I want to be an engineer," says Jessica. Jessica, as Zainab had participated fully in school programs EDT. Jessica was excellent demonstration of their skills in project management. It proposes to study engineering at the University of Bristol.

'have been enriched by the Science, Technology and Engineering Fortismere school since 1995 and hundreds of students (aged 11-17) participated in experiments focused on personal development and awareness professional. These experiments were outside the curriculum through the teaching plan Engineering (EEE), one of a series of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs by EDT.

ESS

these students worked in teams of four, with the support of myself and an engineer for a large civil engineering firm, Arup, a draft measure implemented by the company . The team worked for six months to solve the engineering problem set by the company. He made numerous visits to the business and engineering schools. As part of the design phase, the engineering team and I spent three days in a university working on the project, eventually led to a celebration in which the project team has been assessed by Councillor Senior Industry.

impact on students was overwhelming resulting in three of the team deciding to become engineers. Often, students in this program seems to be a pivotal moment in their future plans and aspirations and begin to ask questions about career opportunities and other enrichment. Project experience and business and information gathered about being an engineer mentor often cemented his decision to take an engineering degree at university. The icing on the cake for me is when I hear my students to access courses sabbatical in engineering, especially with the sponsoring company that sets the ESS project. Some of my students have also come to work in the company.

In my experience, these are not isolated cases, and feed my appetite for enrichment and my certainty that the provision of such extracurricular makes a big difference in student achievement and success. The commitment of the school to support these activities requires management team that is not always available in all schools because of the pressures of program delivery, the time of school to support teachers, etc. I ' 've always been lucky to work in a school that sees the bigger picture in terms of the effect of these commitments and additional resources at school.

• A fact often overlooked is the benefit it provides to teachers that support these activities. The adoption of different teaching methods results in a very real possibility and continuing professional development for students to see their learning outside the normal mold on providing teacher / student. The development of maturation observed students working in these programs is quite remarkable. In case of contact with teachers outside companies and organizations can improve their curriculum and relevance of subject delivery plan. I managed, monitored and supervised dozens of teachers enrichment activities, there is no doubt that, even if it requires a degree of workload, the results are both motivating and morale funds for all stakeholders.
• To successfully participate in enrichment studies and maximize the impact of the school should buy from them completely with a common vision and mission. Department or faculty participation is, of course, but valuable to integrate these programs into the school's philosophy and priorities, an understanding of their value and their willingness to support is essential. Teachers who are willing to go the extra mile deserves recognition and support to ensure ownership better teamwork and staff of student success.

. Peter Crompton teaches in a school Fortismere technology, Haringey, London Assistant Deputy Principal in charge of work-related learning and STEM enrichment. It has facilitated the participation of a large number of students in STEM enrichment programs to all secondary milestones since 1994.

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