Live Online Learning: Helping in Schools

Course aim

To provide an introduction to the expectations and practicalities of supporting children in schools.

Do I need any particular skills or experience?

• You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
• This course is for a group of around 15 students studying in a live video-learning platform conference and an online digital learning environment platform from the comfort of your own home.
• This course is for a group of around 15 students who will be taking part from the comfort of their own home.

By the end of the course I should be able to:

• feel comfortable and confident helping in schools, and to have a greater insight into the role of the helper in schools
• have an insight into the ways in which schools differ while providing a similar function, and into the complex variety of relationships that exists among the school population
• understand the importance of safeguarding for everyone in a school
• understand that every child has learning needs, and to have the knowledge and confidence to help to meet those needs
• devise a personal plan of action for helping in schools, and / or feel more confident as a parent liaising with adults re my child’s learning

How will I be taught?

• The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
• Everyone will all share experiences and learn together in a varied and fun way. You may be asked to find out or think about some of the topics between sessions.

What kind of feedback can I expect?

• A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion

What else do I need to know?

• What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
• You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• It would be helpful if you had access to the internet (Mobile phone, tablet or computer at home or through a library etc.)

Pre-course work, reading and information sources

• No pre reading or pre course work is required

What can I do next?

• This course could lead to a range of job opportunities. Follow link to National Careers Service for more details https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/
• Access the WEA What Next? booklet here http://www.wea.org.uk/learn-wea/what-can-i-do-next
• Although this course is not a gateway to the workplace, it is designed to help you find the way with increased knowledge and confidence.