Welcome to the WEA Education Blog

Welcome to the WEA Education  Blog 

This blog is managed by me, Peter Templeton, as Director of Education, Quality and Strategy for the Workers' Educational Association in England. I hope to use it to improve communication within the WEA on educational issues and to make the blog useful to tutors, staff and volunteers.

I'm not publishing this blog more widely at the moment and I'm keen to develop the content of the blog around issues of concern to colleagues involved in education in the WEA. I want to keep this simple and to use it, if helpful, to encourage use of other developments in the WEA and to build a community of people interested in educational issues in the Association.

One my current priorities is to find a way to build a 'tutor network' across the Association. This is not to replace the important relationship between tutors and their local organiser and region, but to recognise the key historic role of the tutor in the WEA and to take the opportunity electronic media like this gives to raise issues, promote our mission and share ideas.

I am organising some teleconferences and meetings with small groups of tutors to ask them to help develop this network. When we feel we've got a clear basis established, I hope to contact all WEA tutors about it and to use this blog as one way to communicate with them.

What issues will the blog cover? I hope that will develop over time but there are always things arising that we could share and this may help. In the first instance, I plan to summarise our own assessment of the WEA's strengths and areas for improvement, the progress with our work with the Open University and the other Specialist Designated Institutions (SDIs), the development of the WEA's own Virtual Learning Environment (WEAVLE). I'll be asking people to help me with some of these!

However, I'll want to gradually move more to issues identified by colleagues and would appreciate comment and feedback to help develop the blog.

Let me know what you think.

Comments

[Roger Bawden]

This site seems to have gone quiet.

Another conditions of service issue that I have raised with ntional HQ but have had no response to: why are all tutors paid the same rate irrespective of service with the WEa, overall qualifications and experience; competence judged by tutee response; re-employment rates?

It stikes me that in-experienced, possibly incompetent, certainly less effective tutors are paid the same rates as those who do a first class job.

There is no "career" structure.

What do other tutors think?

[Dave Taylor]

The blog could have a variety of uses - perhaps when more people get involved it could be organised into 'threads' on different topics.

Dave Taylor

[Andrea Stevens]

I think this is a great idea, Peter. As an Organiser, its really useful to have up-to-date information on what is happening in Education with a brief summary relevant to the WEA on one accessible site. I found it easy to navigate and I would also like to think a democratic organisation like the WEA could host staff, tutors and voluntary members on one site - we can all learn from each other's perspective and comments.

[Verne Hardingham]

I would be delighted to take part in such an initiative - can't make it to Chesterfield, but would ask to be informed of dates of London meetings. I echo the feelings of working in isolation; would like to have contact with other tutors who work in a similar field (social history) with a view to networking in that way. If I can provide further information, please contact me.

Thanks.

[Bob Groves]

Thanks for your letter of Nov. 17th about the WEA Tutor Network. As a long-time WEA tutor in the north east anything that helps break the isolation of the job is worthwile, so I'm happy to lend my support. All the same, you may like to have a look at the APTT website:

http://www.aptt.org.uk

APTT is affiliated to WEA North East region and we have occasionally shared training (etc.) together. The Association of Part-Time Tutors has some 200+ members all over the UK/abroad (many are WEA people) and we have a twelve year history of networking, advice and support for part-time teaching staff. Might I suggest that APTT has a small role in the new network?

Thanks - Bob Groves
Personal site:

http://www.bobgroves.net

[Catherine Magrath]

I will bookmark this blog and visit it again at the end of the month. The layout is easy for me to find my way around. The content includes recent info that should benefit me in my job as part-time tutor.

[Treeza Sodah]

Only had a chance for a quick peek thus far, found it very informative and look forward to its development.

[Roger Bawden]

A WEA Tutor's Blog is a useful assett.

Apart from many educational issues, can every tutor make a fuss about the appalling rates of reimbursement of travel expenses.

Contact national HQ with your grievance, if you have one (am I really alone?)

[Caroline Lee]

Hi Peter. Enjoyed talking during the teleconference. Sorry I won't be able to make it to the forthcoming event. I am filling in the questionnaire though. The blog looks OK to me so well done. On a minor point I wonder if you could change the capital A in the heading to a little a,as in the organisation's ?logo. Also, like someone said on the phone the other day, perhaps have a link to departments. Hope this is of some help,
Caroline

[Geoff Wallis]

I believe a blog can be an exceptionally useful method of communication. I suggest it may need to be in "sections". For example it would be possible to post ideas for courses or tips for presentation, use of e-learning and any other similar ideas. At the same time it allows tutors from all reagions to contact each other.