Patricia Gurini

1. Tell us a little about your current job. What do you enjoy most?

I am currently teaching BTEC Business studies in a further education college in Central London. I am also a tutor at the college. Over the years this role has given me the opportunity to see students arrive at the college just from schools with little idea or guidance about their futures. Being able to help and guide them and see their own individual development towards their future careers and is the most enjoyable and rewarding part of the job for me.

2. I see you have come some way from doing the MTeach. What would you say are the key things about the MTeach that have stayed with you?

Before undertaking the MTeach I was worried about trying new teaching methods and implementing more technology into my lessons because of students' reactions. I also felt I would lose control of the class if students are on laptops/phones completing interactive activities. I now feel confident experimenting with different techniques. Most importantly getting students involved, trying new approaches and getting their feedback about how they learn. Participation motivates them.

3. What did your dissertation/ practice based enquiry (PBE) explore? What did you find out and how did it influence you?

My dissertation focused on implementing collaborative learning using ICT. I explored 3 different methods, using Forums, Google Drive and Wiki Pages. From this, I found using ICT techniques for research purposes, sharing resources and providing peer feedback was important. I could more easily manage and check involvement from all students. I continue to use Forums and Wiki pages in my lessons now.

4. How was the MTeach work different from School or other professional development courses (e.g. INSET)?

From my experience, college CPD is very prescriptive and has little room for teachers to explore, research and implement new techniques based on their own personal career needs or wants. The MTeach allows you to explore areas you wish to develop with help and support of the MTeach tutors. If I had not completed the MTeach, I would not have experimented with how to use the new technologies in my lessons.

5. The MTeach is for teachers only. It often uses the sharing of participants classroom experiences/practice as a starting point. How did this work for you?

I found this really helpful as it gave and insight as to how other schools/ FE colleges work and also other teacher experiences. It allowed me to hear that other teachers had experienced similar problems in their workplaces and how they overcome them. We also shared our ideas and gained valuable feedback from peers on how to develop our initial ideas further by sharing experiences. It was reassuring to hear other teachers were nervous or anxious to try and implement new techniques into their lessons too.

6. What is your next career move?

I've been teaching for 7 years now and been a mentor on the college teaching training program for 3 years. I now feel confident and would be happy to teach on a teacher training course and help other new teachers develop in the profession. The MTeach has also given me a taste for researching and would like to do a PhD in the future.