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# Conclusion

This course has highlighted differences in perception about the nature of ITE by exploring different paradigms and approaches that underpin different beliefs about the role of ITE and the role of student teachers as active participants within it.

It then considered how this has manifest itself in the plethora of different routes into teaching in the UK. It concluded by examining research into how student teachers perceive they best learn during ITE courses.

Central to this course is the question ‘What type of teachers do we want in our schools?’. It is clear that there is not a single shared vision within the field, the profession or at government level that can answer this question. Maybe the question ought to be addressed to those who can influence the outcome, the student teachers, by asking: ‘What sort of teacher do you want and what experiences will best support you to achieve this?’

## Activity 6: Characteristics of a good teacher

Listen to the clip of Tom, Mark and Sid talking about their school days.

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Audio 3
Transcript

As you listen, make a list of what they consider to be the characteristics of a good teacher.

Are good teachers born or made? Reflect on this question in the light of the list that you have made.

What qualities do you bring to teaching, and which will you/did you need to learn? In the light of what you have read in this course, how best can these things be learnt?

### Discussion

Clearly, the different skills might be learned in different ways and much will depend on the skills, experience and attributes that a student already has. There will be times when students learn by copying what experienced teachers do, there will be times when they want to try new and novel things, and there will be times when they feel as if nothing is working. One of the purposes of an ITE course is to provide students with the tools to get through those times so that they emerge as better and more effective teachers.

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OpenLearn - Learning to teach: making sense of learning to teach
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