Why do teachers get paid so much less than some other professionals?

As scientist Andrew Morris returns to the classroom, he considers the role of the teacher

Mentoring, observation and interviews are three important strategies in developing student teachers. This free course, Supporting professional development in Initial Teacher Training, gives a flavour of The Open Universitys flexible PGCE course, and introduces student teacher centred strategies both inside and outside of the classroom, involving mentors, pupils, tutors and others to develop student teachers professional skills and understanding.

How do young children learn, and how can adults help them? This album looks at how nursery teachers support children in their development. We follow a practitioner’s day, looking at how she works with children, observes and plans for further activities while she also records her thoughts and ideas using a video camera. Further video tracks reveal how creativity is nurtured in young children to develop their abilities, how an artist in residence works with nursery children, as well as how the work of bilingual and special needs assistants mean that no child is excluded from the learning process. The audio tracks cover the importance of parental input, and the fantastic opportunities available to develop children’s creativity using technologies. This material forms part of The Open University course E124 Supporting children’s learning in the early years.

What do English language teachers in the early 21st century need to know about the relationship between language and meaning? How can teachers enable students to learn language, learn through language and learn about language in the myriad different contemporary contexts of formal and informal learning? This material is taken from The Open University course E852 Language, literacy and learning in the contemporary world.