Manchester Uni primary PGCE interview
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Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewHi everyone
I have an interview on the 23rd November for a primary PGCE and as part of the interview I have to prepare a 5 minute long presentation, without any visual aids like powerpoint etc. From the sounds of it I think we just stand and talk. The presentation is on:
Reflecting back to your experience at school AS A PUPIL (any key stage) discuss one teacher that you think was an effective professional and how you think their influence might affect your developing role in a classroom.
I am not quite sure what kind of structure I should do in my presentation. Would you mention the by their name, or just say "a teacher" and say what key stage/subject they taught.
Its quite hard to remember what exactly teachers did when I was a student because I wasn't looking at their teaching methods etc. Obviously I am not asking anyone to tell me exactly what to write but just checking I am on the right track with the things I would be including.
I was thinking of talking about what teaching methods they used that were effective (ways they checked for understanding, classroom management and behavioural management etc)
- It says I need to support my ideas with references to experience, observation, reading and any relevant information gained through the media.
So if I talked about for example, a particularly effective method of behavioural management, I would support it by saying in my work experience another teacher also did this and it was effective?
I am a bit confused about how I should talk about a teacher from when I was a student but somehow back it up with my experience and observations.
I was thinking of also including general qualities they had that made them a good teacher, e.g. being creative or being caring, but would I also have to give examples of specific things they did?
Then to finish off I could talk about what I would take from the teacher that would make me be a better teacher and maybe what I would do differently based on other teachers from my work experience?
Another thing is, although they say any key stage, does this include sixth form? I cant remember much about the teachers in primary or secondary school but I had a great teacher in sixth form who I would probably be able to talk about a lot more. I dont know if age 16-18 counts as a key stage? And do you think with me doing a primary pgce it would be better to talk about one of my primary teachers or would it not matter?
I hope all this makes sense. I would really appreciate any help anyone can give me. Its the part of the interview I am most worried about. ThanksLast edited by SoOverdosedOnApathy; 10-11-2011 at 17:39. -
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewBump. Anyone at least know the answer to just this part?(Original post by SoOverdosedOnApathy)
Another thing is, although they say any key stage, does this include sixth form? I cant remember much about the teachers in primary or secondary school but I had a great teacher in sixth form who I would probably be able to talk about a lot more. I dont know if age 16-18 counts as a key stage? And do you think with me doing a primary pgce it would be better to talk about one of my primary teachers or would it not matter?
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewFirstly good luck! I am applying to the same course. Waiting for a reply atm, hopefully will get an interview invite soon.
I would say choose a primary teacher, or possibly lower end of secondary. I wouldn't count the sixth form onwards as a keystage. I think following the creative caring route would be pretty good tied in to a particular teaching method/s etc. then link that to your experience.
I guess I'll have the same presentation if I get an interview *furiously starts noting down ideas...* -
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewHi
I also have an interview for the same course on 23rd November and am currently trying to finish my presentation, revise for tests etc etc and am running out of time! How is presentation coming along? I'm thinking 5 mins is not a long time so i think i have too much info for my presentation and am going to have to edit it but having big probs trying to work out which bits to miss out. I also need to find some info to back up my points from the media or some other published reports. With regards to structure I think I'm going to break it down into what made the teacher an effective professional and then choose a few of these points to develop and say how they will affect me as a teacher and then back these up with experiences, reading, quotes etc but I have no idea if this is the right thing to do! I think the hardest part is finding a logical order so I do not deliver it all in one go as a muddled mess!
I agree with the others, I would avoid the sixth form but it does say any key stage so I'm going for someone from KS3 as I can't think of much to write about primary teachers as it was a fair while ago for me! -
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewThank you and good luck, I hope you hear back about an interview soon! Thanks, I think I am going to talk about each quality and then tie it in with certain teaching methods and back it up with experience. Definately start thinking of ideas now then you arent too stressed before your interview and leave time to revise for the english and maths tests!(Original post by tea_loving_girl)
Firstly good luck! I am applying to the same course. Waiting for a reply atm, hopefully will get an interview invite soon.
I would say choose a primary teacher, or possibly lower end of secondary. I wouldn't count the sixth form onwards as a keystage. I think following the creative caring route would be pretty good tied in to a particular teaching method/s etc. then link that to your experience.
I guess I'll have the same presentation if I get an interview *furiously starts noting down ideas...* -
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewAw thank you(Original post by NannyD)
lol god knows but u just got a thumbs up from me!
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewHi, hopefully I will see you there! I am the same, having problems trying to do everything as well as fitting it into my uni work. I have been looking over maths on bitesize quite a bit,because I heard the maths test is hard, but I am not sure if I am going to know enough. I have absolutely no idea whether I am doing it right in regards to the presentation, I am planning on finishing it off today though then I can start learning it.(Original post by clareferguson)
Hi
I also have an interview for the same course on 23rd November and am currently trying to finish my presentation, revise for tests etc etc and am running out of time! How is presentation coming along? I'm thinking 5 mins is not a long time so i think i have too much info for my presentation and am going to have to edit it but having big probs trying to work out which bits to miss out. I also need to find some info to back up my points from the media or some other published reports. With regards to structure I think I'm going to break it down into what made the teacher an effective professional and then choose a few of these points to develop and say how they will affect me as a teacher and then back these up with experiences, reading, quotes etc but I have no idea if this is the right thing to do! I think the hardest part is finding a logical order so I do not deliver it all in one go as a muddled mess!
I agree with the others, I would avoid the sixth form but it does say any key stage so I'm going for someone from KS3 as I can't think of much to write about primary teachers as it was a fair while ago for me!
I have decided on talking about my year 6 teacher from primary school. Its hard to know exactly how to back it up with evidence. I am not quite sure what I could use from the media etc. or where to start with that. I keep changing it a lot because I am just not sure if I am doing it right. And now I have started, when I think about what I have to include, it seems like it is going to be much longer than 5 minutes but I am worried if I take certain stuff out it just wont flow as well.
I guess it is more important that we deliver it in a clear confident way, but I am still worrying they will think my presentation is really rubbish.
Good luck and I might see you there! -
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewI think we are just going have to settle on something and stick to it and like you say start learning it. i have done a massive brainstorm and tomorrow i'm going to edit it, write it out and then learn it! As we can't use powerpoint or anything I am going to use postcards for brief notes.
WRT to tests etc, I have also been looking at the BBC info and have a few past papers from some teacher friends. The English and science papers look OK but I have heard the pass mark is high for English test. I have a chemistry degree so theoretically maths and science should be fine for me but in real life this is far from true!
Don't you think it's weird that nobody else has posted on here that has the same interview as us? There must be loads of us going? Must all be lurking! Hope you have a productive weekend. See you Wed. -
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewYeah the tests weren't too bad, just make sure you revise and you will be fine. Also, if you dont know a question dont spend too much time on it, just do the rest and come back to it, because I only just finished the maths in time and I spoke to a few people who didnt finish them all. I dont think its too bad, but I was just worried so much about checking it as I went that I only just left myself with enough time. So make sure you take that into consideration. The english was honestly fine, just make sure you know what nouns, verbs etc are.
You will either have your tests in the morning and interview in the afternoon, or the opposite way around. I think the questions you get asked in interview might be different depending on who your interviewer is, but I think they are all really friendly. Give yourself enough time to prepare your presentation, so you arent too stressed on the day, and make sure you just deliver it confidently and dont forget eye contact. They gave me a choice whether to sit down or stand up while presenting, so if they do that just do whatever you feel comfortable with. Above all, just keep smiling and being friendly, even if you think you have messed any of the questions up. They really are not trying to trick you or catch you out, just be honest and show how enthusiastic you are about being a teacher -
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interview(Original post by amiiness1991)
Just remain calm, smiley and be yourself. That's the most I can say really. The tests are nowhere near as bad as I thought though, so as long as you go over a bis of basic maths and english you will be fine
Thank you both so much, feel a bit calmer about it all now. I am busy jotting down ideas for the presentation. I am glad your interviews went ok. Also digging out my old revision guides and exploring the wonders of BBC Bitesize again. Hopefully see you next year(Original post by SoOverdosedOnApathy)
Yeah the tests weren't too bad, just make sure you revise and you will be fine. Also, if you dont know a question dont spend too much time on it, just do the rest and come back to it, because I only just finished the maths in time and I spoke to a few people who didnt finish them all. I dont think its too bad, but I was just worried so much about checking it as I went that I only just left myself with enough time. So make sure you take that into consideration. The english was honestly fine, just make sure you know what nouns, verbs etc are.
You will either have your tests in the morning and interview in the afternoon, or the opposite way around. I think the questions you get asked in interview might be different depending on who your interviewer is, but I think they are all really friendly. Give yourself enough time to prepare your presentation, so you arent too stressed on the day, and make sure you just deliver it confidently and dont forget eye contact. They gave me a choice whether to sit down or stand up while presenting, so if they do that just do whatever you feel comfortable with. Above all, just keep smiling and being friendly, even if you think you have messed any of the questions up. They really are not trying to trick you or catch you out, just be honest and show how enthusiastic you are about being a teacher
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Re: Manchester Uni primary PGCE interviewThat presentation question is exactly the same as the one I had to do two years ago! Wonder they ever change it...
I didn't get in though so I won't attempt to give anyone any tips! All I can say is that their interview process is ridiculously scary and gruelling when it doesn't really need to be. I went to UOC in Carlisle in the end and the interview to get onto that was so friendly and intimate - I think only 12 of us were there on the day, compared to 50-100 on the Manchester interview day...
