D4 - Warren Kidd (UEL): Knowing me, knowing you. Using the mentor, trainee and learner 'voice' to inform reflective practice for UEL PCET provision

1. Knowing me, knowing you. Using the mentor, trainee and learner 'voice' to inform reflective practice for UEL PCET provision. Towards the adoption of emergent technologies for E(nhanced)-reflection Warren Kidd Cass School of Education University of East London

6. Pre-programme wiki

13. “ When I arrived at a local 6th form to have a look around I felt a little intimidated, as my experiences of Sixth Form were very different studying in Middle Class York. However, during our tour I saw nothing but eager, hardworking students who were all focussed and seemingly interested in what they were learning. I had half expected to walk past classrooms and see students running around, shouting, fighting and generally getting out of hand…” Trainee teacher reflection

14. “ As my choice to come to UEL was mainly based on the fact that I would be studying and working in East London, the introduction to the socio-economic "peculiars" of the local area was of no surprise or shock. As I looked around the room I wondered how many in the group had a similar point of view (I'm guessing and hoping the majority) and how many might end up struggling to deal with East End's "deprived youth". One of course does not negate the other, and I suspect I too will find it rather challenging at times – despite all my good intentions and genuine interest in giving my students the best possible opportunities” Trainee teacher reflection

15. “ ...The walk from Canary Wharf along the river to just east of Tower Bridge was a good addition, as it said plenty about what the area used to be like (warehouses etc) and what it is like now (posh flats, gated communities). It is in stark contrast to most of the rest of East London – as a walk to Shadwell station reminded us later – but the gated communities and riverside apartments could have as much an effect on the lives of East London's young people as the council estates and tower blocks of Bow and Poplar. I can only try and guess what that effect might be at this point (anger? resentment? feeling of worthlessness? Who knows…) but I suspect I might find out once I start my placement!” Trainee teacher reflection

16. “ My opinion varies - They are sweet and lovely, smart and enthusiastic, frustrating and hard work, stubborn and disrespectful. They can reduce you to tears in one lesson, but amaze you with their creativity and enthusiasm 2 days later. They are given a hard time by the media and the police - twice in the last 4 days I witnessed the police stop and search my students, once at the tube station and once outside the theatre. Their lives are not easy, or fair, and yet they sometimes seem resigned to their fate. I think they are scared of what they don't know, so choose to dismiss it and stick to their small (and safe) known worlds. I find teaching them hard work, but also extremely rewarding when they 'get it'. I feel it's a greater duty to do the absolute best I can and give it my all.” Trainee teacher reflection

20. “ Before I started at my placement college and was assigned a mentor, I had many preconceptions, stereotypes, and expectations about what a mentor will be like for me during my teacher training. “ Trainee teacher reflection

21. “ My first thoughts about the roles of mentors were something of a guardian angel/cognitive behavioural therapist approach to the mentoring role!” Trainee teacher reflection

22. “ Someone primarily who you could trust. What is trust? Well what I mean by this, in terms of mentoring and my ideals of what mentors should be like, is that they are people who you can safely open up to in times of stress and disappointment during the course of the year.” Trainee teacher reflection

23. “ All in all though, he has still been an inspiration in some ways and at first I thought he was cracking! However, as the year drew on, he drew more and more away from me, I in turn had to ‘manage’ my own mentor and tell him what to do.” Trainee teacher reflection

24. “ I think as a naïve teacher trainee I went in with these expectations and did not get them matched. “ Trainee teacher reflection

25. “ I think I have learnt my lesson that not all teachers have the time to take on a trainee, and not all teachers like their jobs! If I could play this year out again, I would not have such high expectations (note to self: maybe find a proper therapist!) but I would still expect honesty, commitment and trust to envelope the mentoring role.” Trainee teacher reflection

26. “ “ I’ve enjoyed my placement and found the college and staff to be friendly and welcoming. However, there have been discrepancies between the pedagogy I’ve learnt at UEL and my mentor’s own pedagogy and I found dialogue between myself and my mentor to be limited in this respect.” Trainee teacher reflection

27. “ “ The college itself was very supportive and well resourced but my mentor did not have sufficient time for a mentee.” Trainee teacher reflection