Evaluate what you believe are the main roles and responsibilities as a teacher/trainer in relation to the teaching and learning cycle and in particular when meeting the needs of learners. How far do your responsibilities as a teacher/trainer go and how do these work in relation to other professionals you may encounter both internally and externally? What boundaries are there with your role and between that of other professionals?
As a teacher/trainer, there are certain roles and responsibilities that you have when it comes to the needs of learners. Teachers/trainers should look to the teaching and learning cycle as this contains an outline of what is to be considered. The five points made on the teaching and learning cycle are identifying needs, planning learning, facilitating learning, assessing learning and quality assurance and evaluation.
As a teacher/trainer it is your role to plan and carry out clear learning sessions with material that is relevant to the subject. You will need to have the correct resources for each session and to determine the length and content of the sessions in relation to the length of the course. Once this has been planned you will need to decide the best way to implement your teaching by identifying the needs of your learners, your organisation and your own. Sessions may need to be adapted for learners depending on their individual preferred learning styles, motivations, previous educational experiences and any special needs a learner may have.
You may need to arrange for initial assessments to be carried out in order to gain an understanding of a learners skills and knowledge along with interviewing learners to gain an insight to any possible barriers or challenges that may affect their learning, and if so come to an agreement with regards a specific learning plan for them. If a learner has any special needs that you are not qualified to deal with you will need to obtain guidance from a professional who is qualified to help them. It is your role to provide regular feedback to learners whilst providing them with the support they need to succeed on the course and to also gain learners’ opinions of the course so that it can be altered to make it better, if required. It is the responsibility of the teacher/trainer to make sure they are fully up to date with knowledge of the subject they are teaching as well as ensuring the safety of their learners by undertaking relevant risk assessments.
When assessing your learners and their work it is important to assess their progress to ensure they have gained all the necessary knowledge and skills. There are various methods of assessment that can be carried out; these are initial, formative, summative, formal and informal. It is your responsibility to asses in a fair manner and to make sure all work and progress is assessed in an agreed amount of time, providing constructive feedback to the learner.
It is also important to assess and evaluate yourself and your own sessions and how well they were planned and delivered. This can be done by asking for feedback from learners and others and by ongoing evaluation of your own sessions. By doing this, you will help to improve your future teaching sessions and provide a better learning experience.
As previously mentioned, there may be times when a teacher/trainer needs to seek help and/or advice from a professional, either internally or externally, and it is important to understand your boundaries and responsibilities, and to know when to do this and what information to share for the benefit of the learner. There are certain professionals who have been trained to deal with particular scenarios and events that you may not be qualified to handle and it is your job to assist and support other professionals if the situation requires.
You should always work to and be aware of the boundaries of a teacher/trainer so that you know what is required of you, both when dealing with learners and with other professionals. It is important to maintain standards and keep within regulations of your establishment and the law. Teaching without discrimination, safeguarding learners, child protection, keeping learner information confidential as well as data protection, dressing appropriately and always acting professional; these are important boundaries of a teacher/trainer that should always be adhered to.
Reference
Imperative Training Online [no date] The Training Cycle Imperative Training Online. Available from: http://www.imperative-online.com/course/get.php/Learning_Cycle.jpg [Accessed: 7 January 2013].
Gravells, A. (2012) Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector: The New Award. 5th Edition. London: Learning Matters.