FAS/VEC teacher or trainer in IT

Sandy Sue

hi
i'm currently studying computer systems management in college. (i'm in third year)
I would like to be a teacher/trainer in IT especially Computer Applications etc.
What qualification do you need to do this?
and also what would your salary be like?
are you in a school/college or do you move around through company's?
i would be very interested in your comments, especially from people working in similar fields with similar positions.

cheers
sandra

Catari Jaguar

I am interested in finding out about this, as my boyfriend will soon have a Fine Art degree and would like to teach, but hasn't time to do the post grad. How do you go about applying for a job in a VEC school?

All I know is that its's a temporary contract so you never get summer holiday pay and you get paid by the hour instead of a fixed salary

Tom Dunne

When I did a stint of technical training, I was unable to do anything for FAS without the JEB diploma. Personally, I thought this diploma was the greatest load of nonsense (I have a first class honours MSc in computing), so I never did it. I do vaguely recall something about VEC requiring the JEB also, but don't quote me on that.

I don't think there is any qualification you need, but you would have to have the qualification that you are teaching. You will get asked about the exams at the end of the course, so you need to have done them.

I was teaching mainly ECDL, so I just did the ECDL exam without sitting the course.

As for salary, it depends on who you are working for. I was sub-contracting to a training company and the money was ok. It really was pocket-money for me as I was also lecturing full time, but it wasn't big money.

Sandy Sue

ok, so if i had the JEB and an ordinary degree i would be able to teach ECDL and similar courses?

so, what extra qualification do you need to lecture in computer applications?

p.s thanks for this career guidance.

Tom Dunne

Sandy Sue wrote: »

ok, so if i had the JEB and an ordinary degree i would be able to teach ECDL and similar courses?

so, what extra qualification do you need to lecture in computer applications?

p.s thanks for this career guidance.

To teach ECDL, you need nothing more than the ECDL qualification. FAS require you to have the JEB diploma, so if you are not teaching with FAS, you don't need it.

If, by lecturing, you mean lecturing at third level, as opposed to technical training, you need a degree and a minimum of three years post-grad experience. See the sticky at the top of the forum for details.

Sandy Sue

oh ok, i get it.

see i'd like to teach Computer Applications. It dosn't matter what age group, be in second level or third level. i just persumed that the job opportunits at third level would be better. i don't even know if they teach it at second level schools.

Tom Dunne

Sandy Sue wrote: »

oh ok, i get it.

see i'd like to teach Computer Applications. It dosn't matter what age group, be in second level or third level. i just persumed that the job opportunits at third level would be better.

The job opportunities are not really there at third level. Unless you want to lecture in the evening (which I am doing at the moment). Permanent, full-time jobs in lecturing are few and far between. I've given up on my dream of ever getting one.

rainbowtrout

Sandy Sue wrote: »

oh ok, i get it.

see i'd like to teach Computer Applications. It dosn't matter what age group, be in second level or third level. i just persumed that the job opportunits at third level would be better. i don't even know if they teach it at second level schools.

Have a look at the Teaching Council of Ireland's website, they have a list there of all the degrees offered in third level colleges which are accepted for teaching www.teachingcouncil.ie

having said that, having computing as your only subject is a bit pointless in a secondary school, computer classes in my experience are shoved into teachers timetables to make up the hours and it tends to be maths/science teachers/anyone who can switch on a computer who end up with them. Also the fact that it is not an exam subject doesn't help. I don't think schools would look too favourably on employing a teacher who does not have an exam subject, a better area would be adult education colleges/PLC centres where the hours are the same as secondary schools for the most part but FETAC modules are taught and the pay scales are the same as for teachers in regular secondary schools.

rainbowtrout

Lil Kitten wrote: »

I am interested in finding out about this, as my boyfriend will soon have a Fine Art degree and would like to teach, but hasn't time to do the post grad. How do you go about applying for a job in a VEC school?

All I know is that its's a temporary contract so you never get summer holiday pay and you get paid by the hour instead of a fixed salary

VEC schools work more or less the same as Department run schools. Those with contracts get paid in the summer and those without don't, regardless of who they work for. It has nothing to do with qualifications either. Also the fact that the HDip is not needed to teach for the VEC really is just an anomaly in my opinion, there are very few contract positions being awarded in schools to non-qualified people. There are plenty of people out there with the qualifications to take those positions, so jobs will probably go to them first.

A little off topic, but you say your boyfriend doesn't have the time to do the postgrad, it's only one year and if he is interested in teaching in the long term maybe it would be better to have the qualification than trying to get a job without it

gaeilgegrinds

I worked in one of the biggest VEC schools in the country until recently & only one member of staff (out of 87) did not have the H.Dip or PGDE done, and they were nearing retirement age.

Catari Jaguar

rainbowtrout wrote: »

A little off topic, but you say your boyfriend doesn't have the time to do the postgrad, it's only one year and if he is interested in teaching in the long term maybe it would be better to have the qualification than trying to get a job without it

He's been studying his course for 5 years already! Portfolio course and a repeat year. He just wants out of college to get working. I reckon another year in NCAD might kill him! Why go to trouble of doing extra year when he doesnt have to and can still teach? It's not his number one profession goal, but it sure would be a great opportunity and he could still have summer free to sell paintings etc. I think he's interested in doing the City Art Squad comunity project so VEC would be perfect for him.

If you need to teach in non VEC secondary schools do you not need to teach two subjects like History and English or something? He just interested in teaching Art, even as a course for adults.

rainbowtrout

Lil Kitten wrote: »

He's been studying his course for 5 years already! Portfolio course and a repeat year. He just wants out of college to get working. I reckon another year in NCAD might kill him! Why go to trouble of doing extra year when he doesnt have to and can still teach? It's not his number one profession goal, but it sure would be a great opportunity and he could still have summer free to sell paintings etc. I think he's interested in doing the City Art Squad comunity project so VEC would be perfect for him.

If you need to teach in non VEC secondary schools do you not need to teach two subjects like History and English or something? He just interested in teaching Art, even as a course for adults.

Because it's not that he doesn't have time, he just doesn't want to, which is his choice but as was said in other posts, whether it's not strictly necessary or not, VECs will employ qualified people before non-qualified people. I think two subjects is more of a preference of schools rather than a necessity, Art is probably the only subject area where a person with a degree would only have one subject to teach. Work in the teaching area can be extremely limited without qualifications

wingnut

I am on a contract as an ICT teacher with a VEC school. Its pro rata so I get paid for my holidays. I have a BA, MSc and PGCE (ICT). Although I am qualified to teach history I have never done so as I did all my teacher training teaching through ICT.

I wouldn't say there are a wealth of jobs teaching ICT out there I was just in the right time and place. You would have better luck with Bus/ICT Maths/ICT etc. I was on the interview board for a simiar job and it is amazing how many people went for it and the standard of qualificaitons. The problem is lots of people are looking for IT training jobs but there are not enough to go around. The NCCA say ICT isn't coming in a subject any time soon also

Third level jobs are like gold dust and 9 times out of 10 you will have to wait in line with people who have been working in the University with tons of qualifications. Any University worth its salt will be looking for PhDs for most postions. I worked thrid level for a while but it was rolling contracts and I wanted a job where I could plan for the future.