Considering changing career to teaching

pamelak

Hi all,

I'm considering changing career and going into teaching. I currently work as a software engineer with ~6 years experience.

My educational background is quite unusual, I have a 4-year Level 8 Bachelor of Design in Textiles from NCAD, and an MSc level 9 in Computer Science from UCD. The Masters was a 15 month conversion course designed for students with no background in Computer Science (great course, highly recommend).

I have a couple of questions around this:

• My MSc in Computer Science is only 120 credits which I think means I can't register for that subject (has to be 180 credits). Is it possible to do additional modules individually to get those credits up, or are there ever exceptions for industry experience?
• Does anyone know if it's possible to qualify to teach both Computer Science and Art - I ask because UCD/Hibernia offer Computer Science PME but only NCAD offers an art specific PME.
• If I could get the credits sorted, I feel that Computer Science is the better option in terms of employment options as it's in high demand, but it's only taught at Senior Cycle so if I didn't have a second subject, would that mean I could only work part-time?

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone has to offer.

Exiled1

While Computer Science is offered at Senior Cycle, it is in very few schools. You would need a major teaching subject to go with it. Art teachers are ten a penny. There are a multitude of other considerations involved before even thinking about qualifications….. aptitude, suitability, cost, pension….

Suggest you have a look at the teaching and learning forum where this subject has been repeatedly examined.

dory

Definitely no exceptions for industry experience. It may get you further up the pay scale if you can demonstrate how your work experience is related to your teaching (shouldn't be difficult in this case). First port of call is the Teaching Council. Think it's €200 to get your qualifications assessed and they'll tell you what you're missing.

There are free courses to add subjects (Irish, Spanish, Maths and I think Physics). But you have to be registered with the TC to get on those. You will need another subject.

Check if you actually need the methodologies to teach. I did a History course after my Dip, so no methodologies, and I got registered.

Lastly, do a LOT of research/work experience / speak to people. I once started a thread like this. Spent a lot of money and in fairness worked as a teacher for 10 years. But am very glad to have it behind me now.

afkasurfjunkie

what’s your current take home pay monthly?

jrmb

Your subject knowledge has to come from undergraduate taught courses. The Teaching Council will treat you as if you didn't have the MSc, even though this makes no sense whatsoever.

rainbowtrout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122824791#Comment_122824791

Not exactly. To register as a teacher, you need to have a recognised degree for a subject. After that, you can get extra subjects through add-ons, such as the diplomas in Irish and Maths that were mentioned in another post, getting enough credits (60) in a particular subject etc. I have a MSc in Software Engineering and I'm fully registered for Computer Science with the Teaching Council.

OP - your best bet would be to see if your Textiles degree would meet the requirements for registration as an Art teacher. If that was the case and you decided to do the PME, you could look at registering for Computer Science at a later stage. You would be snapped up for Computer Science one way or the other. Teachers are hard to come by for the subject and lots upskilled through CPD but do not have any qualification.

jrmb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122828986#Comment_122828986

OK, that sounds new. I have full registration but my preferred master's wouldn't have been recognised, and my recognised add-on options were both at level 8.

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122830544#Comment_122830544

The last few years the government have created post grad courses for a few subjects, so that existing teachers can add on subjects. So they've kind of opened the door to postgrads being accepted….but it all comes down to what modules, and what the TC accepts.

pamelak

Thanks everyone, sorry for the delayed response. Really appreciate all of the advice. I think next step is definitely more research!

pamelak

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122822558#Comment_122822558

This is really helpful thanks @dory I'll definitely check with the teaching council, and am in the process of doing lots of research and talking to people I know who work in teaching. I'm still not sure if it's the right fit for me or not.

I'm curious, when you say you're glad to have it behind you now, did you leave teaching?

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122869867#Comment_122869867

Yes, I did.

Teaching takes a lot of energy. I was always wrecked in the evenings/weekends. Now I've a job that gives me a much better work/life balance. No more correcting/planning on weekends. For me teaching was like doing the Leaving Cert. When I did the LC I always felt like I should be studying, when doing other stuff. I had the same feeling when teaching. Was always thinking "I should be correcting / I told 3rd years I'd make notes on X / I have to make that test for 5th years / I have to ring that parent tomorrow / I have to explain to that other parent how her daughter's snapchat interactions at 11pm are not entirely my problem".

Now I work from home and close down my laptop at 4pm on a Friday and don't think about work until 9am Monday. I never hear people complaining about my new professional online/on the radio. I have career progression options. I can drink tea without being interrupted. My lunch breaks never have meetings. I can go to the bathroom whenever I want. I don't have to perform in front of 150+ people a day on days I don't feel like performing. And I never have to perform on days I have cramps. If I feel a little under the weather I can work from home and stay warm. If I need to go to the dentist it's just a quick email to say - back soon, rather than begging colleagues to cover me. I can go on holidays off peak, and work from Spain in the depths of winter. Never hear "Yeah but the three months…." . I have the energy and time to read books and I'm back in college at night.

And I never worked in a school with discipline issues!

So in no rush to go back.

pamelak

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122869961#Comment_122869961

Jesus, thanks for being so candid.

The main reason I'm thinking of changing job is to do something more meaningful and fulfilling and teaching is just one option I'm looking into.

Your job after teaching sounds like my current job and it's so easy to take all of those benefits for granted, and downplay the stresses of a new job.

dory

I forgot to mention the midday walks! Love that in winter I can go outside when it's bright during lunch time. Lunch when you're teaching is manic. You can chose to eat or photocopy or talk to the camogie/football/debate team whose next event you're trying to plan. Or if you're trying to progress in your career you can go to the Literacy and Numeracy meeting and try and eat and talk.

You're right, it is meaningful and fulfilling. I really enjoyed many aspects of the 10 years I did. I just didn't have the energy to do it much longer. Def wasn't something I could do in my 50s/60s.

Joe286

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122869961#Comment_122869961

Can I ask you what you are doing now

Joe286

Don't go into teaching. School discipline going down the toilet outside of middle class areas. The elite don't give a **** as they privately educate their kids.

Even labour ministers sent their kids to private schools.

Treppen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123149194#Comment_123149194

Champaign socialist Ruairi was on board of most expensive private school in the country.

Do as I say not as I do lol