Education & Work Casual Uni Teaching Job

I have been offered an interview for a casual teaching job at a uni in my field of expertise. I have training and lecturing experience in the workplace but no experience in a formal teaching environment.

Advice from someone with experience/knowledge in this area would be appreciated.

 

No more than very basic experience, so not much to offer othan grab it with both hands if you can accept casual terms. I've always found there are vast opportunities for those not reliant on a permanent contract (or a specific location). I used to do similar roles in allied health and hubby has somehow held on to a casual rate online teaching gig for several years that looks like a true gift horse.

Sounds like a great stepping stone even as worse case scenario.

 

My experience is somewhat old but I was an Associate Lecturer and Tutor 22 years ago.

Your workplace experience is ideal, particularly if you have a Cert IV. Although that was not necessary when I was tutoring and lecturing ( for 2 years ).

Most confronting thing is if you have any large classes. I had a lecture hall with 60 predominately mature age students.

You may find teaching late teens confronting if they aren't interested in the topic ( 1st years ). People in 2nd and later years want to be there and want to succeed ( which was the case for most of my students ).

 

I generally found the younger ones fantstic to work with, enthusiastic and self motivated. Older ones sometimes much higher maintenance, already know it all or have "stuff" going on. Anyway, no one said it was easy.

 

I bumped into one of my old lecturers this evening - he's retired (I was in his classes back in the 80's) & he still recognised me.

 

By coincidence I just finished the last face- to-face component of the Cert IV TAE today and now have 18 weeks to design a course. I've been told that VET course design is very different to Uni though so I don't know if it will be much help.

 

This is all the stuff I haven't really considered yet, I have similar issues at work training and supervising people older than me.

 

I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing

Showing you age mate, I was born in the 80's!

 

I also find myself in that situation, although i have to review/sign-off on the work of people older than me. Some take what I hope is constructive critism well, others are more stubborn or set in their ways.

 

I should probably also mention that I haven't been to a job interview in over 10 years...

 

I used to teach mathematics and biochem at uni as a lecurer when I was in my postgrad years - it kept me out of trouble.

3 hours of prep time for one hour of teaching is reasonable to allocate. You don't get paid for prep time.

I loved it, lots of fun and you get to learn more than the students.

 

Best advice I was given when I started lecturing/tutoring/training and I felt a little intimidated was:

"Walk into the room as if you have both eyes open and the students only have one".

That is not to say that you are twice as good as them as you probably are not.

It means that you can see twice as much as them due to your knowledge and experience. That is why you are being hired.

 

At this point I'm just hoping to get through the interview as best I can. Because I haven't held a teaching position before I have no idea how I should be preparing for interview.

 

I have always attended interviews with the belief that I am the best/most suitable on the interview list and the interview is for me to decide whether It is in my best interest to accept this role.

Might be a tad arrogant but I have never missed out on a job that I really wanted .... .

 

The Ugly Truth About Constructive Criticism

 

It's a good strategy and I present work lectures with a similar level of confidence.

I guess I'll just head in and give it my best shot and if I come across as inexperienced/a novice in parts I'll have to make it up in other areas.

 

I believe it may be both tutorials and lectures, mainly turorials though. I have to put together a lesson plan for interview, managed to find some templates from other disciplines at the same uni.

This would be a second job (which they know) so while I have a bit of flexibility I won't be able to drop everything for them should I get the job. In saying that, this may eventually be a full-time career change if it works out (and I'm too broke to become a property developer ).

 

Thanks, I'll shoot you a message tomorrow.