Kim Hibbert-Mayne (Secondary PGCE PE Tutor) Learning mats have been a tool in primary and secondary education for many years now; used to guide pupils around a topic or remind them of key ideas, concepts or vocabulary during a lesson. They can be used to extend the learning during an independent task or for homework. For the same reasons I have been using learning mats in my own sessions for teacher training in secondary education. In this context they are a tool for information gathering, thought organising and for increasing the level of engagement when it comes to students taking their own notes. I find that learning mats encourage students to decipher the information being transferred and summarise it to ‘fit’ into the relevant boxes…. Read moreTeacher Training using Learning Mats

Jane Moreton (Secondary Mathematics PGCE Tutor) and Isabelle Schafer (PGCE Secondary Modern Languages Subject Leader) In January 2018, PGCE Modern Languages trainees and PGCE Mathematics trainees planned cross-curricular activities at the University of Worcester. Trainees’ interpretation of how to embed numeracy in their teaching and how to take into account pupils’ language needs were influenced by professional dialogue. They created thought provoking activities and they taught each other symmetry through famous French buildings, sports vocabulary through probability, food through combinations, averages through world competitions etc.             Feedback from trainees was overwhelmingly positive: Modern Languages trainee: “This week the session with the maths trainees really helped me to see the infinite number of ways in which we can incorporate elements of… Read moreShared cross-curricular activities for PGCE Modern Languages trainees and PGCE Mathematics trainees