Networking is something that we all do, more or less, in our professional and personal lives. However, we rarely have an opportunity to think about it systematically or to use it as a teaching tool. Networks can grow organically or be deliberately created. They can involve connections as close as the classroom next door or at the other end of the world. They may or may not involve social media.
This course provides an opportunity to develop your own networking skills, which can be more subtle than ‘working the room’ at social events, handing out business cards or contact details. We will discuss networks and their features, including ways of assessing their value. We will work on ways of mapping and recording your own networks. The TRANSIT project aims to support the transition from teacher education into teaching careers, and networking should be a big part of this transition.
Finally, we will suggest ways in which you can use networks and networking within your own teaching, to support student personal and academic development. This is especially important in helping students develop so-called ‘social capital’ as they move through the education systems and transition into the world of work.
6-8 hours
