Top Performance Student Success Bright Future An inspiration to us ...

10
USiNg life
exPerieNCe
TO HelP
OTHerS
Marcia Shakespeare
a former student, whose daughter was an
innocent victim of gangland violence, has
launched a new charity in her daughter’s
memory, which will attempt to steer other
young people away from gang culture.
Marcia Shakespeare is the mother of
letisha Shakespeare who was tragically
gunned down outside a New year’s party
in aston during january 2003. Her charity
‘The Precious Trust’ – using letisha’s
middle name – was set up to provide
practical help to vulnerable young
women aged between 16 and 19.
She has worked with South Birmingham
College to devise courses in areas such as
hair and beauty, media and fashion. The first
15 students are due to start in September and
will be referred by organisations that work with
people in disadvantaged communities who are
involved, or at risk of becoming involved, in
gangs. As well as gaining a qualification,
the students will also receive one-to-one
mentoring and support from Marcia, in her
capacity as a qualified lecturer.
After the death of Letisha and her friend
Charlene Ellis, Marcia became a prominent
campaigner against gun violence, taking her
message to politicians and speaking at schools
around the Midlands and elsewhere.
She also returned to education, taking a
degree in Sociology and Psychology at the
University from 2006-09 followed by a PGCE
Post-Compulsory Education and Training
qualification from 2010-11.
She said: “Most of the people on the
course were closer to my daughter’s age
than mine and at first I felt a little out of
place, but I realised that I was bringing my
life experience to the course, which was
perhaps different to some of the other
students, and we were learning off and
supporting each other. Within a couple of
months, I felt very comfortable.
“I loved my time at university and I learned
so much. There is a lot of help if you ask for
it, whether it’s financial advice from Student
Services or the Students’ Union or information
on how to use the library.”
On completing her PGCE, Marcia felt she
had the knowledge and experience she needed
to move forward with her ambition of setting
up a charity which could help keep young
ProGress 2012
Education
women away from the dangers of gang culture.
Marcia added: “I wanted to help
disadvantaged people by providing
educational opportunities, and to do that I
needed to get more qualifications myself.
What I’ve learned is that anyone can do a
university-level qualification, whatever
background you’re from – you just need to
persevere, realise that no one is looking at
you or judging you, and ask for help where
you need it.
“I went through a journey from being a
victim of a violent crime to looking at how
I could put something positive into the
community and trying to make it stop.
This is about saving people’s lives and if
I can save one life, I will have achieved
what I set out to do.”
For more information about the charity,
email theprecioustrust@gmail.com.
www.bcu.ac.uk/education
ProGress 2012
Education 11
award-wiNNiNg TeaCHiNg Andrew Hartshorn
a former teaching student has been
judged one of the ‘rising stars’ of his
profession after receiving the Outstanding
Newcomer to design and Technology
award from the design and Technology
association (daTa).
PrePariNg
TeaCHerS fOr
21ST CeNTUry
STUdeNTS
Louise Wheatcroft
Our academic staff are at the centre of
the latest thinking on their specialist
subjects. Here, senior lecturer in Primary
english louise wheatcroft says that
policy makers should be looking to
make more of an effort to recognise the
importance of preparing teachers for
the next generation of students: one that
is both digitally literate and net-savvy.
What we are beginning to see now is a gap
appearing between the experiences of digital
literacy that primary school children have
outside of school and their experiences of
technology in the classroom.
Andrew Hartshorn currently works
at Langley School in Solihull, where he
specialises in Food Technology. He is always
keen to try new and exciting strategies,
and incorporate new technologies into
his teaching.
He attributes much of his success to his
time at the University where he was able to
build his knowledge and experience while
on placement at two different schools in the
city, as well as learning from his tutors.
He said: “I chose Birmingham City
University, quite frankly because it is the
best at what it does. Ofsted says so,
alongside previous students and teachers.
The course attracted me because it is
challenging yet supportive, backed up by lots
of experience and there is a great amount
of prestige in being trained here.
“I was expecting it to be tough and it
has been the toughest course I’ve ever done,
but also the most rewarding – I have gained
It was almost 20 years ago when education
pioneer Seymour Papert commented that
children have entered into a love affair with the
computer. We cannot ignore the pace of digital
technology. Increasingly, children and young
people are becoming more proficient with
technology than their parents.
Nearly every classroom I have taught in
has an interactive whiteboard, and I have also
found that laptops and tablet computers have
begun to replace the class computer. It should
come as no surprise then that our teachers will
need relevant training to operate in this new
teaching environment.
Many experts are now of the opinion that
there is a generational divide between people
who have grown up in a digital world and
people who were born before the internet
became commonplace.
One might assume that today’s young
teachers are already ‘digital natives’ and are
therefore already equipped with the digital
literacy and skills needed to teach in the 21st
century classroom. However, I would warn that
it is unhelpful to make such assumptions.
new skills and developed professional links
that will help me through my career.”
As well as securing his first teaching post
while still at the University, Andrew was also
asked to write for DATA after the head of the
association observed him in her capacity as
external examiner of the course.
He added: “My tutor was amazing; she
was just like a scary Mary Poppins! She was
always there no matter what time of day or
night it was, and was always looking to give
me the chance to do my best. She left me in
no doubt of what was expected of me and the
high standards I needed to strive for.
“The most important thing is to
remember why you are doing the course,
keep smiling and talk to your tutor. They
have seen it all before and can give you the
words to get through. Birmingham City
University gives you the opportunity; it’s
up to you to make the most of it.”
Research shows that a significant number
of young people actually have limited access
to technology and limited skills and are not
transferring their personal experiences of
digital literacy into their professional roles
as teachers.
www.bcu.ac.uk/postgraduate www.bcu.ac.uk/postgraduate