Take a moment or two to browse online courses or home study option and you will, at some point, come across an advert or promotional photograph that suggests studying in your favourite pyjamas and comfy slippers is one very clear advantage of studying or learning from home.
A huge benefits of learning at home is that it is more convenient as you can choose your time and place to study.
Whilst this may be true, this only skims the surface of what you, as a learner, can gain from studying your chosen course from the comfort and confines of your own home, or reading course materials on the bus and so on.
Teaching courses are no different. Effectively you have the knowledge of your subject or skill, you now need to understand, appreciate and try out how different ways of getting the message across to others, so that they can do the same. This is true of teaching all subjects at all levels, whether it is A Level Geography or how to decorate a cake – there are skills involved and you need to be able to show these, practice these and assess these skills in others.
Thus, teaching courses online have a value to them and studying from home holds many advantages for you, as a teacher or instructor;
#1 variety of programmes and courses
You may think that the field of teaching courses online is narrow but you will find that this is not the case. Their end goal may be similar but you may feel that you need to develop certain kinds of skills or want to address key aspects in relation to how you would teach your subject.
Take your time to examine what the teaching course offers, as much as what qualification you will come out with at the end.
#2 Lower costs overall
From giving up your job to student loans, tuition fees and so on, there is a lot of discussion in relation to learning and money. For many students, both those straight from school and returning learners, there is a clear issue of learning and debt.
With online courses, the financial outlay is clearer – you pay for your course and that, in most cases, is it. You can opt for an increased support package, if you feel you need it and the cost of this is quite clear. Some courses you pay in one lump sum but with other providers you can pay monthly or in three equal payments etc. There is no overhanging debt and no need to give up work or drop hours etc., unless you want to, of course.
#3 Comfortable environment
We are back to the pyjamas and slippers argument here but over the years, there has been discussion and debate about taking the formality out of formal education. It was assumed that courses only had value if, amongst other things, you sat for hours in a lecture theatre, pouring over complex texts and listening to lecturers.
Attitudes have changed and the ability to self-study, and manage your own learning is now seen as valuable. So, if you learn better at 3am sat at your kitchen table in your pyjamas, then so be it. Or maybe you are a night owl? The point is, you study and learn in a place that you feel comfortable and able to learn.
Neither do you have to co-ordinate childcare, the school run, juggling rush hour traffic and, the biggest bugbear at most colleges and schools, finding somewhere to park.
Take your time to examine what the teaching course offers, as much as what qualification you will come out with at the end.
#4 Convenient & flexible
The last point of car parking and family routines leads nicely onto the point of convenience and flexibility.
Many people find that expanding their horizons, such as with a teaching qualification, are hampered by the fact that studying simply doesn’t fit with their lives. So lectures start at 9am but you can’t drop the kids off at school till 8.30 and it’s a 40-minute drive from there…
But what you do have is an hour after school where the kids are at swimming and you could study at the table in the café. Get the picture? You can fit your study and learning into the time you have but also when you feel you learn better too – back to the night owl or the early morning person.
It can make learning feel so much more pleasant and possible when you can structure and manage it yourself.
#5 Pushing boundaries
In the film Education Rita, Rita transforms from an unpolished diamond into a sophisticated, learned woman. It took her hours of work, scribbling away by a lonely lightbulb as well as pushing herself to fit in, talk to people and so on.
While the value of interaction is not to be dubbed down, if you have limited time to throw yourself into the full spectre of family life, opting for teaching courses online can be the way forward. And it still pushes your boundaries, presenting plenty of challenges along the way.
In summary
Online Teaching Courses as well as teaching assistant courses online offer the means by which you can progress your career without taking a huge financial gamble, benefitting both you and your employer too. There is also opportunity for some courses, with sufficient credits, to be added to your grown bank of credits and be part of a larger, over-arching qualification.
Signing up is simple too. Take a moment to look round our website at the range of online courses with qualifications, paying close attention to what the course covers and the qualification you would gain. When you are confident you have found the right course, enrol by choosing which payment option suits you. Your course materials can be accessed online or a printed copy mailed to you – and now, you can start learning!
Teaching assistants are valued in the classroom. They help to stretch and challenge ‘more able and talented’ pupils, as well as working in small groups or an individual basis with those students with additional learning needs.
They provide support to the teacher, as well as helping with discipline in the classroom. It can be a challenging but fulfilling role.
Many schools, both primary and secondary, will look to have a reliable group of teachings assistants or TAs, who can work with different classes and students. However, in recent years, the role of the teaching assistant has been changed.
No longer are they seen as people who clean up once class has finished; they are expected to be interactive during the lesson and as a result, they are expected to have a level of education themselves, as well as a high level of literacy and numeracy. In other words, the modern teaching assistant is expected to have qualifications appropriate to their role.
This means an understanding of their role and their impact in the classroom, as well as holding specialist qualifications or ‘awareness’ training in certain topics, such as dealing with autism, diabetes and other specialisms.
This is why many teaching assistants or potential TAs are turning to teaching assistant courses online – and why they are turning to NCC Home Learning.
Choosing the right course
Choosing the right course from many teaching assistant courses online is essential. If you have no qualifications in this area, we suggest starting with a basic, cover-all qualification that covers the basics of being a teaching assistant in the modern classroom.
This kind of qualification will ensure you understand the role of TA and what you will bring to the education and learning experience of children, both in the primary and secondary setting. Some colleges also employ TAs to work with specific students, supporting them in all kinds of learning environments.
Many schools, both primary and secondary, will look to have a reliable group of teachings assistants or TAs.
Specialist courses can also see you cement this knowledge and make you invaluable to schools and colleges in supporting children or students with specific needs. For example, some children and students can present emotional and behavioural challenges in the classroom; being able to deal with situations in a positive way is important both for the student and their peers.
Why choose to study online?
The advent of the internet has revolutionised all kinds of facets in life, from how and where we shop to how we access learning.
At one time, the only option to learn and seek new qualifications was to attend college or university once you have completed school. This is now no longer the case, with leading online learning suppliers such as NCC Home Learning offering all kinds of study opportunities to a large cross section of potential learners – including you!
There are all kinds of benefits to studying online which makes it suitable for you:
- Study when you want, when you can and when you learn most – from getting up an hour before work to spending an evening or two each week looking at course materials, you completely self-direct and manage your own study. This gives you the freedom and the flexibility to work and study when you want (or can!) around other commitments.
- Cheaper – with lower overheads, online learning providers pass on these savings to their students with courses that cost less. In the past, some people have taken this as sign that courses are of lower value than those offered in a classroom setting but this is not the case.
- Same accreditation processes – we work with a number of accreditation agencies (the organisations who confirm that certain courses meet certain standards) and as such, we offer the same types and levels of courses online that you would find in a college prospectus.
- Beneficial to your career too – if you are already working as a teaching assistant, you will understand that there is a career ladder for you to climb, including becoming a Cover Supervisor (covering a lesson for an absent colleague) or being an assistant teacher. Studying for qualifications can and will advance your career.
Enrol today – it is so simple!
Enrolling with NCC Home Learning is quick and simple. With a variety of different teaching assistant courses, you will be spoilt for choice but, when you have decided which course is for you, add it to your basket and then follow this really simple enrolment process:
- Choose whether to access course materials online or receive a paper copy
- If you choose to pay in instalments, you will need to pay a deposit – and that’s it – you can start studying today
- You can also choose to pay in one lump sum and start studying today too!
Want to know more about what it takes to become a teaching assistant. Follow out step by step guide.