Do teachers know the meaning of stress?

[spursman17]

That post really is rather ignorant. GCSE's were minor really, half the people stroll through them without doing any form of revision at all. They are clearly getting easier and easier as many people have alluded too.

And what is this when you say only those with qualifications will be getting jobs in the future, absolute nonsense. You have no idea how the jobs market works, there will always be opportunity for those who are willing to put the effort in and work hard. Thousands of people get jobs due to who they know already for instance.

Qualifications are overrated really, GCSE's get you into a levels and a levels into uni and uni into a job (maybe) and thats it. Once you are in there you are all equal and its up to you to demonstrate your abilities and why you deserve to progress further in that company. Thats the bottom line. Obviously there are specialist areas that are the exception to this where only a degree will get you into the industry etc.

Actually GCSE results are improving because students are willing to work hard and want a professional job in the future. They have to work to get the top grades, they are not simply handed to them.

Kids today have countless resources like easy access to the internet and websites dedicated to revision. It is actually the resources that have got better over the years.

People are quick to say things are getting easier. In my opinion they are not as all subjects are strictly accessed. I personally think teaching techniques are getting better, resourses are improving and humans are getting smarter as a whole.

 

[COYS]

Actually GCSE results are improving because students are willing to work hard and want a professional job in the future. They have to work to get the top grades, they are not simply handed to them.

Kids today have countless resources like easy access to the internet and websites dedicated to revision. It is actually the resources that have got better over the years.

People are quick to say things are getting easier. In my opinion they are not as all subjects are strictly accessed. I personally think teaching techniques are getting better, resourses are improving and humans are getting smarter as a whole.

Why do we work for the top grades? Because we know how competitive the job market will be in 5 years' time, and that we have to cough up certificates to prove we're fit for the job.

 

[Seedy Ron]

So why do universities often complain about the standard of student they're receiving from our secondary system, Spursman? Surely it should be the opposite, they should be spoiled for choice?

 

[COYS]

So why do universities often complain about the standard of student they're receiving from our secondary system, Spursman? Surely it should be the opposite, they should be spoiled for choice?

Because they don't like GCSEs. They think they're too average and middle class. They're looking for posh (or foreign) IB students with a reputable background and something they can show off about

 

[spursman17]

So why do universities often complain about the standard of student they're receiving from our secondary system, Spursman? Surely it should be the opposite, they should be spoiled for choice?

Because the problem lies in the material being taught. I work in software development. I decided against A-levels because I wanted a course that focused solely on the subject I was going to take at university (computer science).

I took a national diploma at college for 2 years that focused on everything technical, from building PC's (pretty basic) to the introduction of programming.

If I had stayed at school, my only choice was IT which didn't even scratch the surface of what would have made a good starting point at university.

Today’s students are being taught brick in my opinion. If you want a good example of teaching that leads into a good working career go and check out the German education system. They work closely to sectors that are in demand and focus the course material that will suit these companies when the students graduate.

I experienced the exact same myself when leaving university. I was taught a good general foundation but it’s not until you work that you tend to pick up the real skills needed in the work place.

There is a big gap between education and skills actually required in the working World.

As for secondary school I think students will benefit more from being taught how to cook properly in life than being forced subjects like art/graphics/woodwork. This is another problem that should be addressed. Real skills that will actually be used in life (and for the benefit of the country (less obesity related problems forced upon the NHS)).

 

[Jurgen the German]

I think we've all seen first hand that some kids really can be ****s!

There was one guy in my form all the way thru secondary school, I swear If I had to teach him I'd end up punching him!

 

[COYS]

Because the problem lies in the material being taught. I work in software development. I decided against A-levels because I wanted a course that focused solely on the subject I was going to take at university (computer science).

I took a national diploma at college for 2 years that focused on everything technical, from building PC's (pretty basic) to the introduction of programming.

If I had stayed at school, my only choice was IT which didn't even scratch the surface of what would have made a good starting point at university.

Today’s students are being taught brick in my opinion. If you want a good example of teaching that leads into a good working career go and check out the German education system. They work closely to sectors that are in demand and focus the course material that will suit these companies when the students graduate.

I experienced the exact same myself when leaving university. I was taught a good general foundation but it’s not until you work that you tend to pick up the real skills needed in the work place.

There is a big gap between education and skills actually required in the working World.

As for secondary school I think students will benefit more from being taught how to cook properly in life than being forced subjects like art/graphics/woodwork. This is another problem that should be addressed. Real skills that will actually be used in life (and for the benefit of the country (less obesity related problems forced upon the NHS)).

The last half of this is rubbish. We're being taught for jobs that don't exist yet. This will explain it all for you

[video=youtube;YmwwrGV_aiE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmwwrGV_aiE[/video]

 

[spursman17]

The last half of this is rubbish. We're being taught for jobs that don't exist yet. This will explain it all for you

[video=youtube;YmwwrGV_aiE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmwwrGV_aiE[/video]

What exactly is that explaining?

We deal with India on a daily basis at work. We offshore much of our development.

We use three different software houses, one of which is one of the biggest in the country.

I can assure you they may have the knowledge but much of their work is poor quality and nothing like what we used to develop over here. In fact colleagues of mine have even stated is doesn't work out too different in cost than bringing development back over here where it would require far less configuration.

Also India and China treat their staff like dogs working them 12 hour+ days.

 

[COYS]

What exactly is that explaining?

We deal with India on a daily basis at work. We offshore much of our development.

We use three different software houses, one of which is one of the biggest in the country.

I can assure you they may have the knowledge but much of their work is poor quality and nothing like what we used to develop over here. In fact colleagues of mine have even stated is doesn't work out too different in cost than bringing development back over here where it would require far less configuration.

Also India and China treat their staff like dogs working them 12 hour+ days.

I wasn't pointing to that. I was pointing to the bit about how we have no idea how the world is changing. We aren't just being taught to revise any more. We're being taught to think.

In our generation we need to solve problems, using the great help of technology. As more technology is invented, the more problems will need solving. We don't know what problems we'll be solving yet. We don't know what technology we'll be using yet. We don't know what jobs we're going to have yet. That's why we're being prepared to face the unknown. Watch the whole video. It's very interesting.

It's true what it says. We are living in exponential times. Technology is advancing at a faster rate every minute. The world is a different place to how it was 5 years ago technologically. Generation X were taught to challenge problems they faced at the time. Generation Z are now being taught to use their imagination.

 

[The Moonlit Knight]

You've clearly been brainwashed by the right-wing media. I mean you think or subjects are a joke?! My mum did typing as an O level! You lot wouldn't last 5 minutes in a classroom! :ross:

More and more people are getting qualified due to a number of reasons. The most important is that now there is a much wider variety of GCSE options available for students. I don't think you had all the pointless subjects we have on offer, but not ones that are completely stupid. Also examination and assessment practices and techniques have improved. But you also have to ask yourself how things are being taught nowadays. I don't think they had interactive whiteboards in every classroom in 1991, no offence. Also we have the ultimate resource of the internet. Before coursework was scrapped, GCSE students could just find what they needed on there. The internet is the ultimate learning tool!

They haven't become easier, they've just become more universal. This is because the ONLY way to get a job in 5-10 years time will be through qualifications. Gone will be the days when you can just drop out of school and go straight in to full time work up some 'ladder'. As more and more people get qualifications more and more people will be snapping up those jobs at the expense of the unqualified.

It was year 11's last day today, and they may have been celebrating, however over the next few weeks, they will be put through sheer pain and hard work, which I am dreading next year. I consider myself lucky to have not been born a year later, as the government are scrapping modular GCSEs from this September are ensuring there will only be linear GCSEs, meaning that you just do one big exam at the end for all your subjects. Just imagine the stress of that.

All I'll say is that they released a paper from the early 70's for an A-Level. It was actually failed by the original taker. They got the current graders to mark it now, and they gave it an A! Says it all really.

Being a student is cushy. You won't realise how lucky you are until you enter the real world. And your arrogance will deny this and you'll think being a student is tough and I know this because almost everyone feels the same when they're a student.

 

[edgey-the-yid]

All jobs throw up their own stresses and we all have to deal with it. But Teachers get enough bloody holiday to wind down from all this "stress" plus a nice ?ú30k+ bank ballance to boot!

 

[The Moonlit Knight]

Actually GCSE results are improving because students are willing to work hard and want a professional job in the future. They have to work to get the top grades, they are not simply handed to them.

Kids today have countless resources like easy access to the internet and websites dedicated to revision. It is actually the resources that have got better over the years.

People are quick to say things are getting easier. In my opinion they are not as all subjects are strictly accessed. I personally think teaching techniques are getting better, resourses are improving and humans are getting smarter as a whole.

You're kidding yourself mate. If that was the case then how come graduates used to be the cream of the crop? I do a LOT of hiring and interviewing and I interview a lot of graduates and all I can say is no wonder there are so many foreigners is good jobs in this country (at least in the City). What is being churned out by the English education system is plain scary.

It's not just academic qualifications though, professional ones are the same. I did my Prince2 recently and I was absolutely shocked to see the pass mark for the foundation was 50%!! The pass mark for ANY exam should be well over that. I'd even go as far to say 75% is a generious pass mark. How can you only get 50% and pass? Crazy. Although it did explain why so many Prince2 PM's I've had to work with over the years are so brick......

 

[COYS]

You're kidding yourself mate. If that was the case then how come graduates used to be the cream of the crop? I do a LOT of hiring and interviewing and I interview a lot of graduates and all I can say is no wonder there are so many foreigners is good jobs in this country (at least in the City). What is being churned out by the English education system is plain scary.

It's not just academic qualifications though, professional ones are the same. I did my Prince2 recently and I was absolutely shocked to see the pass mark for the foundation was 50%!! The pass mark for ANY exam should be well over that. I'd even go as far to say 75% is a generious pass mark. How can you only get 50% and pass? Crazy. Although it did explain why so many Prince2 PM's I've had to work with over the years are so brick......

This is how GCSEs work:

90% = A*
80% = A
70% = B
60% = C

and then it's different for foundation tier, where you can only get a maximum of a C, but there's much less chance you will fail as you can get a G if I'm not mistaken. A fail is known as a U (Ungraded).

Take this with a pinch of salt as different exam boards and different subjects have different grade boundaries and pass minimums.

 

[The Moonlit Knight]

This is how GCSEs work:

90% = A*
80% = A
70% = B
60% = C

and then it's different for foundation tier, where you can only get a maximum of a C, but there's much less chance you will fail as you can get a G if I'm not mistaken. A fail is known as a U (Ungraded).

Take this with a pinch of salt as different exam boards and different subjects have different grade boundaries and pass minimums.

60% for a C? Wow, that's awful!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/3353184/O-levels-are-alive-and-well-but-not-in-Britain.html

 

[COYS]

60% for a C? Wow, that's awful!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/3353184/O-levels-are-alive-and-well-but-not-in-Britain.html

O Levels are so old-fashioned using old-fashioned teaching methods that have no advantages over GCSEs

 

[The Moonlit Knight]

O Levels are so old-fashioned using old-fashioned teaching methods that have no advantages over GCSEs

I know this is a pointless debate with you because I used to be you arguing against people like me when I was your age. No one likes their pride hurt by being told that what they think is tough is actually tinkle easy. You'll see when you get older, trust me. I was wrong when I was your age, and you'll realise you were wrong too at some point down the line.

All I will say is that essay style answers are a much better indicator of ability than multiple choice or one or two line answers. Essay style answers give an insight into the thought process and the level of understanding of the student. I follow the same mantra when I interview people. Anyone can answer a few quick fire right or wrong questions. Give them some situational stuff and then hammer them on it, and you see how good someone REALLY is. I've had quite a few people do well on my questions only to completely crumble when put to a real test.

 

[COYS]

I know this is a pointless debate with you because I used to be you arguing against people like me when I was your age. No one likes their pride hurt by being told that what they think is tough is actually tinkle easy. You'll see when you get older, trust me. I was wrong when I was your age, and you'll realise you were wrong too at some point down the line.

All I will say is that essay style answers are a much better indicator of ability than multiple choice or one or two line answers. Essay style answers give an insight into the thought process and the level of understanding of the student. I follow the same mantra when I interview people. Anyone can answer a few quick fire right or wrong questions. Give them some situational stuff and then hammer them on it, and you see how good someone REALLY is. I've had quite a few people do well on my questions only to completely crumble when put to a real test.

Yeah they're bringing that back. We're the first year to have the new science course, and in this new course they've abolished what it previously was with just multiple choice, and now have 2 very hard essay-style questions worth 6 marks each in each paper, as well as many other structured questions. However, from next year it will be linear so I don't know how it will be then. We're the only year to have it like this.

 

[THFC]

Whilst you probably don't realise, school days are the best of your life. And about 12 weeks holidays is a major contribution to that.

 

[tommythetank]

Having taken my GCSEs last year, I have to agree they are a pile of tinkle. I did little revision and came out with 8 A*, I know many others with similar results.

 

[camspur]

Actually GCSE results are improving because students are willing to work hard and want a professional job in the future. They have to work to get the top grades, they are not simply handed to them.

Kids today have countless resources like easy access to the internet and websites dedicated to revision. It is actually the resources that have got better over the years.

People are quick to say things are getting easier. In my opinion they are not as all subjects are strictly accessed. I personally think teaching techniques are getting better, resourses are improving and humans are getting smarter as a whole.

The results are improving because students get to rewrite their coursework five or six times with the teacher's suggestions added to it and have their deadlines extended because school bosses insist the students ahve the best chance to get the best result possible for the benefit of the school league tables.