Tom Bird, PGDE Secondary (Physics and Mathematics)
'At Moray House, going to conferences and learning together has been especially rewarding. You are shown a world of possibilities for what teachers can do and be.'
Who inspired you to become a teacher?
My Chemistry teacher at secondary school. He was attentive and excellent at explaining things clearly, with enthusiasm. He is the reason I went into science, and into teaching.
Why did you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh?
The emphasis on the changing education sector showed me that more than any other Scottish institution, Moray House was preparing teachers for the future and firing on all cylinders to help us become as well rounded as possible.
What aspects of student life do you enjoy the most?
The sense of working together and being in the same boat as one another.
What aspects of your degree do you enjoy the most?
The exposure to different ideas and settings and the opportunities to try things out and be radical and creative where possible.
What do you find most challenging?
This course is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and the most rewarding. I have had some diabolically bad lessons on placement, but the important thing is that those experiences have helped me get subsequent lessons right. There is a lot of self-examination which takes place, and sometimes this means accepting difficult truths about how you need to change the way you work. But there is nothing negative about self-improvement.
What do you find most rewarding?
When I have delivered a lesson on placement which has resulted in vibrant discussions among pupils, or learning has been especially effective, or relationships have become well established with a class. At Moray House, going to conferences and learning together has been especially rewarding. You are shown a world of possibilities for what teachers can do and be.
What is your favourite course so far and why?
Collaborating with other science student teachers in General Science tutorials is very enjoyable. We have had the opportunity to use and investigate a very wide range of excellent classroom resources and ideas, including at the Scottish Universities Science School conference in Glasgow.