Jane Morris
Primary Education
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’ve lived in various parts of Cumbria since 1988 and been involved with the University of Cumbria, in its various guises, since 2004. I now live in Wigton with my chef partner, Nick, and we spend our days off walking Wainwrights, Corbetts or Munros or on our bikes, exploring the National Cycle Network when the weather allows. We also have a great belief in the power of afternoon tea and cake.
I’m actually a failed vet! That was my career aspiration when at school but the necessary grades weren’t forthcoming so I went into agriculture which, for me, contained the same characteristics as veterinary science; animals and the outdoors.
An agricultural degree wasn’t really my strength and I just scraped an Honours pass. However, college life did develop my passion for the Great Outdoors as I spent my weekends exploring the UK with the Caving and Mountaineering Club. As a result of connections within the Club, I found jobs working in outdoor centres in the Lake District and North Wales.
Fast forward a few years and I realised that I wanted to teach so applied to the Charlotte Mason college in Ambleside to do a PGCE in Primary Education. My tatty BSc was actually useful as it made me a science specialist! I worked in primary schools for a few years in South Cumbria developing expertise as science, music, computing and RE leads before personal circumstances led me out of the classroom and into some contract work with the university. I have been at the university ever since!
What research area do you specialise in?
I’m interested in how we learn; more specifically, how the brain learns. I’m not a neuroscientist but enjoy tapping into the latest research about how we make memories and observe myself and others in the process. I write a blog every once in a while to capture my thoughts:
My Science Teacher is Telling Tales
What modules do you teach and what is your favourite part of these?
I teach computing to postgraduate and undergraduate students on our Primary Education with QTS pathways. This means that seminars look at the subject specific knowledge a primary teacher needs to have in computing and how a computing lesson with a primary age child could be delivered. The computing curriculum has stayed stable but the technology we use changes regularly and it is this constant flow of the new that keeps the subject interesting for me.
What makes your course different?
I would suggest the strong partnership between our campus and placement schools. We blend campus-based delivery and school-based practice throughout each academic year. Our campus sessions are research based so students are being exposed to current theory. Our school-based mentors, all serving teachers from across the North West, have access to this campus content and engage with rigorous mentor Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in order to ensure their support is appropriate. Part of that CPD involves Quality Assurance visits from university staff who monitor how mentors support a student’s enactment of theory in the classroom as well as offering excellent tips and tricks from experienced practitioners. Students often return from placement buzzing about the welcome they have received in school by all the staff team. We see the changes in them too as they grow in confidence. Many often continue the relationships with the schools in their own time, volunteering in class or sharing personal skills in after school clubs.
What advice would you give to students considering studying on this course?
Teaching is a career and, some would say, a vocation. The course gives you an idea of what it can be like, to be a teacher and influence the world of a child for good. You’re not on your own either. The support of your peers and school and university staff will help you find your wings. Only you will know if you then wish to use them! If it is your thing you will qualify with a degree and a teaching qualification. Try it and see!
What’s your favourite thing about teaching at Cumbria?
Location, location, location! I am privileged to live and work in a holiday destination.
And, finally:
Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I learned to play the bagpipes as a teenager!