BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL

Subject: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: s&r
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 04:45 PM

We are required by the government to join an organization called Institute for learning.
Anyone understand what it hopes to achieve?

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: Peace
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 04:54 PM

Google the following.

IfL - The Institute for Learning - Welcome to the Institute for ...
... please ask us to update our database by emailing [e-mail]. ... The Institute for Learning (Post Compulsory Education and Training), ...
www.ifl.ac.uk/

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: Schantieman
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 04:56 PM

We used to call them schools and universities

S

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: Peace
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 05:02 PM

LOL

Governments could screw up a one car funeral--get the numbers 1 and 2 out of sequence--wear a bikini to a wake. I have come to think there is a special office somewhere peopled by a trio that takes big hits of bad acid and then makes decisions about the future.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: s&r
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 05:03 PM

I've joined it because I have to but I can't see what it's for.

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: mandotim
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 06:22 PM

I teach adults in the UK, but I understand that it's optional, at least in the university where I teach. I haven't joined, I've got enough letters after my name. Are you sure it's not just the policy of your organisation?
Tim

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 08:19 AM

Is it like the GTC? I find that an imposition that I have to join that to teach in the UK and yet they charge a fee of £35 a year that I have to pay.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: Mr Happy
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 08:43 AM

http://www.ifl.ac.uk/services/p_wwv_page?id=140

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: Penny S.
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:56 PM

My best friend has had to join to carry on evening class teaching. It is like the GTC. His centre has run induction courses to explain things. I gather he is still mystified. And resentful. And wondering if he should give up.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: jonm
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 05:31 PM

IfL is the FE/HE equivalent of the GTC. For those who lecture, rather than teach, I suppose, in the opinion of those in Government who understand neither, but they weren't going to call it the GLC, were they?

All teaching staff in my institution have to join - this is not a requirement in universities, where there is more political clout (they are also exempt from compulsory inspection). I have, as a teaching member, although the IfL has incorrectly categorised me as non-teaching and will not let me edit my details unless I pay a non-refundable fee to re-classify myself as eligible for govt-funded membership!

Stealth tax? Control freaks in govt again?

The original purpose of the IfL was to ensure that all staff teaching outside state schools had access by right to minimum opportunities to develop their subject knowledge and teaching skills - laudable, especially given the teaching hours requirements and contract conditions in many FE colleges - but in true govt Quango style, then they reclassified anything more academic than scratching your @rse as training, so it's no more and no less than a body to accredit your own interpretation of what training and development is!

What other powers will it have? Given the micromanaging control freaks in Parliament (both parties, IMHO), could be anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: Acorn4
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 05:12 PM

You get a nice glossy magazine with some (probably)highly paid people smiling on it every now and then.

I think this could feature on "Have I Got News for You?" at some point.

I just joined it because the WEA said I had to, but don't pay it much mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone teaching adults UK understand IfL
From: strad
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 07:10 AM

Like so much in the UK this appears to be another form of compulsion and a way to screw money out of people who might want to do something voluntarily, such as teach music at evening class, when what you get for teaching only just about covers travel costs etc. I'm going back into my kennel and bark at the world!