Tach First STEM Internship Review

The virtual experience was beyond my expectations as despite being delivered online (via Zoom), Teach First ensured that it was as close to the original internship as possible. All the exercises, group activities and discussions and teaching skills were delivered in a professional, yet relaxed atmosphere and I feel the skills and information I gained during the three days were invaluable in helping me develop in becoming a teacher and there are so many new things I learnt which I can now apply to future tasks, even at university, but more significantly if I were successful on the main teaching programme.

The use of group activities and discussions really highlighted the relevance of each and every person. There are many activities, where without your input or sharing of ideas, the activity simply couldn't go ahead. Therefore, I felt fully involved in the internship allowing me to build a rapport with others. Also, the inviting tone to ask questions whenever we wanted to allowed us to share our views or raise any issues in a welcoming atmosphere which shows my input is valued and Teach First were open and welcoming to hear my views, even if it took time out of the session.

The extensive use of detailed feedback was immense throughout the course, not only from facilitators and Teach First staff but also from other applicants - we were both giving and receiving feedback. All this was to better our teaching skills and how we approach particular tasks. The emphasis on consistently giving feedback was a strong part of this course and this was often given 1-to-1 which felt more personal and shows the dedication the staff gave to support my learning.

The new skill set I learnt, such as how to effectively present a teaching episode, and how to effectively provide feedback to others rather than generic feedback, will help in delivering presentations at university to other peers. The information I learned about how students learn has impacted my approach to lessons and so in the future, as a teacher, I will remember these skills and apply them to shaping my lesson plans in order to create an effective, engaging lesson.

This internship was brilliantly structured due to the use of clear timetables that were posted in advance. The frequent use of emailing allowed us to always be up to date with any changes that may have been made and the timetable was always refreshed online too. There were set times in the day where we would engage in certain activities or discussions and the frequent use of breaks throughout the day allowed an overall manageable structure to the course.

Despite being a professional internship, the environment was welcoming, inviting and relaxed. The friendly staff members from Teach First and the facilitators allowed for reassurance during some high-intensity exercises. Meeting other students for the first time was also nerve-racking but I was surprised that in such a a short time, I felt comfortable around so many; as the ice-breaker challengers and group discussions allowed us to get to know each other and share our experiences.

As part of the course, we had a Q&A session involving past and current members of the Teach First programme which allowed us to engage in a discussion to learn more about what Teach First entails and the everyday role a teacher would do as part of their programme. It might have been nice to compare this to other teaching routes however. Nonetheless, the application process of the programme was clearly explained allowing an insight into the company process.

We had dedicated sessions exploring Teach First, its aims, the application process, how the summer institute works and how the selection process is done. We also learnt about opportunities we can undertake during or after the STEM internship and the actual teaching programme. I feel more informed in how Teach First operates and the plethora of opportunities you can undertake within the company in order to improve your own self-development. We met a lot of different people via Q&A discussions which was insightful to the different areas of Teach First.

Originally, the plan was to be paid for the internship if it were to be completed in person. However, the reduction from a 5-day in person course to a 3-day online course and the lack of travelling and accommodation reflected the lack of payment this time. However, it was stated we would be paid for online pre-work for the in-person internship, and we still had to complete this for the online one but this time wasn't paid. Understandably, with the COVID-19 situation, Teach First may not have had the money to spare but I am grateful the internship still went ahead.

There were ample opportunities for group discussions in Zoom breakout rooms allowing for us to get to know each other and share our common experiences. The inclusion of a quiz at the end of Day 1 allowed us to have some down-time at the end of the day and engage in a relaxed atmosphere with others. The use of a debate at the end of Day 3 also allowed a nice conclusion to the internship allowing people to share their views and engage in friendly dialogue with on another.

As part of one of the sessions, we learnt about opportunities involving online tutoring that we can get involved with and engaged in a Q&A session with potential recruiters and how to apply for them. This was a scheme that we can put into practise what we had learned during the internship to these opportunities and I feel more confident in engaging in online tutoring now as a result of the new skills and approaches I have learnt.

I would certainly recommend this experience to others. Initially, I was sceptical about engaging in an online course as I felt it would be too invasive and stressful but it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have undertaken and it was a highly professional yet inclusive course. The amount of new information and skills I learnt in just a short time period were invaluable in helping me improve my teaching. The new people I learnt and our experiences we shared was also highly enjoyable.