STEM Intern Review

I thought the virtual experience was very well organized which made it very enjoyable. It was a long day to sit on Zoom, but they had a good mix of social interactions, listening to employees/alumni of the program talk, and group activities. They hosted a drinks/quiz after the first day which was a very nice change to get to know other participants of the virtual experience. Additionally, I enjoyed when one 15 minute break we were put in breakout rooms and got the chance to meet others.

The staff were all very friendly and encouraged all of the participants to get to know each other. The staff felt very approachable and experienced. I received constructive feedback from the different staff members about what I did well during my teaching episodes and what I could improve on, which will be very helpful in the future. The range of activities was interested and made the day go by very quickly. Teach First really makes their interns feel comfortable and valued.

The schedule for each day was given to us a week in advance so we can plan for the day accordingly. At least one staff member was always available in case we experienced internet issues or any other problems during the virtual experience, being available by telephone or email. Communication was effective and clear from the company, without being bombarded. There was always time integrated into each session to ask questions. All communication was very organized (i.e. all the Zoom links were clearly labeled).

Teaching is such a transferable skill so I can use the classroom management techniques or the planning skills in any kind of situation. I am not sure if I want to go into teaching, but if I eventually decide that I do, then this experience prepared me super well so that I know what to expect and I am well equipped with many skills. I feel very well informed about what it is like to be a teacher in England.

The virtual experience was extremely well structured. The schedule for each day was given to us a week in advance so we can plan the day accordingly and know what to expect. The Zoom links were clear and all worked. The staff never ran over time and we finished each day early or perfectly on time. If we did run into any issues, there was always a staff member available to call/email and get help immediately.

The activities they planned were great, especially given the circumstances of the internship being put online. There was a fun activity to look forward to each day, such as a quiz/drinks hour at the end of the first day which gave all the interns a chance to get to know each other and socialize within breakout rooms on Zoom. Teach First utilized the breakout rooms really well, allowing us to meet other people and feel comfortable practicing the new skills we've learned. The staff were all enthusiastic and showed so much passion.

The first day of the virtual experience was aimed at building on from the skills we learned about in the assigned pre-work. Different people spoke and gave us valuable tips on classroom management, planning, and assessment, which was incredibly useful for the following two days when we were to present our teaching episodes. The second day was aimed at putting these skills to work and although we presented in small groups, the facilitator (an employee of Teach First) gave each of us detailed and personalized feedback so that we can improve.

There were dedicated time slots within the three-day virtual experience for information and questions about their 2-year teacher qualification program. Additionally, Teach First had several alumni of the program talk to us about their experience and what they are doing now. We had time to ask the alumni questions and although we ran out of time, Teach First made sure that our questions were answered by the alumni and they emailed the responses to us. I felt like I had a very clear vision about what working for Teach First as a teacher would look like.

Every activity planned during the virtual experience was aimed to help us learn and grow confident in our skillset and I felt supported every step of the way which I think is exactly what the company culture is like. I felt like Teach First was investing in helping me develop valuable skills and made me feel comfortable and confident. Every staff member I spoke to was very kind, passionate, and made me feel welcomed and valued.

As I am still debating what I want to do as a future career, I felt that the information given during the virtual experience made me more conflicted as it seems like an excellent opportunity to become a teacher. I think for people who were really considering a profession in teaching, this was a great experience for them to give them more insight as to what the job entails. However, I am still uncertain about my own plans for the future.

For the original in-person experience, we would have been paid and partially reimbursed for our travel expenses, which was fantastic. As the experience was only three days and taking place online, I did not receive any sort of payment, but this was expected, although Teach First did not explicitly tell us that this is the case. I was more than happy to get some experience within the field of education and explore a possible career path.

Throughout the three days, we were put in breakout rooms on Zoom to get to know other participants. Although I did meet several people, I felt the time was not enough to get to know them and make a connection as we were always assigned a task or activity to do. There was one 15 minute break where we were put in breakout rooms to talk and network but this was very short and I wish there was more time for us to get to know other people.

Being an online virtual experience, there were not as many opportunities to have networking or social events. However, Teach First did the best that they could by providing a drinks/quiz hour after the first day, allowing the participants of the experience to socialize and get to know each other, but it would have been nicer to have a 30-minute break somewhere in the three days to be split into breakout rooms and given the chance to just talk to other participants.

It was briefly mentioned when we were asking questions to the alumni of the two-year teacher qualification course that we are able to get involved in after school activities such as sports or other clubs within the school we are assigned to. This was only briefly mentioned, as I can imagine it differs from school to school and depends on the one we are assigned to. But it was good to know that opportunities like that are available.

For anyone with even a small interest in teaching, I would fully recommend this virtual experience. Teach First gave me a really detailed insight into what it would be like to be a teacher and equipped me with the necessary skills to begin to grow confident in my ability as a teacher (these skills are also so transferable to other professions). The three days were extremely well organized and support was provided by Teach First every step of the way.