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by PsyGuy
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:15 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How important is for a Masters in Education to be accredited by an external body?
Replies: 6
Views: 930

Reply

@lainey9

If its not a Global Ivy than a Masters is a Masters. Aside from that, how old are the programs in this specialized field? While Keele will have slightly more marketability compared to Wrexham, as youre more likely to find Keele alumni in leadership (hiring) positions, and more recognition in BSs for Keele as a Uni. Wrexham may signal an IS that you have a stronger understanding of the Welsh DE system which may be an advantage (in a very small niche). Other than that there isnt any appreciable level of status associated with Keele. Anyone who knows enough to hold their nose up to Wrexham is likely going to hold their nose up to Keele as well.
by PsyGuy
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:06 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How important is for a Masters in Education to be accredited by an external body?
Replies: 6
Views: 930

Reply

@Tol_Eressea

You would not get a T&L certificate completing the M.Ed program at UPe. The main issue is revenue and coin. These partnerships generate revenue for the IBO and UPe has very lean operating costs. You would obtain the same material benefit from the UPe M.Ed degree as you would with a T&L certificate, which is meeting the PD authorization requirement.

You can find the IBEC directory of providers here:
https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/new-st ... ory-en.pdf

That is an individual Uni requirement. The IB can establish minimum requirements but they cant prevent a Uni from having a higher requirement to read for a particular degree or study towards a degree at that Uni.

Many degrees from non-western countries are just as equally valid and respected as western degrees from the US/UK/CAN/AUS. For the most part, if a Uni isnt a Global Ivy than a Masters is a Masters. A degree from Acme State in the US or Hogwarts College in the UK worth more than some other accredited degree from elsewhere including Italy.
The issue with Italy isnt acceptability of qualifications but that a credential is limited to being placed on the register of those edu who specifically teach in the public/maintained DE system of DSs. There isnt an independent credential issued by the regulating authority.
The issue with other Unis is that often times the program is delivered in the host language and most of western IE is firmly entrenched in English which limits many programs to US/UK/CAN/AUS though there are Unis that offer advanced degrees in English (even if they are research degrees) there are Unis that offer taught advanced degrees in English.

No, the most common curriculum are NC ISs offering US or UK programs, and in the case of the Eu whatever SLL certificate and corresponding curriculum that region uses and is regulated by their MOE. The IBs programs are popular because they have to be. The IBO has to market their programs to get ISs to pay the coin for them. NC programs have a captive audience. DSs have to teach them and their development is largely (not entirely) supported by tax revenue. ISs can adapt NC curriculum rather inexpensively, while just like the IB you can buy boxes of materials, the NC standards are typically available publicly. ISs pay for inspections and accreditation and association memberships. An IS can print a diploma/certificate or other SLL document based on a NC curriculum but only the IB can provide the IB Baccalaureate, which you have to be an authorized IB IS to submit an order for.

Thats not to say the IB hasnt done a good job, they have. You find a high concentration of second tier ISs with IB programs. Which really moves the conversation to what is an IB IS. The classical definition of an IBWS was an IS IS with all three (PYP, MYP, DIP) programs for its K12/KS curriculum. That changed to be any IS that offered any of the IB programs (PYP, MYP, DIP, CRP) was an IBWS. Outside the EU you find that the DIP program is used as an ISs 'honors' track alongside an NC track. Within the EU you find that the DIP is marketed more as an 'international' track rather than an honors (or advanced, accelerated, etc. track). Within the EU you find a greater level of acceptance for the regional NC and whatever its SLL baccalaureate (certificate, etc.) than for the IB Baccalaureate.
In the UK A-levels are more valuable than the IB Baccalaureate (or IB course certificates). In the US an IB Baccalaureate is more valuable than a HS Diploma.

As to primary, there is utility in having PYP experience which usually means some level of PD training and 1-2 years of PYP experience. The PYP an its UI based thematic (transdisciplinary) approach is very alien to the stranded methodology (as well as its planning approach, etc.) often taught to DTs at Uni or in ITT/EPP programs. It takes at least a year in the classroom of growing pains before a PYP IT is competent, two years before they are proficient, a third year to before seeing expertise with portfolio, and yet another year at the advancing level to appreciate the role of exhibition in the PYP.

There are IB ISs that dont do IB very well, and youd hardly recognize anything IB related in listening to a listen (outside from the giant posters of the IB learner profile). There are not an uncommon number of IB ISs that pay little more than lip service to the IB. The IB does cost coin, and its not lite coin either. ISs need to achieve a certain level of stability and security to implement and execute a successful IB program so you see IB ISS as having that level of security and stability throughout the IS. Thats the kind of indication that says that an IS is doing enough of the right things adequately.
by PsyGuy
Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:17 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Accreditation requirements?
Replies: 1
Views: 181

Response

Short Answer: Neither.

Long Answer:

I will presume you mean your inspecting body as opposed to an accrediting body.
Since the inquiry is based on the criteria of passing, neither is accurate. There are two types of inspections: compliance and achievement inspections. For compliance inspections the outcomes are only met and unmet (pass/fail) for achievement inspections the outcomes are, in rank order: inadequate, satisfactory, good, and outstanding, in which the passing standard is satisfactory. Requirements for BSOs (which is different for HMI) are that the IS must be ranked satisfactory (either met or satisfactory and above). In the most recent criteria (Summer 2023) there was a hard shift in standards criteria to meeting the regional/national rules and regulations in place for the location of the IS. If an IS is complying with the statutory rules and regulations of the host region than their inspection will rate either met or satisfactory.
Thus the issue at question is, are these Palestine ITs in compliance with the rules and regulations of the LEA? If the the LEA accepts whatever credential these ITs have than the IS would not fail an inspection on that factor.

Theres a longer answer if the extension of the inquiry is what would the criteria be to rank good or outstanding on an achievement inspection.
by PsyGuy
Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:58 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Arizona vs Moreland
Replies: 19
Views: 31735

Comment

Interesting, where the experience or the candidates location when applying appears to make a difference.
by PsyGuy
Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:56 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How realistic are my chances of an IS job?
Replies: 12
Views: 1868

Reply

@expatscot

No, it is not. Take a better look there. The A* psychology DT/IT is not teaching A* geography or A* history. I previously wrote that the LW 'MAY' be able to teach some lower secondary humanities including integrated social studies and humanities.

Its true even for third tier (floater third tier ISs at least) because humanities ITs are a pence apiece. They can get a lower secondary IT who has more recent and current experience than one whose last experience with the curriculum was nearly two decades ago.
by PsyGuy
Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:42 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How realistic are my chances of an IS job?
Replies: 12
Views: 1868

Reply

@mittheimp

SA = Search Associates. They are a premium recruiting agency in IE. They are not an executive recruiting or head hunter agency. They dont do nearly that much work. They basically manage a database of IT dossiers and IS profiles that have vacancies. You can search for jobs and apply directly through their web portal, and occasionally, especially around fair events an IS will reach out to a candidate. In the UK public law makes it illegal to charge someone to find a job, so SA cant charge the USD$225 fee to IT candidates. SA doesnt do a lot access to the database is the focal benefit. On site, in person fairs are the secondary. Application and reference convenience are the tertiary benefits.

I disagree with @sciteach, you have the KS/K12 experience. You have two years in the UK and while they were maternity covers they were FTE and TOR appointments you also have the 6 years in SK ESOL you did at a DS and you did it under having QTS. If SA wants to accept you the experience and other requirements are there. If SA wants to reject you there is also ample reason, your age, your dated experience in KS/K12, youre very expensive and your teaching field (ESOL as well as humanities) is rather saturated.

I agree with @sciteach about the marketability of the various family dynamics. Kids are career killers. You find exceptions like you do everywhere. Where ITs make the mistake is thinking the exceptions are going to happen and benefit them and then they get frustrated when they find out they dont or the exceptions are very few and far between.

There are ISs that will be interested in western/anglo ITs kids, its becoming less common that thats a driving factor. Its easier and cheaper to hire kids with the right look from a talent agency and use those for the photos in various IE marketing, but stock photography and now with AI those images are even easier to procure and dont cost a tuition/fee waiver/place. I imagine living in SK your spouse in SK, and so your kids are likely dont have the full anglo look.

Discussing your humanities marketability and utility is a red herring, youre not a humanities IT, youre an ESOL IT, thats where the resume is. Youre humanities IT resume has much less experience on it and its a lot more dated than your ESOl resume, the ESOL resume is the strongest. There are a number of teaching areas that are saturated, and some including humanities are over saturated.

There are numerous hardship regions both outside and inside of Asia (Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, etc) and would also include China and SK. The little tiger regions in Asia (JP, HK, SG, etc.) are the small group of regions not considered a hardship.
SK is a bit of an anomaly in IE, it has a small first tier, an almost empty second tier and a robust third tier. Its part of the contributing factors to why SK is part of the hardship group (though much less so than some of the regions), its very difficult to get out of the third tier while staying in SK. If you arent recruited into a first tier IS bringing an IT to SK then they tend to languish in the third tier longer or they transition out of SK.

Pursuing a local job search in SK is certainly a worthy idea. I see it having three problems though.
The first is, as I discussed in element three above, the quality of the edu and the IS. Theres about three BSs in SK youd be happy sending your kids to. Maybe two more youd be comfortable with. Less than ten total if you look outside of BSs that would be okay. Those ISs usually dont have to compromise when it comes to recruiting.
The second issue is that as an LH (Local Hire) you usually dont qualify for tuition/fee waiver/places. In an OSH package those are the bulk of the cost. The ledger value is about 12K per student and the actual value varies considerably depending on the ISs enrollment and and what age/grade level. The cost of the comp benefits in an OSH package (flights, housing, insurance, etc.) combined for a family is equal to or less than a single tuition/fee waiver/place. Thats a big ask even as an LH for an ESOL IT in a region with a lot of ESOL practitioners.
Third, youve got 11 years at a SK Uni, IE would probably amount to a haircut in coin. Without an OSH package its going to hurt a lot more.
by PsyGuy
Sun Feb 25, 2024 6:39 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How important is for a Masters in Education to be accredited by an external body?
Replies: 6
Views: 930

Response

Most Western Unis outside of the US are not "accredited" by an external body. In most of these regions the regulating authority is some office/department/agency in the the national government. Some programs do have an affiliation with an external organization (such as a society, etc.) but the accreditation is a government process and system. These degrees are just as valid and legitimate as those granted by the regional external accreditation organizations (WASC, etc.) in the US. In the US the US DOE maintains a list of approved accrediting organizations these can be broken down into: "regional" accrediting organizations (WASC, etc.), "national" accrediting organizations and "program" (professional) accreditation. Instead in EUR the government directly grants accreditation. In England the Ofs (Office for Students), maintains a registry of approved (and accredited) universities that you can search.

https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/ad ... egister/#/

The IBO doesnt accredit Unis, not in the way that we think of accreditation. The IBO has a partnership with various institutions (and some non Uni organizations) where the Uni has composed a program (most leading to a degree) that then results in the student being eligible for a T&L (IBEC) certificate (with some exceptions). There is no requirement to teach in an IB IS after completing the program to obtain "accreditation". You can apply for the certificate immediately upon completion. There is a general pre-enrollment requirement of having taught for three years in an IB program for the T&L Advanced certificate, but this requirement can be met through other means and its not uncommon for those with less IB experience to enroll. Most of these programs are rather expensive (though many of them provide an online option). You may want to look at UPe (University of the People) which has a very inexpensive M.Ed program with collaboration with the IBO. It does not provide eligibility for a IBEC certificate but the main benefit is meeting the PD authorization requirements for IB ISs which is the primary benefit of the IBECs. You should be aware that outside of the IBO itself and a few classic IBWS most IB ISs and leaders dont consider the IBECs as being worth very much.

Moreland has only National US accreditation which is the weakest of the three in the US. You would have problems having your degree recognized and considering the alternatives (UPe) isnt worth the inflated cost (UPe is about USD$4K, Moreland $14K both are accredited by the same National level accrediter but Moreland doesnt have the IB advantage).

In IE the status/prestige of the Uni matters far more than external accreditation (as long as the Uni has legitimate accreditation). Doing the M.Sc in Learning and Teaching from Oxford has far more marketability than some external accrediting body. Likewise a Masters from Sunderland is going to have more utility than a degree from Moreland or UPe.

As far as interests are concerned most taught Masters programs in edu tend to be very similar. Unis have there own pet niches but this usually only varies a couple courses at most. Many of the courses you take are based on meds/peds/asst, some research and some special populations, depending on the program focus.
by PsyGuy
Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:47 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How realistic are my chances of an IS job?
Replies: 12
Views: 1868

Discussion

Im going to disagree with @expatscot

This is IE not DE in the UK (Scotland, England, etc.).

Being a humanities IT in a specialty does not make an IT a humanities generalist. Being able to teach poli.sci doent mean the IT can teach history or anything else for that matter.

Could the LW teach poli.sci. Maybe, if the bachelors/first degree was in poli.sci. Id be more comfortable. The citizenship syllabus from the UK NC from 2 decades ago hits a few bullet points in the current poli. sci. syllabus but there are a lot of gaps. Could they teach the IGCSE GP course, again maybe. Were talking an LW who taught a year and a half almost 2 decades ago a related course that wasnt even around at that time.

Poli.Sci is a SLL level course, its one of many and limited to only a couples grades/years. I could see an IS being able to schedule a single course/form for each year/grade but thats at best half an instructional load. Its not like history thats taught at every secondary grade/year, and its not a popular or common course. For context, in IB "Global Politics" at HL had about 4,700 candidates sit. History at HL had about 37,000 candidates sit (At SL, Global Politics had an additional 3,100 and History an additional 8,600 sit)and thats just DIP it doesnt count all the other upper and lower secondary students (MYP final year candidates had about an additional 2,600 in history and 6,300 in humanities).
by PsyGuy
Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:58 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Interested in Moreland, but have reservations/anxieties because of potential risks
Replies: 5
Views: 1357

Reply

@Dc533333

I would advise against it.

There are two facets of an ITs utility: What they can do (qualifications, degrees, certificates, credentials, etc.) and what they have done (experience, scores, special skills, etc.). Of those, experience is king. Here are the problems with your plan:
1) Youre initial credential is only going to license you in a specific state and you wont be able to move it to a lot of other states in the beginning. Meaning your limited and dependent on jobs for those two years of experience to essentially one state.
2) Literature is a very saturated DT pool in most US locations. You could very easily find yourself applying for jobs year after year and waiting forever for an actual appointment. You also may end up with an Entry grade rather than Professional grade credential depending on the State.
3) As a first year Literature DT the DSs that will eventually get around to hiring you are not going to be pleasant places. You will certainly make your bones if you can survive, but theres a reason why theres a very high attrition rate for US DTs.
4) Youre going to price yourself out of an IE job. Youre going to be paper heavy and experience lite. You essentially have done little but now an IS has to pay for an Entry class IT at Masters coin when there are cheaper ITs who are just as qualified and credentialed but are cheaper.
5) USD$13K is not very reasonable (though it could be worse). You could do an online credentialing program and an online Masters for less than USD$13K and still be able to work at the same time. Moreover if you do something like the MA Provisional route you could even pursue an internship in IE or at least do your field work in a better IS.
6) While the US sounds like it makes the most sense, youre a broader candidate if you study in a region that isnt the same as your own. Youre an American so everyone assumes you know the US edu system. Study a PGCE/QTS or registration in UK, CAN, AUS, etc. and it gives you a broader range of academic background. Study in a UK ITT program for example, and you can make a convincing case that you know the UK system as well as the US system. Aside from QTS, those systems are harder to transfer into than it is to transfer into the US with an outside credential.
by PsyGuy
Tue Feb 20, 2024 10:01 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How realistic are my chances of an IS job?
Replies: 12
Views: 1868

Response

Its less the PGCE and more the QTS. It moves your from the ESOL ET to the IT pool. It also allows you to spin your ESOL in the Korean DE environment as applicable experience giving you about 8 years of IE experience, about 2 of which with the UK NC and a UK classroom. Thats valuable, theres an IT resume there.

So in response to your initial inquiry on your marketability as an IT:

Short Answer: Zero

Long Answer: Zero to Nil.

You have three major factors working against you:

Your Resume Doesnt Offer Much Value.
First, your not a social studies or humanities IT. Citizenship is a rare course and in the cases where it is its not enough of a instructional load to be an FTE appointment. Youd need something else, and the something else would be the bulk of your instructional load. You cant really teach anything like history or economics, maybe you could but theres isnt anything in the resume that says you could. Maybe some lower secondary social studies but thats pretty weak. You dont have experience or even much in the way of qualification for anything except ESOL. Thats what you are an ESOL IT.
Second, everythings really dated. You werent last in a K12/KS classroom over a decade ago, and closer to two decades for a BS classroom. Your teriary instructor/lecturer position provides some measure of current knowledge and best practices but its woefully incomplete for an ITs skill set.

Youre Way Too Expensive.
If you were single there would be a place for you in IE somewhere, and youd be worth a flyer maybe. The problem is an IS fills an ESOL classroom but has to travel four people to fill that classroom. 4 flights, a 3LDK apartment, insurance, 2 tuition/fee waivers/places, and everything else. There just isnt a critical shortage or high enough demand for an ESOL IT with your resume. You dont have IB, you dont know the US NC and your last look at the UK NC was close to 20 years ago. ESOL is the type of subject thats more aligned to ability levels rather than age/grade ranges after you get passed reading development and Im sure you could spin meds/peds/asst to being up to date on but behavior/classroom management, curriculum, etc. you dont have a lot of utility in those areas, and youd cost a lot. Youd probably be looking at cap for salary step and the masters for the advanced degree salary band. Youd cost more than what youd add.

You Wouldnt be Happy with the Education Received.
All the above there might be a few ISs that would be interested but while the SK DE system is brutal its rather high quality. Those ISs that would be maybe interested in you, you wouldnt be interested in them as the program they would provide your kids would be worse than what they are looking at now. I assume youd want your kids to do IGCSE and A levels so youre looking at a BS with a solid academics and likely a BSO and youre just not competitive for those ISs that youd be happy to send your kids to.

Moving Forward.
The only silver lining to this is you have everything to put together a reasonable resume for an IT. Your costs for trying are basically going to be a few quid. You dont need to add anything, you have a CELTA, a Masters, QTS, and a PGCE. Youve got 2 years of UK NC experience, and 6 more in an SK DS and youve not been doing nothing in ESOL for the last 11. You can register with SA for free if you register through the UK office (use an old address, or family or friend). Register with TES which is free and tends more towards BSs. TIE registration would cost you about £40/yr. That lets you peddle your resume and see what interest you get for pence rather than pounds. If your not completely frustrated with the reception youre getting you can then look at either the BKK or LON fairs which would add about £1000 in travel costs. About the only thing youd need to do at this point is collect your references and rewrite your resume for IE. Youre approach is youre qualified to Masters level, youre professionally and academically credentialed as a pro.edu, and you have a wide range of experience from beginner to advance in ESOL meds/peds/asst.
by PsyGuy
Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:51 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How realistic are my chances of an IS job?
Replies: 12
Views: 1868

Inquiry II

How do you not have QTS then? But first, what was your bachelors/first degree in?

Back to how do you not have QTS, because theres something still wrong here?
As I understand the chain of event: You completed your PGCE, your Uni recommended you for QTS, you received it making you an NQT, you worked a succession of maternity covers (substitute/supply/relief appointments). It gets murky again at this point regarding your induction status, but its also mostly moot because all the outcomes fail safe (in so far as QTS is concerned):
1) You never attempted induction because these were maternity (supply/relief/substitute) appointments and its unusual (not impossible) to participate in induction under such an appointment (the primary barrier in this case is there isnt a planned term of appointment for the entire AY). Youre thus still an NQT and still have your NQT QTS.
2) You attempted induction (an unusual pathway in this scenario) but never completed it to outcome. It just stalled somewhere without resolution and a report. Youre thus still an NQT and still have your NQT QTS.
3) You attempted QTS and were reported unsuccessful. Theres a barring order preventing you from teaching in maintained/public DSs. Youre no longer an NQT, you dont have a license, but you still retain your QTS credential, so you still have QTS.
4) You attempted QTS and were reported successful, you just never had it communicated to you. You now have full QTS, you just dont know it.
None of the scenarios result in an outcome where you dont have QTS in some form or another. In those where you remained an NQT you are now an ECT, but still have QTS. Have you looked on your teacher self service portal or contacted the TRA (TCL)?
by PsyGuy
Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:30 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Using PayPal from Pakistan or North Korea
Replies: 9
Views: 1672

Comment

@Coimbra

Were going to disagree on its size, since there are different measures of size, but to clarify Gaza, a part of Palestine, currently, has really poor infrastructure.
by PsyGuy
Sun Feb 18, 2024 5:42 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Using PayPal from Pakistan or North Korea
Replies: 9
Views: 1672

Comment

@Coimbra

Im writing as it is now, and those "obvious reasons", are substantial factors why infrastructure not so good.

Im a coffee snob, and Im not very good at anything without my coffee, and I wont drink bad coffee.
by PsyGuy
Sun Feb 18, 2024 5:39 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How realistic are my chances of an IS job?
Replies: 12
Views: 1868

Inquiry

What is wrong with you? But first, is there a spouse along with these two dependents?

Back to what is wrong with you, or more what arent you telling us, because something isnt right?
You have a PGCE that you got in 2004 back when you had to do a PGCE as a Uni program. A Uni conferring a PGCE without recommending QTS (as an NQT) is a very, very, rare event. You worked for 18 months though in the content area of citizenship so you had to be in a maintained (public/regulated) DS. So, you had to be in an induction program as an NQT (and thus have QTS), but to be at it for 18 months as opposed to the 1 AY as prescribed, its rare to have it extended but not impossible (usually its for medical reasons), but then even if you failed induction you would have received a barring order, you dont lose your QTS (even as an NQT). Even if you were list barred (99) for doing something bad, youd still retain your QTS. Even if youd had some unusual medical event, it doesnt track that it would have permitted you to graduate with the PGCE but not receive QTS but still teach for 18 months. So parsing the metrics:
1) Youre list barred or received a barring order and its easier to say you never got QTS then discuss it.
2) Some salacious drama happened (knocked out your headmaster, etc.) and some type of agreement was reached.