Describe your role at VU Polytechnic
I joined VU Polytechnic in November 2019 as part of the Associate TAFE Teacher Program, which I am so grateful to be part of. Having come directly from industry with approximately 15 years’ experience, I’m still learning in my new career as a TAFE teacher.
I chose the teaching path due to recommendations from apprentices under my supervision; they encouraged me because I was a good mentor to them. Apprentices always appreciated my help when they had tests coming up and I helped them get through it. They thanked me greatly after they passed their tests with words like: “I wouldn’t have passed if it wasn’t for you”. This made me feel appreciated – it put a smile on my face to know that I helped students learn and get results.
How are you coping with the change to remote-supported learning?
I began teaching full-time in February 2020. Due to Covid-19, I had little face-to-face teaching experience as immediately teaching became remote. Luckily, I have a passion for technology and I adapted extremely well.
I set up my workspace at home with the latest technology for my students so they could achieve the best learning experience. I believe the remote learning for the electrotechnology department is a step closer to today’s innovations and reflects tomorrow’s future.
It gave us opportunity to take things to another level and to test our theories. Some courses obviously do require face-to-face learning which can be adaptable. The way VU Polytechnic has dealt with the situation makes me proud to be part of the team.
What are your top tips for distance working/learning?
My top tip is to stay positive, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. The pandemic provided a perfect opportunity to test the online learning for courses that we may have thought couldn’t be achieved, which I believe VU Polytechnic is doing marvelously well, considering the short turnaround time.
In my spare time, I like to keep improving for tomorrow’s future, whether it be by obtaining new technological advancements to the workspace to help encourage and provide resources as well as content to my students.
Frank teaches Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Pre-vocational) (22499VIC) and Certificate III in Electrotechnolgy Electrician (UEE30811).