DLITE in Highland - student teachers graduate using distance learning programme

3rd July 2016

Eleven Highland students graduated as teachers (Saturday 25 June 2016) through the University of Aberdeen in partnership with The Highland Council following an eighteen month distance learning PGDE (Primary) Programme.

The Distance Learning Initial Teacher Education (DLITE) PGDE Primary Programme is completing its second session in June 2016, seeing these students enter their Probation year in Highland schools this August.

Another eight students began the third phase of DLITE in January this year, and will qualify in June 2017.

The strong partnership between the Local Authority and the University of Aberdeen has created DLITE, with opportunities for local people to train to become teachers via distance learning techniques, while remaining in their home towns and current employment.

Bill Alexander, Highland Council's Director of Care and Learning said: "Highland Council is working with its partner authorities in the north to address the shortage of teachers affecting us all. Our partnership with the University of Aberdeen and the creation of DLITE is a very successful way in which we can enhance the profession, by opening doors to people with talent who have a passion for teaching and working with young people."

While the majority of study time occurs through online learning, there are also regular face to face sessions with current Highland practitioners sharing their expertise in subjects such as Literacy, Numeracy, Child Protection, Health and Wellbeing, PE, Smartboards and Blogging through Network Days. Students have also benefitted from days at the University with their Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City student colleagues. The DLITE model follows the same PGDE Primary Programme provided for full time students studying at the University.

Dr Yvonne Bain, Deputy Head of School (Strategic Planning) at the University of Aberdeen said: "DLITE PGDE students are doing incredibly well showing great perseverance and resilience, juggling the many commitments of family life, work and the demands of an intensive part-time study programme to successfully gain the PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) award to become teachers in Highland.

“The University of Aberdeen is keen to continue building on the positive partnership with Highland Council in order to retain and develop opportunities for teacher education through initiatives like DLITE."

Students who graduated this weekend were: Louise Chisholm from (Ballachullish), Nicola Cope (Barbaraville), Beth Fuller, Roddy Jamieson, Melanie McKay (Inverness), Yvonne Stoddart (Kirkhill, Inverness), Jess MacLennan (Broadford), Siobhan Millar (Invergordon), Sara Riach (Boat of Garten), Ann Stewart (Invergarry) and Catriona Smith (Alness).

For further information on the DLITE Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) visit the University of Aberdeen website at: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/education/partnerships/dlite-pgde-664.php

PHOTO
DLITE PGDE Primary Graduates June 2016 at Highland Council's Headquarters, Inverness (ltor) Bill Alexander Director of Care & Learning, Jessica MacLennan, Siobhan Millar, Yvonne Stoddart, Elizabeth Fuller, Sara Riach, Roddie Jamieson, Ann Stewart, Melanie McKay, Nicola Cope, Catriona Smith and Louise Chisholm.