M.Ed Framington State vs PGCEi/Others

[protectyourcultures]

Next summer, I will arrive (barring disaster) with a degree in Education (BA) from a UK university. I'm on for either a First or a 2:1 at the moment. I also work in a UK 'Outstanding' Primary School one day a week (mostly assisting, but I do teach sometimes). The degree requires full-time attendance. Previously, I was a very naughty boy and worked without a degree teaching in LOS. Despite being good at my job, I wanted to get properly qualified after doing well in my 'A-levels' a few years ago. The PGCE in the UK is not really an option either, as I have a wife and child in Thailand. My wife is also a teacher in Bangers. Another year apart (she does not want to move to the UK after visiting whilst I was studying) is not an option for us. I too, dislike living in the UK.

So, basically, I was wondering what people thought about the course at Framington State/Wells in Bangers? I think this course (link below) sounds better that the PGCEi, as it is a non 'distance/online' course. I would imagine it carries more weight in Thailand, but more importantly, in South Korea or the Middle-East (we are considering these options too for the future, once the ISIS chaos hopefully stops in the middle-east)?

Has anyone completed either the course with Framington, or the PGCEi (with Nottingham/Keele/Sunderland)? What were the career benefits (salary after doing the course etc) of doing either of the courses?

Is there a course I have missed?

By the way...Merry Christmas Oops. These are the courses...

http://www.wells-school.com/framingham/

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/education/study/pgcei/index.aspx

[AyG]

In my experience a lot of weight is placed on the name of the institution granting the qualification. When I saw "Framingham State" I thought "Is there a state called "Framingham" in America?" shortly followed by "Is this another Almeda?" (It's rather sad that a fake university is far better known than a genuine place of learning.)

Incidentally, OP, did you notice you got "Framingham" wrong in your original posting... thrice? That, I think, speaks to the renown of the institution.

Nottingham, Keele and Sunderland are all names I recognise. Sunderland, however, isn't a real university. It's a rebranded polytechnic. (Snobbish, I know, but a valid comment.)

Edited December 27, 2015 by AyG

[casualbiker]

I'm a bit confused WHY you would want or need a PGCEi with a BA Ed!

[aTomsLife]

I'm a bit confused WHY you would want or need a PGCEi with a BA Ed!

Agreed. There doesn't appear to be any reason the OP needs an M.A., certainly not now anyway, and certainly not from an unrecognizable American institution.

Besides, an M.Ed. on top of a B.Ed. seems kind of redundant. He's already 100% qualified to teach not only in Thailand, but anywhere in the world. That is, presuming his B.Ed. leads him to being credentialed as a licensed teacher.

If OP simply wants a master's for the sake of upping his stock, he should consider specializing in something TEFL specific, or even doing a degree in applied linguistics.

Here is a program administered by the University of Massachusetts--Boston. https://www.umb.edu/academics/cla/appling/grad/online

While not UMASS's flagship campus, they are certainly a name brand institution, and Boston a well known city the world over.

[protectyourcultures]

Thanks for the replies.

The reason I mentioned the PGCEi is that my BA Ed does not give an 'official' licence to teach in the UK (although I could technically work at an Academy/Free School and get QTS 'on the job'). Like I said, another year in the UK isn't really an option for me, for many reasons.

The PGCEi was mentioned as I believe some international schools do offer teaching jobs to those with the qualification. Perhaps not at the 'top' Inters (who always want QTS and usually a few years experience of teaching in the UK), but more at the mid to lower tier Inters (real inters who offer the UK/American curriculum etc). However, looking at the course modules on the PGCEi, it does seem to cover the same/similar topics as my degree course, so I might get bored with it.

I get that Framingham's name (I think that is the correct spelling ) is not up to the same standard as Nottingham or Keele, but their M.Ed is a course done 'in class' rather than by distance learning. Certainly, some of the better jobs teaching in the middle-east or even Korea do not recognise distance learning courses it seems. The reason for thinking about the M.Ed is that I could get a Masters from an accredited American uni (and it's also quite cheap) and get it 'in class'. Nottingham's name is much better than Framingham's, but I would've thought a Master's degree done 'in class' carries more weight than a Post Grad/Masters done via distance learning. I could be wrong though.

Edited December 28, 2015 by protectyourcultures

[casualbiker]

I read somewhere (maybe here) that you could get QTS here in Thailand! Might be worth asking your current university if that could be organised. Also if you want an international job check out Search associates : http://www.searchassociates.com/Job-Fairs/Default.aspx

[aTomsLife]

protectyourcultueres: the M.Ed. from Framingham would still be redundant to your B.Ed. then, as it doesn't qualify you for a teaching licence either. It says as much in the first paragraph on their program description page:

Note: Offered only through the international programs of the C. Louis Cedrone International Education Center.This program is only offered to teachers living and working abroad. It does not have any attachments such as licensure.

https://www.framingham.edu/academics/graduate-studies/international-education/master-of-education-concentration-in-international-teaching

The program is most suited for foreign teachers who need a degree in education in order to continue teaching in Thailand, as the government only grants three waivers to those without a degree in education. Your B.Ed. already solves this issue for you.

Edit: That said, given you're not solely setting your sights on international schools in Thailand, the degree could still benefit you on paper when applying to jobs in other countries. But if you're able to attend school in Korea, Framingham also has a master's in TESL, which in terms of knowledge gained, might be a better investment.

Edited December 29, 2015 by aTomsLife

[SheungWan]

In my experience a lot of weight is placed on the name of the institution granting the qualification. When I saw "Framingham State" I thought "Is there a state called "Framingham" in America?" shortly followed by "Is this another Almeda?" (It's rather sad that a fake university is far better known than a genuine place of learning.)

Incidentally, OP, did you notice you got "Framingham" wrong in your original posting... thrice? That, I think, speaks to the renown of the institution.

Nottingham, Keele and Sunderland are all names I recognise. Sunderland, however, isn't a real university. It's a rebranded polytechnic. (Snobbish, I know, but a valid comment.)

Sunderland is a real university and your comment is not valid. As for the statement that it is a rebranded polytechnic, maybe we should also consider the universities that were former CAT's (Colleges of Advanced Technology). No? Or maybe the new universities of the 1960s such as the New University College of North Staffordshire... which became wait-for-it: Keele University. Not to mention another university which was only fully recognised in the 1960s: Name? Nottingham University. For those who are not quite sure what a fully recognised university means, it is the authority to award one's own degrees as opposed to delivering degrees validated by another institution, eg London University External Degrees eg BA General (for those of a certain age).

[SheungWan]

You don't touch the Framingham course with a bargepole. The Nottingham course looks interesting because there is a course event specially for Bangkok and presumably an opportunity to keep in touch with other students enrolled on the same course. Do Keele or Sunderland offer anything similar?

Edited January 13, 2016 by SheungWan