About OTN
Welcome to the Overseas Teachers' Network (OTN) website. We will provide you with a wide range of services and support as well as keeping you informed about all education developments back home, including legislation, curriculum and general news. Always keeping you in touch!
The OTN website will enable you to develop and share ideas and resources for teaching in your highly specialised environments.
The Network will put you in touch with others living abroad enabling you to maximise your experience. You can build new friendships with people living and working in the same and different countries worldwide.
The OTN website will enable you to develop and share ideas and resources for teaching in your highly specialised environments.
The Network will put you in touch with others living abroad enabling you to maximise your experience. You can build new friendships with people living and working in the same and different countries worldwide.
All members of OTN are given unique "Video e-mail". If you have access to a webcam you can send video messages to friends and family back home in a fun and easy way. You can send video and voice podcasts to the OTN website about your work and cultural experiences around the world.
The Overseas Teachers' Network will help you if you are thinking of your next job and where you would like to go. You can also widen your personal network, by making new friends and getting cheaper holidays.
Why do people and organisations join the Overseas Teachers' Network?
- Ever worry about getting a job back home?
- Frightened to stay overseas too long because you might become unemployable in the teaching profession back home?
- Want to stay teaching abroad but worry if you stay too long you might not get a job when you go back home?
- Worry about your professional development.?
- Would like to work overseas, not sure what to expect or how to do it?
- Want to work overseas and would like to key into a network before you go?
- Want to find out about other peoples experiences?
- Want to find out about teaching and living in different countries before you chose?
- Want to find out about jobs across the world?
The Company
The Overseas Teachers Network is a UK registered limited company which was formed in April 2007. The concept has been 18 months in its development, lead by the two directors and launched in BETA mode at the end of September 2007.
The two directors, Gary May and Phil Shaw have made the ideal combination for the development and implementation of the Overseas Teachers Network. Gary has over 20 years in the education field as a Director of Integrate Consulting (a public sector business consultancy), has taught overseas and worked in education with the local government sector, DFES, LSC and OfSTED. Phil has over 10 years experience and is a Marketing Consultant, he has enormous experience with the public and commercial sectors on both national and local campaigns.
The History
The concept was arrived at through discussions with Principals of overseas schools and teachers, identifying the fear of not being competitive and up to date in the Education job market on return to England. Teachers from England are highly valued and making a valuable contribution to education overseas. However they were feeling pressured into returning after a couple of years (or less) or fear being 'out of date.'
From this the idea formed to provide information, support and access to the most recent personal development requirements on teachers who are teaching in England for those teaching overseas. They aim to alleviate the need for an earlier than wanted return.
We recognise that overseas teachers are unique and special, they have their own special requirements and hence so the idea for a member network was formed. A place where overseas teachers can share all with their colleagues worldwide and even more than that can act as the catalyst and inspiration for aspiring overseas teachers.
Valuing Overseas Teachers
We believe that teachers who have taught overseas make for better teachers once they return to the English system and a richness of experience around diversity and culture.
One of our future aims will be to canvass to raise the profile and increase the recognition of the contribution that our teachers make both overseas and once they return.
The Future
So far the website is an excellent networking tool and will provide access to all sorts of resources and updates on education England. But it is your website, if you subscribe that is, we want you to share everything 'warts and all' with your fellow adventurers, it is you that will make this work.
We will be regularly adding services over the coming months such as access to e-learning for your personal development, induction programmes, on-line coaching, advice and support services for your return, an interactive map, video podcasts and a worldwide young peoples newspaper as well as competitions.
The more who join, the more you contribute, the bigger the community and the knowledge, the better it will be for all.
|
