Interview questions for Computing/ICT Teacher

[Chipie]

Hi all,

 

I've been asked to sit in on interviews for a computing and ICT teacher for years 6-11 tomorrow. I can interview for an IT position, but for a teacher's position, now that's a different kettle of fish. What sort of questions should I be asking? Any advice on what to look out for or interviewing techniques for this one? Have any non-teaching IT people been asked to sit on this type of interview before, I'd be grateful for the advice?

 

Thanks in advance

[DJ-1701]

Well, in this day of coding, I would be tempted to ask which languages they know... and basic IT problems that someone who works with IT, their main focus of IT should know how to do. When logging in to a machine, a student gets a message stating 'There are currently no logon servers', what do you do? Etc.

[foofighterjim]

I had to do this before Christmas, just do a little reading of the national curriculum to see what they need to achieve (it is surprisingly broad). I think I asked something like what would be your preferred languages to teach KS3 & KS4 and why? In this instance its not so much about what specific languages they pick (although some are much more appropriate than others) but the reasoning behind it. I also threw in a question about the OSI model (can't remember the specific question though).

[3s-gtech]

Hmmmm. Not sure I'd even touch on your role. Yes they should be able to troubleshoot in general, but I wouldn't expect them to know how to fix IT issues (like technical ones) as that's your job

 

I'd focus on any relevant ICT teaching aspects for their interview. What software, languages and systems are they familiar with? How do they see ICT integrating with other subjects? How do they help to prepare learners for new technologies and careers in ICT? How much of a bad idea is teaching students to make a website in Powerpoint (yes it can be done)?

[mavhc]

Ask them how a computer works (transistors, binary, ALU, ram etc), and to explain how a website works, how do you get from typing bbc.co.uk to a page appearing.

 

As it's primary ask how they'd demonstrate these ideas in fun and memorable ways, eg get the kids to each be a part of a computer and run about with pieces of paper.

 

Ask them what they'd do with micro:bits.

[Grey-gear]

Ask them about how they would put together a class, how they would deal with the basic problems (mice/keyboards not working, passwords, etc.). Ask about what software they used in the past and ask if you used a VLE.

[DJ-1701]

Ask them how a computer works (transistors, binary, ALU, ram etc), and to explain how a website works, how do you get from typing bbc.co.uk to a page appearing.

 

Bonus points if you look amazed at how it works, like you didn't have a clue.

 

As it's primary...

 

years 6-11

 

I could be wrong and it may be the actually ages of students... but I read that as a Secondary. Still, keeping things fun is a great way to educate.

[smurfomatic]

Always handy to know their technical experience, if they can lend a hand on fault finding etc. then that can help. The current head of IT here used to teach and be network manager at his previous school, good news if I'm really busy then he can answer some of the support type questions!

[strawberry]

Ask them what their lesson plan is if the power is off.

Ask them what their lesson plan is if half the class are on a school trip.

A student is off school for 6 weeks, how does the teacher ensure they don't miss out.

What is the teachers preferred distribution media.

A student hasn't done their homework but insists it is on facebook. What does the teacher do.

A recommended teaching website with loads of resources requires that you upload a student photo and name before it creates custom worksheets. What is the issue here?

[Andrew_C]

'If the network went down during a lesson, would you have an apoplectic fit, or just deal with it?'

[spacebar]

Please smile, so many of those conducting interviews there days are stoned faced, puts me right off.

[Andrew_C]

Stoned, stony, or perhaps both?

[mikeprice]

Ask them what they would do if equipment is getting damaged in lessons - firstly in their lesson - and then if some other teacher's lesson

 

if they say it is a behavior issue - given them a bonus point - then ask how to tackle it