As part of our first “Values” workshop with Derek, our group of MA1 students were split into five different groups. Our aim was to create a “Freshers guide” including useful information a new student coming to Dundee University may like to have. I got involved as part of group 2, where we were given a range of stationary. Different resources included, card, coloured paper, pens, scissors, sticky notes and a few others.

By glancing around the room, it appeared that other groups had as little as a paper and a pen, and some others had bigger packs the same as ours.

Our group came up with the idea of a “Student Welcome Pack” which included the following, which every individual in the group designed themselves:

• Map of the campus
• Money off vouchers for food/shopping
• Simple cooking recipes
• Guide of Kitchen safety
• Bus and train timetables
• Personalised timetable
• Union information leaflet

Further into the lesson, I began to notice our Lecturer Derek was giving out positive feedback to the front two groups only and never acknowledged groups 4 and 5 in particular. As I was part of group 2 who received a high amount of favouritism and comments, I did not notice unto we got the offer of biscuits and when group 4 and 5 began presenting. I feel that in relation to being a child in a classroom, because I was a child who was given a high amount of encouragement and praise, I did not feel the need to look around me at other pupils in the classroom. It was not unto our lecturer ignored the group 4 who were presenting and was more interested in his phone.

I really enjoyed this seminar and it was a real eye-opener in perspective to primary education. By giving each group a different amount of resources, it supported the idea that not every child is the same and may not have the best of support in their life compared to other children around them. As I am sure group 4 and 5 could tell you, children who may unfortunately be less well off, just learn to deal with the resources they have and make do to the best of their ability. This suggests the idea that no matter what background a child is from, is it in our power to show children that each and every one of them in the classroom must be treated the same. Each child needs persuasion and encouragement in their learning development to help succeed to their full potential so they do not have any feelings of neglect or feel lower than anyone else.

Overall, I think Derek demonstrated this lesson extremely well and left me feeling very open-minded about the situation in perspective of becoming a primary teacher. I look forward to the next workshop!