About me – ERICA WEIDE 20/21 Teaching & Learning

My job title is Lecturer in Fashion Textiles: Creative – a role which I started in September 2019. Working as part of the LCF Textiles team, I currently teach BA1 Print workshops. I also come from a background of working within Trend Forecasting and hold a particular passion for research and COLOUR.

Although I very much enjoy teaching lessons and feel confident and engaged in this job of developing students learning and understanding of the subject, it is in my role as the BA1 Pastoral Year Tutor that I take the greatest pride – I have become very engaged with supporting the emotional welfare of my students.

During this Teaching & Learning unit, I have found particular interest in the relationship between teacher and student. In ‘The Art of Loving in the Classroom’, Allan Patience argues that it is not enough to simply pass on knowledge to the student. Instead, the teacher’s ability to nurture and support is key in a successful learning environment.

About ‘dramatic friendship’ –

“For the teacher, it entails accepting emotional vulnerability as well as engaging in the convey of knowledge. It also requires the highest of ethical integrity.”

– Allan Patience, The Art of Loving in the Classroom: A Defence of Affective Pedagogy (2008)

My belief and experience is that if a student is not engaging well and missing lessons, there is always a reason. I see it as my job to reach out to these students and offer my support and guidance. By removing some obstacles, helping to organise their time or simply letting the student know that they are seen and cared for, I am often able to help get them back on track whilst making them feel part of the community.

In conclusion, it is the subjects if love, care, inclusion, community and belonging that I burn for most and I believe that these hold the key to successful student attainment. You can read more on some of my thoughts and experiences on this subject on my blog, for example on the posts Monitoring Attendance with Love and Notes and Reflections on Love, Care & Belonging.