Matthew has taught a wide range of WEA courses from Archaeology, Local History, Active Citizenship and Community Involvement - and even a course called "The Horror Genre".
He has worked with the WEA for three years, teaching in Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Mansfield, Alfreton, Arnold, Southwell and Nottingham City.
Matthew keeps his classes interesting by making use of practical exercises and field trips. He says, "This is what my students tell me keeps them interested”.
He adds: “I incorporate a variety of teaching methods including standard lecture format, group discussions, practical exercises and field trips. The students particularly enjoy the field trips and I am always keen to run these on almost all of my courses as I feel they help the learners bond and feel part of a group.”
The thing I like best about working for the WEA is the freedom and support I am given to help make a difference in our region.
"I feel like my ideas are supported and I am given backing to try new things and teaching methods to try and reach out to our community."
"My learner numbers are growing, the number of venues I teach at is expanding and I feel I am really making a difference and reaching out to people from all backgrounds and abilities – including students with disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health issues. I am especially proud of this due to the areas where it happens – not the big cities where there is more diversity, but in small towns in ex-mining areas where traditionally you don’t get a wide mix of learners."
Matthew says that while he gets such a positive response from learners, he will carry on teaching and, more importantly, learning himself.
Matthew is active in other areas of community development and teaching, including as Project Leader for a Nottingham-based company called Bright Ideas. He works in partnership with the WEA on the Take Part Project, which is aimed at encouraging people to understand how they can engage more with their local authorities.
He says: “My key responsibilities, apart from teaching, are to promote my courses and the WEA ethos of ‘Learning for all’.
Matthew is also an author. He has published a book called From Demons to Dracula - which helps to explain how his course in Horror Genre course came into being!
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