- I teach a numeracy skills paper called 'Measurement' which is compulsory for students identified as having low numeracy skills.
- Working towards embedding literacy and numeracy into the course.
- Making course content accessible to all learning styles and neuro-diversities.
The Plan
A multi media package to use in class and upload onto Moodle that includes:
- An instructional video on how to make a frame or box.
- Supporting images/thumbnail images that act as bullet points, with brief descriptions.
- Worksheets
- Questionnaires
The video will have material shot in the Design workshop, and some footage shot at Grey's Studio - a professional picture framers. The footage shot in the Design workshop will feature familiar tools, machines and people, while the Grey's Studio footage will show hi-tech computerized picture framing machinery.
The idea is to get numerical concepts such as measurement of lengths and angles into the course content by using a practical exercise.
The package including the video, supporting information and worksheets will be available to all students in the course and across programmes. This will mean that students may no longer be exposed to their peers as needing extra maths help, and ultimately may lead to numeracy testing at the beginning of courses being fazed out.
Instructional videos can be uploaded to Youtube or a similar open, free view website so any interested parties, whether enrolled at Otago Polytechnic or not, can view them.
Here is an example video from Youtube. My video will be more focused on the measurement techniques.
Example:
supporting thumbnails
Holding side against guide. Important info.
Mark the length of the inner side
With the mitre saw set to 45 degrees, cut, not your fingers.
Now doing something else very useful and informative.
Links to questionnaires about the video
Links to measurement worksheets
A DVD of the resources will also be available.
Who will benefit?
- The package will be accessible to students, wherever they are in the world.
- Students that don't like classroom environments, for example, 'Student Y' that has Aspergers Syndrome
- Learners that want to revisit the tutorial how ever many times they like, whenever they like1.
- Students with a diverse range of preferred ways of absorbing information, or 'learning styles'2.
- Learners who have slow computers and thus have difficulty watching video, can still benefit from the thumbnail imagery, written descriptions, worksheets and questionnaires.
- Students with low levels of numeracy skills can enjoy privacy and not be identified as 'innumerate'.
- Learners who are not confident with computers or who lack computer access at home can enjoy viewing the resources from a DVD.
Technology
Moodle training.
Film making capability.
At this stage I believe I have everything I need to produce the video. My department has video cameras. The computers at work have MovieMaker and my laptop has iMovieHD (my preferred program).
Part or all of the numeracy assessment could be completed through Moodle via the questionnaires and worksheets.
Sustainability
Shared / open access digital resources such as video, worksheets and questionnaires lessen the need for paper resources, which reduces waste and cost.
Recorded tutorials that are freely available to students means facilitators only need to spend the time demonstrating a particular skill once.
Commitment to Maori and Pacific Island students
Be actively seeking feedback and advice on how to best facilitate learning environments that are more suited to Maori students and Pacific Island students.
This feedback should be welcomed from students, iwi, staff and local community.
Be actively working towards embedding principals of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, The Treaty of Waitangi.
Flexible Learning and Otago Polytechnic
My plan is cooperative and harmonious with the Otago Polytechnic Charter 2006-2010, which can be found here.
Chapter 3, P.4. Our Vision, states the following which Otago Polytechnic is to be recognised for:
- Our practical approach to learning which connects theory with practice through applied research, cooperative learning and practical experience.
- The flexibility of our delivery and our willingness to accommodate the specific learning aspirations of students through individualised and cross disciplinary programmes of learning.
- Accessibility for all learners.
- The creative use of innovative technology to support learning.
My flexible learning plan includes objectives that are in line with the Otago Polytechnic Charter 2006-2010 including being recognised for accessibility for all learners.
Numerical skills and information may be received by more students in a more meaningful way by engaging in hands-on creative exercises with reinforcing media of video and digital stills, questionnaires and worksheets which support the diverse learning preferences of our learners.
Notes
1 Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory has labelled four stages of experience a learner goes through when learning something new; Thinking, Feeling, Reflecting and Acting. The four stages are linked in the cycle. The learner can enter the cycle at any stage depending on their learning preference.
The medium of an instructional video leans towards learners with preferences for observing / concrete experience and reflection.
A student who learns best through concrete experience and reflecting on the action will find it useful to revisit the video however many times is necessary, without having to 'make do' with only one tutorial/demonstration, or have to wait for a lecturer to repeat the demonstration.
The worksheets and questionnaires in the package would cater more to the other side of the cycle to do with abstract conceptualization, where learners can apply information gathered in reflection of the video to solve other problems.
2 VARK learning styles have highlighted four ways learners can absorb information; Visually, Aurally, through Reading/writing and Kinesthetically, and that we can have preferences towards one mode or a combination of two, three or all of them.
Except for Kinesthetic, all the VARK learning preferences will be addressed in my package by the inclusion of many different media.
Visual- Still and moving images with the video and thumbnails.
Aural- Soundtrack with a spoken explanation of what is happening in the video.
Read-Written- Bullet points. Questionnaires, worksheets.
