Activity Three: Investigate and describe two examples of flexible teaching and learning
Example two: Google Sketch up
Who are the students?
The students can be anyone that is interested in learning how to use the sketch up tool. The sketch up program is simple to use electronic drawing program.
There are two versions a free version and a pro version that has an annual fee. The free version is like the student version of office e.g. has basic drawing tools etc to satisfy the novice. The pro version has all the tools and drawing options like office professional.
How flexible is the course?
Using the flexibility grid my findings are:
Time
- Start and finish times of course – there are various options for study depending on the depth of knowledge you are looking to get out of the program. Varies from free online videos that give the basic functions through to the more advanced functions, face to face training facilities and online tutorials at set times the last to have fees to cover the more in-depth training - Flexible
- Submitting assignments and interacting with course, Tempo and moments of assessment – Depending on what avenue you choose to take in your training the pathway is very flexible in assignments and how you interact with the course’s - Flexible
Content
- Topics of course, Sequence of the course – the training is set out that you progress through the material in a logical order (basic to advanced) to ensure the learning curve is achievable, but flexible enough that learners that can pick up the program faster can still find a challenge in the learning. The topic is all to do with the drawing program but does explain different drawing aspects that help you to understand the reason the program does certain things - Medium
- Orientation of the course, Key learning materials – The key learning materials and orientation of the course are all revolved around the drawing program and learning how to use it effectively - Fixed
- Assessment standards and completion requirements – The assessment standards and completion requirements follow the key points of how the program operates and as the course outline says - Upon completion of this course, you should be able to and the course’s learning outcomes follow - Fixed
Entry requirements
- Conditions for participation – Anyone interested in learning about Google sketch up can enroll - Flexible
Instructional approach and resources
- Language – Varies available all major languages – Flexible
- Social organization of learning – Depending on how course is completed can either be done online with no social contact and self assessed or tutorials both online and face to face - Medium
- Learning resources, moderation and assignments – All revolves around the drawing program with students demonstrating skills in the operation of the program - fixed
Delivery and logistics
- Time and place, location technology – the learning is very self paced and can be done anywhere that the students have access to the internet and a computer that can operate Google Sketchup - Medium
- Methods, technology for obtaining support and types of help available – From what I have seen there is an enormous amount of online help and forums available to help not only students but anyone that use’s the program - Flexible
References
Casey &Wilson, C. J. (2005). A practical guide to providing flexible learning in further and higher education. Retrieved from http://www.enhancementthemes.ac.uk/docs/publications/a-practical-guide-to-providing-flexible-learning-in-further-and-higher-education.pdf
How I see the course against the Five dimensions of flexibility
Summary
The actual training that requires registration and fees may have better pacing.
Also because all the training and use of the program relies on your internet connection and quality of the computer there can crashes and connection issues, which is common anywhere
computers and the internet are concerned and this not an issue with the training or the program its more the quality of the tools need to carry out the training.
One thing I will add is I have found Google Sketchup very easy to use. As you can see from the below picture. I didn't draw the table or the car but drawing the house only took 1/2hr training and about an hour of drawing time and is a credit to design of the program.
Your drawing looks great. I enjoyed reading about your analysis of the online tutorials within the five dimensions. I guess because it is all online, this could be restricting for a lot of people - with low level digital and computing skills, lack of access to the Internet or even a computer - not something you want to do in an Internet cafe really - so three dimensions: delivery, content and instructional approach do have a degree of inflexibility but this as you say depends on the needs and characteristics (learner profile) of the people accessing the tutorials.
ReplyDeleteI guess the expectation for learning how to use computer software is that you have to do it on a computer and develop practical skills in this area. Whereas automotive students expect to learn practical skills by getting their hands dirty. As I have mentioned in a comment on an earlier post, practising in a simulated environment before getting dirty can be beneficial.
How could students in your classes make use of something like Google Sketch up?