What does flexible learning mean to me?

What does flexible learning mean to me?

Flexible learning as I see it is an easily adaptable, adjustable and versatile platform for teaching that allows the flexibility to deliver a teaching experience in a modern world to current world students.

The flexibility comes from the integration of different mediums to deliver content through e.g. Audible, Visual, written and oral all mediums have their strengths and weaknesses. There is no one way that’s correct to deliver information to students.

Why do I think flexible learning is necessary in a modern world?

A modern student of any age demands that in a modern world the information and content that they want to learn about has to be available to them in a medium that they find easiest and most rewarding for them.

Which when you think about it the student is very aware that it’s all about them not the teacher, lecture or facilitator that is teaching them. They know that if delivery of the content does not suit them there is always some other way of getting the information, knowledge and assessment that they require.

Also the flexible learning approach complements a modern facilitator in that they have the flexibility to try and use different methods that make the content more interesting for both them and the students.

I believe if done correctly flexible learning will encourage the student to become an active learner which in turn only encourages exploration of the subject.

What am I required to explore to help flexible learning to happen?

Being open to new styles and exploring how they can work for both you and your students is very important. Constantly having a drive to improve the: How, What, Were and Why of your learner experience to improve both the student and facilitators learning environment and experience accelerates the learning. This also increases the reward for both student and facilitator. Also reflecting on the past and finding a “happy medium” is also important to provide a grounding for the experience.

What are my goals for using flexible learning in my teaching?

I would like to integrate flexible learning into every aspect of what subjects and assessments that I deliver.

To be open to the diverse environment and the new experiences that flexible learning can provide.

Use elements of the flexible learning to create a simpler but deeper learning environment.

Introduction

Hi to all, my name is Kevin O’Neill

I am an automotive lecturer in A block.

I am married with 1 little girl who is 18 months old.

I have been in the automotive trade for about 16 years. I started my trade in Dunedin once I was finished my apprenticeship and gave the employer 2 years of being qualified my wife and I moved to Christchurch and I worked for a local garage that I ended up managing.

After 5 years there we decided to go do our big OE we moved over to Perth and worked over there for a year. In that time I worked in the mines and in Perth, it was a big eye opener working over there.

After the year my wife and I decided to move back to New Zealand buy a house, settle down and start a family.

The automotive industry has changed a lot in the last few years and the technology that runs these vehicles is incredibly interesting and complicated which makes it an exciting subject for me to teach and learn more about.

I am really enjoying working for the polytechnic and the challenge that teaching modern students brings.

I am looking forward to this flexible learning course and to develop my skills in modernizing our current teaching practices and keeping tried and true approaches alive. I believe that  it’s not about “leaving the old ways behind” and more about understanding the modern student and integrating the old with the new to create a modern learning platform.

Attached is a video of how modern technology is being used to prevent accidents from happening.

As you watch this think about knowledge that your "mechanic" has to understand to be up with modern vehicle systems.

This is only a taste of were vehicles will head in the future.