Tuesday, 10 June 2014

The design of eLearning across the phases of learning

Please find below an outline of a unit course of work, this was edited from Wendy Fasso's planning overview.

Wendy’s personal framework edited by Hazel Kuveya
Phase of learning
Links to pedagogy
Digital approaches
Learning outcomes
Phase 1
This unit covers developing, connecting and functionally testing electrical power and control circuits that perform specific control functions. It encompasses working safely; developing schematic/ladder diagrams and converting them to wiring diagrams
One of the critical pedagogies is that of relevance (connectedness). This is an interactive unit. Students share ideas and are familiar with the AS1102 standard. Through interaction and use of reference materials students should come up with a solution to solve the problem presented
This is a blended learning unit. The information problem is given to the students via a voice narrated keynote presentation. Face to face debate is encouraged due to the different areas of work the students are undergoing training, debating will result in a lot of ideas being displayed. The problems with participation, and a lack of opportunity for some to contribute can hinder the effectiveness of face-to-face debate. Therefore students are required to take their discussions to their blog postings. Students are encouraged to keep their blogs alive by sharing ideas even after the end of their 2 week block at college
Occupational Health and Safety procedures for a given work area are identified, obtained and understood. Safety hazards, which have not previously been identified, are noted and established risk control measures are implemented. Schematic arrangement of control circuits that complies with agreed scenarios is documented in accordance with established procedures.
Phase 2
Learners must be able to understand what we mean by circuit design. With this in mind they think about ways to approach the challenge. They scope the limitations and define the question in researchable terms. This leads to a better defined question that will support approaches to finding a potential solution
By presenting an ill-defined problem to students, negotiation of the dimensions and implications of the problem will be initiated. This will in turn raise a range of perspectives which must be negotiated early in the process.
In this phase, learners also identify strengths and talents amongst their group members, and establish group roles and responsibilities.

Even in a blended situation, a collaborative online brainstorm is ideal in this phase, this can be done by use of the wiki space to tabulate ideas on commencement this supports better planning and justification of planning. It also supports a reflection cycle in which learners return to their ideas, improve, enhance and edit them. A benefit of a wiki is that there is no limit to the amount of material held and negotiated. An important consideration to maximise efficiency and equity is the scaffolding of the way learners contribute. Tables or protocols can support data collection and tabling of ideas for negotiation. But particularly in Wikispaces, the association of a forum and comments with each wiki page supports active negotiation of ideas.
Learners learn how to evaluate the perspective of others, how to analyse implications and practical and theoretical implications. They link a question to resources and processes able to frame a solution. Learners also learn how to consider the strengths and gifts of others, the diversity within their group, the cultural significance of their solution. In doing this they are practicing goog workmanship.
Phase 3
A strategy or set of strategies to work towards a solution are identified and mapped out. In this case students are given a specified number of scenarios to develop a circuit, which they are going to physically connect. Included in this is the identification of the knowledge entailments and requirements to support a justified solution.
Whilst learners should attempt to map out the knowledge entailments, this is likely to be a phase underpinned by a combination of research and explicit teaching. The ebb and flow of teacher guidance is finely planned and managed. A guide to how circuit development is achieved through face-to-face instruction by the facilitator.
Problem-solving strategies that are relevant to the context may be discussed with students.
Social learning and collaboration are important especially intensive contribution of the industrial based students who come in this unit a little bit advantaged over their domestic based counterparts. Mapping out roles and responsibilities so that each student has a unique role in the process of finding a solution is important.
Again, keeping a digital record of this phase of learning is important. Students can scan copies of their drawings and ideas and send them to instructor via the student drop box.

This is the primary phase for assessment and first submission of formative assessment. The teacher will give each student feedback and advice of the outcome i.e a one on one with student, at this stage the students would be required to hard wire their submitted assessments if successful in the formative assessment. Students will learn how to evaluate and plan for achievable outcomes.
Phase 4
The investigation, research stage follows, in which students follow closely their plan, review it on reflection often, modify and change it sequentially as they go, follow timelines, collate, consolidate ideas and research, and collect a body of data that will support their actions.
Connectedness and relevance are important here. As are higher order thinking process, collaboration and negotiated learning. Communication skills are critical.
Information processing skills are a primary consideration, and there will be the need for scaffolding where learners do not have the required skills to search and evaluate information.
It is always important to consider the distributed nature of knowledge and information, because the mode of interaction includes a digital record, the interaction is more influential, and have longevity. Students will be able to tap into the digital record, check their understanding, check misunderstandings etc.  This will also help them prepare for their final written assessment. Interaction on a conversational basis with others also occurs throughout the unit.
They can use the wiki space or blogs, for students who are not skilled in the technologies used for blended learning, an induction will be considered.
This is the primary element that is normally assessed. It involves the use of complex thinking processes to evaluate and collect and filter information for a given purpose. It is also where core conceptual knowledge and understanding is constructed, organised and linked to other concepts.
Phase 5
Students will analyse information for relevance, usefulness, ideas… and from it they will begin to formulate their response. An ongoing consideration of stakeholder needs is required to ensure that the solution that they generate meets their own design brief.
Again, the pedagogical focus here is on supported, scaffolded collaboration, negotiation, analysis, and evaluation of ideas. Students may be pattern-searching or integrating information and drawing conclusions. One of the complexities is that they must let the data speak for itself, whilst still considering the stakeholders’ needs. Without a frequent return to the question, background and context, they may lose this focus. Again, the scaffolding of the teacher is critical.
The maintenance of the early planning materials is critical, and these may be adjusted and modified to represent the process that actually happened as it was modified and tailored to suit, this unit builds up from the initial phases therefore students need that continuous flow of modifications and analysis documented and the blogs proves to be the best tool to use here.
Higher order thinking is the outcome here… the capacity to analyse, evaluate and make supported decisions.
Phase 6
Presenting the solution, and then evaluating it based on feedback from stakeholders
The authentic links are important here. The right solution, to the right people, with the wrong way of presenting it may be doomed to failure. This is complex and requires investigation and problem-solving. It is also where multimodal literacies come in as students use text and images to frame their presentation.
This can be a robust opportunity to learn about feedback and re-conceptualisation of a problem and its solution. Perhaps students could develop a feedback proforma  - or an evaluation sheet to be used by the audience and stakeholders.
This data could be                                              and used to propose new directions.
Cultural knowledge is important. Students need to know the characteristics of the stakeholder group.

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