Saturday, May 10, 2008

Week 9: Transparent design for teaching and flexible learning?


Dr Manns Web conference this week shared the view we may not look at the whole picture of sustainability as often as we might. I'm the worst one for looking as far as the recycle bin in the corner of the office and not really thinking of sustainability from the beginning of a project, usually it's an after thought. But we as a department are getting better. Procedures are being put in place for food waste etc but what we are trying to do with one hand is taken away by the other hand with the waste in energy alone coming from being in such an old building at the moment.
Reference above "John Carey and Pam Wilson" "A practical guide to providing flexible learning in further and higher education"
I'm not sure if this answers correctly "What is the equivalent transparent design for teaching and flexible learning?" but I'm sure someone will tell me if I'm not on the right track.
2 - some evidence - refers to an example of online learning and one of distance

2 comments:

Alli B said...

I'm glad I was not alone - I didn't really get this subject

Bronwyn hegarty said...

Chef I like the practical guide to sustainability, in particular the item abut workload. So so true...can the course be taught economically ie the true time allocated to it, when the teachers who originally developed and taught it move on? so much of teaching relies on good will....a bit like a "house of cards" - it will all fall down when the good will vanishes.

It would be good to get the full reference for "John Carey and Pam Wilson" "A practical guide to providing flexible learning in further and higher education".

I would be interested to know which items you agree with or not in the guide - and also why this is so in relation to your teaching practice.

This will help you to demonstrate an understanding of sustainability and illustrate how you are analysing and synthesising the information - that is break it down into chunks you can understand in relation to your context/situation, ask your self why it is so (analyse) and then piece the chunks together to write about yours and others' ideas on the subject (synthesise).

In answer to your question:

I'm not sure if this answers correctly, "What is the equivalent transparent design for teaching and flexible learning?"

So far, you have provided some material to illustrate others' ideas about how to introduce sustainability into education, and this is good.

What you need to do is discuss the ideas you have already, and ideas from your reading. Then ask yourself, which aspects apply to my teaching and why? Also how could I apply them and incorporate sustainability into the design of my teaching approaches?

I hope this helps. It looks like you and Alli were unsure about the requirements for this topic.