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This Exemplar illustrates approaches and issues relevant to learners who are
not familiar with computers or learning online.
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| Susan Wood |
susan.wood@tafensw.edu.au |
TAFE NSW - South Western Sydney Institute |
Course area: Children’s Services (Developing New Ways to
Provide Service)
I teach a module online called ‘Developing New Ways to Provide Service’ in the
Diploma in Community Services (Children’s Services) course. My students include
both full-time and part-time students, doing the final stage of the course.
We decided that in the current semester, we’d introduce some online learning. We
started with online slowly. After training for our staff, which I’ll talk about in a
moment, the next step was to run one blended module per group. In my case, I
delivered one module to two groups, and another teacher used a blended approach
with one group.
Two of the groups were full-time day students, and one was a part-time evening
group. The evening students tend to be older, and more anxious about computers.
However, on the positive side, they’re also fairly self-directed, with experience of
working through paper-based modules on their own.
Early on, we did something that worked very well. To try out online delivery, and to
familiarise ourselves with using a TAFE NSW Online module on the Janison
platform, we took three of our staff-two of our teachers who had never studied
online and our line manager-and designated them a group of learners on the
system. Another teacher and myself who had completed the Introduction to Teaching
Online course acted as facilitators.
The way we ran it was fairly truncated, but it still gave us all the experience of
sending and receiving email, having chats and forums. We gave the three ‘learners’
an outline of what they had to do, and over a period of about five weeks, we all had
a rehearsal. It allowed me and the other facilitator to have a practice run at using
the student management tools in Janison.
This initial trial gave us a good insight into what could come up, because most of
our real students have had very little exposure to learning online. Even though we
had done some introductory work on computers in semester 1, using material from
the ANTA Toolbox and CD resources in the library, the way we delivered the
module I’m describing here relied a lot more on computers.
At the time we started going online, some of the students had used the internet and
email, but others had never used a computer. They freaked out at the mention of
computers! However, after we discussed the idea with them, they were prepared to
give it a go. But right from the start, there was a huge range in students’ confidence
levels.
I think we’ve done a good job of getting everyone working online. The face-to-face
orientation sessions at the beginning were very worthwhile. Looking back, I
probably should have given my groups more ongoing reinforcement of things like
using forums, and more encouragement to learn collaboratively. That’s something
I’ve learnt this year-the value of providing follow-up support for individuals and
groups as they work through the module.
Overall, though, it has been a very positive experience. From next semester, we plan
to introduce online materials and approaches into a number of our modules. This
decision partly reflects the enthusiasm of our students. They liked developing new
skills in using computers and the internet, and most of them also liked the learning
materials that were part of the online module.
From my point of view, I’m very pleased that the students have acquired much
better research skills from doing the module. They know how to use the Library’s
online catalogue and access an online database.
The library staff have worked very closely with us. Once students had begun to
develop confidence in working online, the library provided some sessions for them
on advanced online research skills. This was particularly valuable for the evening
students, who have very limited time to spend physically in the library.
Some of the students who seem most enthusiastic are those who started out
knowing little or nothing. They tended to work hard until they had the necessary
skills. One spent an incredible amount of time online in the first couple of weeks sometimes
10 hours per week for a module I thought should require less than two
hours per week-until she had the grasp of it.
She had to learn and practice even basic things like using the mouse. But she did
get ahead and later, when her daughter’s illness meant she had to miss a few weeks
of class-was able to keep up. It’s interesting, because in some subject areas like
Accounting, you’d screen out students like these who start off completely unskilled
with computers. In the beginning, I thought like that as well, but I’m really glad we
didn’t exclude anyone!
Given the type of students we have, a purely online course where everyone worked
alone would not be suitable. Ours are very sociable learners, and a lot of the skills
we’re developing involve face-to-face role play and practice.
In the past, we have experimented with flexible learning, using written materials.
Our idea at that time was to be completely self-paced. However, it led to high
attrition. Now, we tend to keep groups together, rather than everyone going at their
own pace.
The online module gave the students some flexibility about when and where they
studied. I liked the way the
Janison platform made students feel part of a group, and
allowed them to get prompt feedback from their teacher.