Supposing and Proposing
Vella's last chapter of her book has a question which ties this journey together and one I'd like to pose to you:
Suppose you hadn't heard about or read Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach (and many of you haven't) and you need to plan a course for adult learners. What do you do?
Well, this is precisely what 629 was all about, huh?! And, I did read Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach last semester. Hard to beat the Dick, Carey & Carey model when considering the general question you posed, i.e. we have no information yet on the type of course, audience, etc. So, I'd start by identifying the stakeholders and doing a needs assessment. Go from there with an audience analysis. I've used the model for an actual Extension program and am applying it now for development of an online course. Works great so far!
ReplyDeleteSusan
I love it :-). EDAE 629 is an excellent example - though I was one to have some struggles (and had a few sections of 'redo').
ReplyDeleteI found what often is the case - the needs assessment is what the 'powers that be' think is needed versus what the learners may actually need (from my welfare backgound.) The questions can be written either to support management decisions or not really gather the necessary information on the learners.
Do you find yourself using any of Vella's principles?
Since I have finished EDAE 629 also, my response would be the same as Susan's.
ReplyDeletePrior to my taking that course, I would have first outlined what I wanted to teach and got a feel for what the adults wanted to learn. I love handouts, so they would be in my planning. I would have included a demo/video or role-play also, as I like active learning.
Hi Linda,
ReplyDeleteI think you’re question was getting at discovering what might easily be left out or missed if we started designing a course and were unaware of Vella’s 12 principles.
The sections I’d be likely not to devote enough attention to would be “Safety” and “Accountability.” I’m sure I don’t spend enough time addressing those two principles in my own design. Many of the others we’re not that radical and might be found within another credible ID process.
I’m kind of “go with the flow” about my own learning, so the need for lots of safety some learners have is something of a blind spot for me. My memories of school and learning are pretty much all happy. Maybe I’m luckier than most, but I can’t recall being admonished for asking a dumb question or getting something wrong. In fact, dumb questions are kind of my specialty.
--Patrick
Come visit me...I promise it’s totally safe!
http://edae692.blogspot.com/
I would like to agree with others who have commented regarding the needs analysis. We can't simply throw something out there in hopes that it is answering a question.
ReplyDeleteI have made that "band-aid" comment many times in my career, and have observed that eventually the band-aid resolution doesn't always work :(