Blended delivery of IT course
TAFE NSW VET Pedagogy Project, Part C of Phase 1
BLENDED LEARNING CASE STUDY | Janet Stephens, TAFE NSW - South West Sydney Institute
I enjoy my job and have a total commitment to TAFE and in particular to my students in ensuring they have quality teaching in a fun, non-threatening environment.
Janet Stephens
Training Packages
Information Technology (ICA99)
Learning Environment
The Diploma in Systems Administration is run in a blended mode of delivery that includes optional attendance at workshops, lectures and tutorials with the balance being run online. The online learning program provides opportunities for chats, discussions and peer-to-peer interaction. This approach is innovative as it allows students to be able to undertake relevant part-time jobs, study other options and have the flexibility to look after their family, whilst gaining the necessary qualifications to be employed as a systems administrator.
Teaching Approach
Janet uses underlying principles of practice, relation, relevance and application to various contexts.
'This is where the underpinning skills such as research, analysis, critical thinking and ‘thinking outside the box’ are important to ensure students are learning life long skills. Quite often it is the steps they take to get to a goal that are the skills that will carry them through no matter what career or position they find themselves in.'
Other teaching approaches include the use of:
- peer-to-peer mentoring
- group work
- case studies
- workplace scenarios
- question based strategies
- problem solving
Janet also evaluates the group dynamics, learning styles and individual preferences in the first couple of contacts to determine the strategies for delivering the content and modifying the delivery of the course to better meet the needs of the unique group.
'As blended learning is new to most students an orientation session ensures students have the pre-requisites for the course. However, this alone is not adequate in ensuring the students' learning style will suit this type of environment, therefore they are given a sheet with FAQ’s which may help them assess whether this is for them.'
The use of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)strategies is seen as very important in the field of Information Technology due to the rapid learning application within this area. Janet notes that RPL must be acknowledged at some level and may primarily be the foundation of what needs to be taught or covered.
Evaluation Methods
The course has not been run exactly the same way twice as each semester changes are made to incorporate improvements which may come from student evaluations, facilitator reflection, current research into teaching and new technology. There are various evaluation methods used including, chats, forums and informal interviews. Reflection and self-evaluation are important parts of the evaluation process.
Positive Difference to Learning
'Success' to Janet as a facilitator is measured by the results of assessment tasks, forum contributions reflecting critical thinking and analysis. Further success, which is not tangible, is the confidence the student reflect, their depth of questioning and the hunger for more information. The transition the students make to a deeper level of understanding is often reflected in contributions they make to the discussions and supported by detailed research. Janet believes that giving the students the opportunity to firstly learn in an environment that best suits them, either totally online or blended has empowered the students to determine the when and where they learn, whilst giving them foundation skills to be lifelong learners.
This environment encapsulates the critical thinking, analysis and research skills that form a strong foundation to the technical skills required to survive in the Information Technology arena. This is a fast and ever changing environment and to survive one needs to be confident to apply what is known to the unknown.
See Also
Case
Studies Innovative and Excellent Practices in VET Teaching and
Learning 2003 (426 Kb) are also available as one
downloadable file.
