Well I've finally made the time to write about what I think of flexible learning. Flexible learning is yourself being able to make changes easily according to the situation as you are learning. You can decide on how you place your time to fit around your lifestyle, and decide yourself when you need to start projects to be finished in time. As for me it’s been a busy few months since I started this course spending time away in Auckland and Wellington for 2 weddings and spending a lot of time away in Christchurch with a sad outcome Easter weekend of a funeral that following week. So a classic example from me where there are just times in your life that things come up and you can’t do anything about – learning these days is easier if flexible!
Our courses here at the Community Learning Centre are very flexible. Students come in when and how often or less they like. Sessions are flexible, the students just pick a 2 hour session time that suits them – and it doesn’t have to be the complete 2 hours! I have a couple of mothers that will come in at 9am as they have to drop the kids off at school. I have others that will start 15-20 minutes later into the 2 hours session as they need to get here after finishing work. In this time and age – being flexible is the way to go.
We cater for all ages from 16 years and up. Until recently I did have a lovely couple coming in who were 96! They wanted to learn how to email their grandchildren (and great grandchildren!) as their family didn’t live close any more. So you don’t have to stop learning just because you feel you have reached a certain point (or age) in your life.
Students now have several choices on subjects now. They can enrol in Computing 4 Free (C4Free) – which is quick and easy for the student. They just need to fill out a form and discuss with the facilitator how much they know or what would they like to know or do. They are then given an easy to follow book to work through while the facilitator is there to help them if they get stuck or have questions on the material or software. There is no time limit – so students can work at their own pace!
Qualification 4 You (Q4U) is the other option available. This has a little bit more paper work to begin with but once that is out the way the student can start on any subject they wish to learn. At the end of the subject (unit) they are encouraged to complete the assessment for that unit. The units (all NZQA) cover courses for MS Office programs which will give the student skills they need to improve their career prospects if they don’t have any qualifications or would like to up skill. If they complete the required amount of units/credits they then get awarded with a National Certificate in Computing, Level 2 or 3 or both. We offer this also on an online version. Students just need to come in and be shown how to use the online programme then away they go back home. Any time of the day or night that suits them – very flexible. Coming up in July we will be offering another qualification course – National Certificate in Business Administration and Computing, which has the same principles as the Certificate in Computing. Again flexible – students come in when and how often (or as less) they like.
There is I feel one little problem with flexible learning. Motivation – some people have it others don’t. With such a flexible course that we offer I have found that many students don’t have it (self motivation). Life is busy enough and unless its something they really want to achieve many don’t come back. One way I try and help students out with this is making sure they are following the books OK, and ask if they’ve had any problems. A couple of times I've done this the student has said yes they had a problem a few pages back but skipped it – maybe embarrassed? Thought if they are following a book it should work? Or it looks easy it should work – I don’t want to seem stupid? Some students can’t follow books – get tired and bored, while others are quite happy to sit for 2 hours and follow the instructions with no guidance or help. Others need the push, encouragement and support. Each time a session finishes I try and get the student to book in another time with me right there and then, makes it easier for the student to fit it in around other things in their life. As I've found over time that if they don’t book many slowly drop off or don’t come back again – too busy, can’t fit it in, kids, work – and all the other reasons - life.
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Great post Emma! Motivation is certainly a problem for flexible learning - as it is in trad classes too... hopefully you will keep blogging your thoughts and strategies on dealing with this, so others can read about it and consider doing the same in their work.
Did you get a chance to read my note about ideas for Q4U? Basically getting more coursses" available on the CLC shelves?
You might also find some time to read through the DFLP course blog, in particular the references to other particpant blog posts, and see if you can find a few things to comment on in your own blog.
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