Project Scope

Below is our updated project scope. For this project Im working with Sheryll to produce a more wordprocessing book for our Community Learning Centres. We've meet a few times now and have gone through this together.

Project Scope

Project Name: More Word Processing

Date: 26 Sept 07

Department Contact: Jean Tilleyshort

ECD Contact: Leigh, Terry and Bronwyn

Project Leaders: Emma and Sheryll

Project Summary

The aims of this project is to provide students with extra wording processing skills not already covered in our current resources. Students will be able to work through this new resource in there own time in our community learning centres.

Project Background

This project was developed because we found there was a need in our Community Learning Centres for students to learn more word processing skills. We know this because students often asked “how to do” things that were not covered in our current resources, or not covered in depth.

The work books will be designed for self paced learning so the students work on the work books during class (with our help when needed). Useful handouts will also be offered for students to take home as references. Videos on “how to do” things will also be available.

This project will be designed for our Community Learning Centres as we see there is a real need for it.

Steps to be Taken

1. Outline what is needed – requested from the students
2. Consult all CLC’s re: what else they think is needed
3. Emma and Sheryll get together and discuss theses areas that were missing and students requested.
4. Draft course outline for approval within C4Free programme
5. Gain approval of course
6. Compile the information and transfer this into a draft copy of a possible work book and resource sheets.
7. Create the draft
8. Test the draft copy and gather feedback
9. Improvements made necessary to make this an easy to follow instruction book.
10. Create training videos to be used along side the book.
11. Final product produced and distributed to the other Community Learning Centres.

Learner and Graduate Profiles

The resource will be used for students of all ages and backgrounds who wish to learn more skills without necessarily getting a qualification. There will be a range of skill levels. Some people will come with no skills in word processing this book will follow on from our current word processing resource, which would be at level 1. This More Word Processing book would cover students at level 2. The book and handout sheets plus videos will cover all learning styles, visual, auditory, read/write and kinaesthetic, (VARK).

Visual
For Visual students the book has picture/diagrams for example showing symbolic arrows and buttons and other items that will help the student find the item on the PC that could have normally been presented in words.

Auditory
For auditory students we will have videos created in Cam Studio with talking instructions on “how to” which follow the pages of the book. Students could either use the videos as instructions alone or use the book alongside the videos.

Reader/Writer
For reader/writer students the book text base so all of these types of students will be covered.

Kinaesthetic
For kinaesthetic students, the book has exercises to do following the instructions which are also in the book, or they can use the videos as instructions and they also can take home handouts to refer to after there class.

Students with a disability which will make it hard for them to come to the Community Learning Centre may be able to purchase the book to work on in there own time at home with the videos as well. We will also be available by phone/email to support them with their learning where necessary. Students with learning disabilities will have support during the session from a Community Learning Centre Facilitator.

Students will leave feeling more confident working with word in home and office situations.

Possible Issues and Considerations

• This module will help encourage unconfident learners’ to build their skills to a higher level, so encourage them to enrol into a qualification.
• The book will only be available in the Community Learning Centre and unable to be removed, although reference sheets will be available for the student to take away. Although if a student with a disability who is unable to make it to a Community Learning Centre will be given the opportunity to purchase the book at a small fee.
• The cost of the book to be produced for all the Community Learning Centres to be considered – although this could be minimal.
• Although the Community Learning Centres are designed for a flexible learning situation they are only open during selected times and this may not be suitable for all possible students.

Catching up ...

I've been doing a lot of reading and searching on the net these last few days – and I have to keep telling myself to stay on track. There are so many sites that you think are leading you in the right direction then wham; it’s taken you somewhere completely different not what you are after, or you just get sidetracked into going else where …. Although must say that I have learnt some unnecessary things!

As well as reading articles on websites, e-journals and knowledge trees, (I've been trying to remember to put them in to del.icio.us). I’ve also been reading up on other student comments and some are very interesting. It’s good sometimes reading other comments from people who feel the same as you or have a completely different out look on the situation – sometimes something you’ve never thought of. I would mention them but I didn’t keep track of who was who and where – I was just in a reading and jumping from one window/page to the next. One comment I would like to make is with all this ‘new’ teaching technology I feel that I am one of the students/facilitators/teachers who does know what they are doing with it most of the time (its just finding the time!). I like all this new information technology and interested in it (which is helpful when trying to learn). Its just amazing how far it's/we've come in just a short period of time!

Being in learning environment I have to keep reminding myself that there are some people out there do not understand technology as quickly or pick it up as quickly as I sometimes do – back to learning styles. Thinking about different learning styles and what they are can make you vary your techniques for the students whether in classroom situation or one on one. Although it’s helpful when people come into my suite and tell me exactly what type of learner they are! eg I’m not a reader I like to be shown then do. Although this particular student I’m thinking of has now changed and is quite happy to go through the books we have here, as they are quite easy to follow and don’t have a heap of reading and then ask me when they get stuck or have a question.
As well as a heap of searching/reading on the net I've also been playing around with CamStudio – this is also a great little tool – and will be using this as a teaching resource, which will be mentioned in my draft ‘Flexible Learning’ plan in the next couple of days.

Elluminate

I really enjoyed this course learning how Elluminate works and going through the “Flexible Learning Resources” presentation. A real time any where (with a computer and internet access) classroom environment. I also like the way you can’t over talk someone and if you do or want to talk you have to be invited or put up your hand. The sound was also very clear and there was a great little ‘whiteboard’ to write on. It was only a short session but that’s all you really need to understand how this great programme works. I thought it was a great little tool for having online classes.

Flexible Learning ...

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.

Hi

This is my very first time at using a blogger ... so a hi to everyone out there in the big wide world.