Introduction and Background
When I joined UAL as an employability educator, I initially identified more as a coach than a teacher, despite having experience as a visiting lecturer and teaching on employability programmes. However, as I progressed, I found myself naturally incorporating teaching theories and techniques into my sessions. Recently I have found myself questioning how I can ensure the flexibility and transferability of sessions across more than 100 course disciplines without compromising teaching quality.
Evaluation
I firmly believe that learning objectives should be adjustable not only to how learners grasp information but also to what they aspire to learn. Working with students from all disciplines across UAL, spanning over 100 different courses, within my role I uniquely feel the importance of flexibility and ease in adapting sessions to individual needs and perspectives.
Reactions and questions in sessions that could be avoided with effective information or slide design that adapts to different careers and contexts:
“How does this apply to my field or discipline?”
“Is this applicable to different courses?”
“Does this apply to all types of projects?”
“How can I use this in different situations?”
Moving forward
- Set Adaptable Learning Objectives: Clearly define learning objectives and how they are adaptable and relevant to various contexts, ensuring they align with the overall goals of the session.
- Use Interactive Elements: Integrate interactive elements like quizzes, polls, whiteboard exercises and discussions to engage learners actively and help them see the content in their context.
- Implement Experiential Learning: Create opportunities for hands-on experiences, case studies, or simulations that allow participants to apply concepts in different scenarios.
- Flipped Classroom Approach: Encourage pre-session exploration by providing resources or materials in advance, allowing participants to familiarise themselves with the content. Use the session for discussion, clarification, and application to own context.
- Visualise Concepts: Utilise visual aids, infographics, objects, and diagrams to represent complex concepts in a visually appealing and easily understandable manner.
- Provide Varied Examples: Offer examples from a range of industries, disciplines, or real-world situations to illustrate the applicability and versatility of the content.
- Encourage Self-Paced Learning: Allow participants to progress at their own pace, providing additional resources or challenges for those who advance quickly or need more support.
- Create Modular Content: Design content in modular formats, allowing learners to navigate and revisit specific topics easily based on their needs.
In summary, I believe the pursuit of effective teaching in diverse contexts involves a strategic blend of adaptive learning techniques and enhanced visualisation. By incorporating principles from various pedagogical approaches, such as flipped classrooms, online collaboration, and personalised learning, I can create dynamic and flexible sessions to enhance students understanding of concepts. Additionally, I believe regular feedback and a commitment to understanding the unique needs of learners are essential for refining and optimising these strategies. The ultimate aim is to cultivate a learning environment that empowers individuals to apply acquired knowledge across a spectrum of disciplines and real-world scenarios and enhance their adaptability.