Module 4

Answers

4.1 Module introduction

I used the LD in a previous MOOC and I found it extremely useful; it helped me to focus on the different aspect of my teaching and to better prepare my lessons.

4.2 The teacher as a learning designer

Do you agree with Diana’s conception of teaching as a ‘design science’? Do you agree the Learning Designer tool can help teachers in the way she describes? Do you think the Learning Designer could help you solve some of the issues you may have in designing effective learning activities? If so, which ones? What issues does it not address which you would like help with? Can you provide any concrete suggestions?

I agree with Diana's ideas about the need to think and reflect about one's own way of teaching. I have appreciated the explanation of some features of the LD, especially the pie chart: "There is no particular rule about what it should look like or what proportion there should be. It’s just that it gives you an opportunity to think about what you want doing "

4.3 The Learning Designer experience of an Italian secondary school teacher of English

Anna mentions that the Learning Designer encourages her to be more precise in her lesson planning that she would normally be, and to create detailed and clear learning outcomes. Are you usually this precise in your lesson planning, and do you create detailed, clear learning outcomes? Do you think this tool could encourage you to do so more regularly? Anna mentions that she finds the pie chart and colour coding particularly useful in helping her ensure the learning activities planned for her students are balanced enough. What do you think of these tools, and what other aspects (e.g. the possibility of linking resources to your lesson plan) do you find useful? Finally, Anna says that she hasn’t yet used the Learning Designer to work on collaborative projects with other teachers, but would like to. Can you envisage how you might use the tool usefully in this way?

I totally agree with Anna when she says that the LD "encourages her to be more precise in her lesson planning that she would normally be". As I said in another part of this module, the pie chart is an excellent way to visualize one's own planning and it gives immediate feedback on the planning.

I have never tried the LD to set collaborative planning, but I think that it could be an excellent tool. I will try it as soon as possible with my colleagues!

4.4 The Learning Designer experience of a Turkish teacher trainer and secondary school language teacher

Do you agree with Reyhan that the Learning Designer is useful in allowing you to customize and personalize learning activities including digital tools and resources? Reyhan makes some interesting suggestions as to how the tool could be improved; do you agree with these suggestions given at the end of the video? She also points out an interesting feature of the Learning Designer tool which allows teachers to edit existing learning activities created by other teachers. What do you think of this feature; do you think it could be inspiring and save you some time? Do you know of another tool where you can design and share resources like in the Learning Designer? If yes, share these tools with us and let us know what you think are their advantages and limitations. Finally, do you plan to use the Learning Designer again, after the end of this course?

I am sure that LD tool could be adapted to more purposes than we have seen so far.

I find Rehyan's suggestions very useful, above all the possibility to edit other teacher's LD.

If the LD could be available in other languages too, I am sure that it would be used by many many more teachers!

from: http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/doityourself/wellbeing/