Existing Flexibility

Complete the following "flexibility audit"

Can Students:	Yes/ Sometimes/ No
enrol anytime?
complete a subject without coming to class?
contact teachers out of class hours for help?
talk to co-learners easily outside of class times?
access learning and support materials without coming to a TAFE campus?
negotiate assessment tasks?
use evidence gathered at work in assessment?
choose where they study?
access specialist software or equipment other than on a TAFE campus?
choose to work in a group for assessable tasks?
are assisted in locating help with their learning from several sources?
complete a subject without needing access to a workplace?

* please feel welcome to add other examples of flexibility that come to mind. You might like to email the facilitator with your ideas as well so that the checklist can be improved.

This checklist is also available as a .rtf file (opens in most common word processing programs) [link]

Compare the results of your learner needs investigation and this audit. Is there an area where your learners would like more flexibility and you are not offering this? This might be an area to focus your efforts as you plan your flexible learning implementation.

Activity: Barrier Hunting

For each of the items you marked 'sometimes' or 'no' brainstorm ideas about which barriers stand in the way. The idea with brainstorming is to collect as many thoughts around the topic as possible, then filter through them later. Set yourself a time allowance of no more than 10 minutes for this Barrier Hunting exercise. Keep these barrier ideas for later and also any solutions identified. These will be useful when discussing your ideas with colleagues and managers.

Activity: Solution Hunting

Did you identify one or two areas to concentrate on? Often we don't get to hear about what other teachers are doing in relation to learning and assessment innovation. So now's a chance to pick each other's brains about possible solutions or ways to break down those barriers.

Purpose: to start exploring possible solutions to the barriers that exist.

Task: Explain in 100 words one barrier to achieving flexibility that you have identified.

Respond: Read other postings about barriers and respond to at least two messages with some suggestions. You may like to ask for more detail about the barrier and problem context to frame your suggestions.

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