This Easter we are running a block course for our year 3 apprentices where a lot of them are from out of town.
The flexibility comes with having to deliver all of its contents in a two week window.Above is a CNC lathe, computer numerical control that they get to learn how to programme.. This is delivered in three days 16-18th and is full on with theory,programming a dummy console and then finally being able to complete a programme and then let the machine do its work.The flexibility here comes with making sure not everybody is doing the same all at once so there is no waiting or standing around, the learning also varies with the different tasks that are delivered and in different ways like i mentioned before.They also have to do welding and fabrication exercises in the second week with lots of different tests for them to complete, again we start them on different tests so there are no bottle necks.
Some of the tests that they do include four different kinds of welding techniques with different materials, MiG wire,MiG flux core,Tig and Arc.Time in delivery and flexibility are at a premium but we ensure they all get through and hopefully complete the course. If the course wasn't flexible and the learning wasn't flexible then it would be difficult to complete.
Nick do the students get an opportunity to view videos on how to use a lathe prior to trying it out, and afterwards to review whether their technique was correct? Presumably you demonstrate the techniques, and maybe this is one of the skills you are planning to video for the ipad project?
ReplyDeleteThis example does illustrate flexibility in the dimensions of logistics and delivery, and time, but what about dimensions related to content and instructional approaches and resources? It would be good to hear some of your ideas for changing these aspects.