1. TILE Community Potluck Hosted by NALD Theme: Customizing Content November 14, 2003 Group 4

2. Activity 1: List of learning barriers and the strategies for overcoming the barriers: BarriersStrategies First experience at university – “not a learner” – didn’t have the study skills, initiative to learn, responsibility Developed skills in professional life; formulate an end goal, forced to take responsibility for learning; learn how to learn… c.f. language learning (French) – hard to learn at an older age; Now learning from 6 yr old daughter in immersion Learn at your own pace; flexible pace, etc. Hard to understand content – tune out rather than ask for help…maybe in wrong study area; not ready to learn, etc.; readiness to accept independence for learning PLA; encourage reflection – readiness for learning and what looking for Basic knowledge assumed by instructor or course, etc.: instructor may assume a certain level of ability in the classroom where the ability is variable to begin with Instructor can take some time to review; provide additional resources; institution can do so; mentor programs…P2P mentoring can help anchor learning for both sides; initiate group learning, etc.;

3. Activity 1: List of learning barriers and the strategies for overcoming the barriers: BarriersStrategies Large classes – system can fail learner too Group learning, P2P interaction; co-op programs; applied learning, etc. Time constraints; family commitmentsFlexible pace, part time courses, online; able to study when most effective for learner; etc. Educational expectations, etc.Shift from industrial to information age…move away from industrial mindsets…; varying productivity measures – implications for EVALUATION At what age can we start building in a more flexible learning environment…?

4. 1. Description of Learners Learner A Blind student; good student, etc.; technology skills: new to technology (Internet) Learner B Shy person; wouldn’t speak – anxiety over communication; can’t “do” group work; wouldn’t ask for help; makes excuses to avoid group work, presentations, etc.

5. 2. Description of how each learner learns best: Learner A Needs audio; difficult with abstract concepts; needs an interactive environment – tactile; some difficulty with large group interactions…background noise, no visual cues, etc.; requires a quiet, structured environment Learner B Prefers one on one communication; solitary work; requires a relaxed environment; needs relevant examples to support learning (learning comfort levels) – making connections, etc…

6. Learning Objective By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to locate relevant information about the impact of the fur trade on Canada’s Native people, using a variety of online resources.

7. 3. Customization of Learning Activity Selecting material from the content provided, create an online learning activity, appropriate to each learner. Example: 1. Access online field trip 2. Locate a word or phrase related to the lesson or that the learner does not know 3. Look it up online 4. Give a definition and a related example

8. 3. Customization of Learning Activity for Learner A Learning Activity: Access online fieldtrip/ find out bout X / present to class X Full text description of the activity [LftL: Page load sound not necessarily relevant – need page loader that prompts for menu choices – sound and descriptive audio] Add Intro + brief explanation of what to expect when accessing the site (nice to set this up as a universal ‘button’- virtual mentor/agent to walk through menus – supplementary programming Add support for screen reader and accessing the web Needs headphones or individual learning environments, etc Special env for voice recognition (noise)

9. 3. Customization of Learning Activity for Learner B Learning Activity: Access online fieldtrip/ find out bout X / present to class X c.f. relevant examples Won’t ask for help – needs some kind of forum for asking for help; email; chat – need way to send anonymous question that the answer gets posted to everyone; add snapshot of location in content – some ID tag – send email from any page that automatically tags where learner is Mechanism to get extra time/appointment with teacher Need access to the intro, lesson plan, field trip, etc.

10. 1. Description of Tools and Strategies to Support Learners Learner A Assistive technology and explanation for using/guides Will need digital literacy help Need specific intros and instructions for resources and explanations of navigation, etc. Help for getting and installing plugins Quiet environment Learner B No specific content help Need avenue for getting help Need alternative presentation method – ppt; video [option]; May access digital literacy help

11. 1. Description of Tools and Strategies to Support Educator Needs to put all instructional material online Explanation of how to use web resources, chat, email,etc in a classroom/learning setting May need technology training May access content on multiliteracies Accessing information on student learning styles, use of technology, adaptive technology, people with disabilities, etc.

12. Other Strategies: