Introduction
New learning methods seem to spring up all the time and educators can be forgiven if they are bemused by the range of methods available, particularly when e-learning is often presented as a neat solution to resource constraints, both in terms of the cost of production and delivery of materials and in terms of the learners having flexibility in when and where they learn. We all have a sense that people learn in different ways; we know that we are expected to approach learning and teaching with due regard to the needs of the learner but it can be hard to know the best way to support learners and how to advise them about the range of methods available.
This learning object is based on the principle that there is no one best way to learn or to teach. It is designed to be a resource for educators and practice learning facilitators by offering a straightforward guide to ways in which learners might learn. Learning facilitators and their students might find it useful in planning learning, teaching and assessment activities. It offers a way through questions about how learners learn and how one can best support that learning. It provides some theory but is largely a practical toolkit from which you might select methods or approaches which meet the needs of you and your learners at this point in their learning journey and you will be able to dip in and out of it in order to meet your particular objectives. It is hoped that this resource will be useful to those working at SCQF levels 7 and 9 and those working at level 10 will wish to use the References and Additional Resources sections to further their explorations in this area.
Words in blue link to other parts of the learning object, or to theory or an example, words in green link to the glossary and words in orange link to references. Click on the coloured words for more information.
You can start at any point by selecting the tabs (on the left of the screen) that interest you or you might like to start with 'How Learning Happens?'
Author and Copyright
© 2009 Scottish Social Services Council. This material was written for the SSSC by Mary Coles and Moira Dunworth. This document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.5 UK : Scotland License. This means you are free to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work; and to make derivative works on condition that you credit SSSC and do not use the work for commercial purposes. For full details of the licence please visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/scotland/