Sunday, September 27, 2009

Assignment of 5 types of flexibility: their descriptions, advantages & disadvantages.

In the article, (Collis & Moonen, 2001) it is stated that flexible learning has multi dimensions and describing what is flexible learning is a tough issue. There are many possibilities that flexibility can be provided. For example, it can be included in course resources in types of learning activities and in media to support learning. Below, 5 types of flexibility are listed including their descriptions, advantages & disadvantages.

1-Flexibility related to tempo-pace

Description of this kind of flexibility

Collis, et. al (2001) states that with this kind of flexibility, the learner is able to study on its own pace. Therefore, the learners can feel much comfortable and less stressed since they do not have to catch up with others. It can be in reverse as well, some fast leaner students are easily get bored with the lesson since they are waiting for the slow learners.

Advantages:

In some ways, flexibility related to time can liberate the instructor by arranging his or her times of working, having chance of responding to the students late times in the evening at their homes. That can be an advantage for the instructor. For learner, more flexibility in time will provide more independence with self-direction and self-motivation by learning on his own pace. By learning on their own pace, the learners can arrange their own tempo therefore; the slow learners can have a chance of completing their tasks and the fast learners are not bored by waiting others.

Disadvantages:

The instructors do not have time to predict the changes a leaner may choose and produce cohesive, good-quality variations of courses available to reflect those options. Therefore, catching up with each learner in the class can be a difficult job for the instructor. There can be huge differences among students’ paces and the instructor should give too much effort on each learner. Since there will be differences between students’ paces while learning, it is difficult to get an interaction between them.

2- Flexibility related to topics of the course:

Collis et al.(2001) state that with this kind of flexibility, the learner is able to choose the topics of the course according to its own wishes. The learner is able to choose the relevancy of the course based on its own needs. The instructor also can present a range of alternatives for the topics which the learner may want to study.

Advantages:

This kind of flexibility may allow the students to make its own decision about the content what it wants to know. Beside that, the flexibility brings new responsibilities for the learner. With this kind of flexibility, the learner can improve the students’ self-motivation and self-direction. For instructor, it can be easy to handle the class which includes motivated learners toward the content.

Disadvantages:

For students, some students may do not want to make their own choices and be responsible for their decisions. Therefore, some students will need and appreciate expert opinions in their decisions. For instructors, it takes too much time to arrange the classes on bases on each learner’s topic choices. The instructor should make different assignments for the different topics and the assignments for those topics should be assessed separately as well.

3- Flexibility related to language used during the course:

Collis et al.(2001) state that with this kind of flexibility, the learner is able to choose the language used during the course. The learner can be flexible with the language of the course, the assignment and the feedback from the course.

Advantages:

By choosing the language, the student can understand the content of the course in its own language much better. In addition to that, the student can be able to read and write the content of the course with its own native language much easier than a second language.

Disadvantages:

For instructors, it can be difficult to prepare the lessons for each different language. The lesson requirements (assignments, examinations etc.) should be prepared in different languages as well. This can be too tiring for the instructor. For students, it can be difficult to catch up the fellow students with different languages. Therefore, there can be minimal interaction between students for the same lesson.

4-Flexibility related to location of the course:

Collis et al.(2001) states that location of the course can be one of the kinds of flexibility. With this flexibility, the learners have a chance of staying at their homes or coming together in classes in schools. With the help of Internet, the student is able to follow the lesson at a distance.

Advantages:

Studying at distance can save the time and the money for the learners. With the gain of the time, the student is able to study much. For instructors, there is a chance to bring their course online and reach distance students.

Disadvantages:

The disadvantage for flexibility in location can be that there is no face-to-face interaction among students and students and the instructor. Therefore, they do not see their faces, feelings and therefore it can create isolated students. Another disadvantage can be that not every student is able to study at distance therefore there can be a problem related to accomplishing the requirements of the courses.

5- Flexibility related to learning materials of the course:

Collis et al.(2001) states that flexibility in learning materials allow the students to choose their own materials for the course. The materials can be paper-based or electronic ones according to the choices of the student.

Advantages:

For the students, it can stimulate their motivation toward the course since they choose their own materials parallel to their own interests. This kind of flexibility gives a chance to students to search through a lot of resources for their studies based on their interests.

Disadvantages:

Not all the students are able to choose the useful and related materials for the courses. The instructor should give extra care for the materials chosen by the students.


References

Collis, B., & Moonen, J. (2001). Flexible learning in a digital world: experiences and expectations. New York: Routledge.

Dorrian, J., & Wache, D. (2009). Introduction of an online approach to flexible learning for on-campus and distance education students: lessons learned and ways forward. Nurse Education Today, 29, 157-167.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Nurcan,
    Thanks for sharing your ideas about Flexibility! You mention five different kinds of flexibility options and you give the advantages and the disadvantages. As you can see in your own description it is sometimes hard to implement a specific kind of flexibility because of contradicting advantages and disadvantages. Imagine that you want to implement more than one flexibility option...
    Petra

    ReplyDelete