Analyse the characteristics of effective digital literacy learning delivery

Characteristic One

• "Good pace of course throughout the day."
• The above comment, and all further ones throughout this deck, was taken out of feedback from the marathon first session of our digital literacy course. But whether you are dealing with a six hour session or one over just thirty minutes, pace is always of the utmost importance.
• Regardless of the amount of time and effort expended on a lesson, if it hasn't got good pace, with time set aside for work, listening, observing, discussing, using ILT, etc. then all of that hard work could count for nothing.
• Quote: Pace is not the same as speed! Many a lesson has fallen apart because the poor teacher has interpreted (or been advised that) good pace is keeping the lesson moving quickly and packing as many activities as possible into an hour.
• Source: Ofsted 2012 (http://www.fromgoodtooutstanding.com/2012/09/pace-and-depth-of-learning)

CHARACTERISTIC Two

• "Group work with a range of abilities."
• I'll put my hands up and admit that although a fan of group work when I'm at the front of the classroom, I'm not so keen when I'm the one behind the desk. But I can't deny that it isn't effective.
• When managed correctly, group work can be hugely rewarding from both a teaching point of view and from that of a student. It creates a dynamic learning environment and when used in collaboration with the many IT applications that are available, can be even more worthwhile.
• Quote: The benefits, however, can be great. We can usually achieve far more by working with other people and we often learn a great deal and develop certain skills as we do so.
• Source: LearnHigher (http://archive.learnhigher.ac.uk/resources/files/Group%20work/importance.pd...)

CHARACTERISTIC Three

• "Practical Demonstrations."
• I love both presenting practical demonstrations and watching them being given. It's probably how I learn best, and with a mostly practical subject such as IT is, I don't think there's a more effective delivery method.
• Well planned and well-timed demonstration materials can be tweaked and added to over long periods of time, in order to keep them up-to-date and interesting. Make sure that you engage the learners and test what it is you have been teaching to reinforce the learning.
• Quote: As a teaching technique, a demonstration is a valuable alternative to getting students to ‘learn by doing’.
• Source: The Open University (http://www.open.edu/openlearnworks/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=52629&printabl...)

CHARACTERISTIC Four

• "Encouragement to explore and learn."
• You can do it. You can do it. You can do it. I'm a massive fan of heaping dollops of encouragement onto my students when I'm teaching them. I find they almost always respond well to it and will be back on time and ready the following week, to attend and be involved in another lesson.
• We all like to be encouraged, especially if the subject matter is difficult or when you're trying to squeeze one last task out of the group. When using IT it is very easy to give encouragement in electronic form, be it in real time or as feedback for a task done well.
• Quote: Encouragement gives students support and direction toward improvement..
• Source: Edutopia (http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-staying-positive-trying-time-heather-...)