values in learning support
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Values in Learning Support. Lesley Dee March 2011. Outline. Current challenges Why values - a rationale Developing shared values Valuing each other Valuing learning. Some challenges. The context The complexity of the workforce The complexity of post school settings - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Values in Learning Support
Lesley DeeMarch 2011
Outline
Current challenges Why values - a rationale Developing shared values Valuing each other Valuing learning
Some challenges
The context The complexity of the workforce The complexity of post school settings
Job descriptions and professional development Defining the role Lack of formal links between training and
qualifications, pay scales and career progression
Access to induction, appraisal systems and professional development
More challenges…..
Practice Communication between staff members Teachers inadequately prepared to manage support
staff Tensions between ‘velcro’ approach and consistency Teachers are less directly engaged with learners LSAs appointed as a substitute for systemic change
Some positive trends Involving learners in identifying their own support
needs Widening concept of learning support
Why Values?
Decisions about how to teach people with learning difficulties maybe influenced more by beliefs about people with learning difficulties than informed views of teaching and learning.
Dee, Devecchi and Florian (undated) Being , Having and Doing
A model of professional development
Knowing
DoingBelieving
Shulman adapted by Rouse
Developing shared values
From Medical model
Segregation
Service led provision
To Social model
Inclusion
Person-centred provision
Implications for support roles
From Part of the
treatment
Supporting individuals to fit in
Minder
To Supporting
providers to alter the environment
Fostering full participation
Facilitator
Valuing each other
The aim should be To develop a shared understanding
of the role and responsibilities of learning support assistants
Job description
Perceptions of role
Actual role
Perceptions of benefits of the role
Tutors: Support for the tutor Personal attention to the student
LSAs Gains in learners’ achievements and
confidence Learners
Improved confidence Personal attention and support
LSRC An investigation into the roles of learning support workers in the learning & skills sector www.lsneducation.org.uk
Some variations
Job description
Job description
Job description Perceptions
Perceptions
Perceptions
Actual role
Actual role
Actual role
Job description
Perceptions
Actual role
The role of the LSA
Tasks Knowledge and Skills etc
Accountability Support
Purposes
Valuing learning
Does the organisation have a culture of assessment or a culture of
learning ?
What do learners want?
Students from National Star said: Help us to work by ourselves Give practical tasks, not too much writing Provide help to understand things Work together with us and each other as a
team Know when to help and when to stand back Communicate in a way that I can
understand Understand the technology I use Treat me as an individual! David Finch and Richard Amos, The View of Learners ELS 2010
Facilitating learning involves…
Giving learners more control and reducing dependency through
Holding high expectations Making judgements about when to assist Sharing and agreeing objectives with learners Clarifying instructions Utilising high degrees of responsiveness which are
consistent Employing Wait Time Observing Questioning Giving explicit feedback Actively working with a small group of learners
Conclusion
‘ …away from meeting the “coping needs of students and teachers” towards meeting the learning needs of students.’ ( Gerschel 2005 )