Arthur,
Thank you for your post. Students come to us to learn about the real world.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I agree, if fashion students don't have adequate sewing skills acquired in a lab, they are unable to design a garment with proper seam placement, or be able sketch a flat that will be able to be draped or flat pattern drafted.
Lab time is imperative for skills that will translate to their sketching, draping or flat pattern drafting. It builds foresight into their designing.
I'm a believer in competency based education. It goes past theory right to the real world, and the real world can be quite different. Also, hands on training builds confidence.
Drexel,
The student masters the competency in the lab, do they not?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Once a competecy is mastered it can then be completed in a lab environment.
Glenn,
Do you notice any common areas of concern? Any common problems in relation to learning styles?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Michael,
Your post provides a good example of how competency in a skill is developed throughout the academic program. It also supports the importance of repeating a task until the student can perform it with little to no coaching.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Competencies are important in my class. I like to use labs that will build on previous labs as this will allow me to identify students who are struggling. It insures that they are able to perform the required steps before continuing on.
In the sonography lab we use the see on, do one, teach one, approach to learning scanning protocols. The students are given a sonography exam protocol and we go through it step by step together. I then perform the protocol being sure to explain all the technical factors and scanning techniques I use for each static image while students observe. They are then paired off and practice the protocols and at the end of the week are required to demonstrate proficiency by acquiring predefined images. While they are practicing, the clinical instructor facilitates there learning by asking students questions and additionally instructors act as a mentor when students have difficulty. At the end of the lab module students are required to demonstrate they know how to perform the protocols by demonstrating their knowledge to their classmates in a sort of return assessment. Furthermore, once sonography students reach the point in the program when clinical begins, they are required to perform specific sonographic exam competencies.
I feel competencies performed in the lab better prepare students for clinical. Competencies in the clinical setting better prepare students for real world scanning in the workforce. Both competencies require students to achieve a greater level of proficiency by building scanning skills in order to make students feel confident that they can produce a high quality diagnostic sonographic exam. -Mike
Brandon,
Practice makes perfect. That seems to be the message the students need to hear. However, it might be worth reviewing the amount of lab time provided as part of the course. Are students able to achieve the course outcomes within the current amount of time alotted?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Sara,
Have you shared your experience with students regarding clothing designers and sewing skills? This is a great nugget that supports the value of the training provided.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
My industry, audio, is based on how accurate and fast one can complete assigned tasks. There is a lot of variation in what we do, so it is crucial that our students get lab time. There is a huge difference in the grades of those that choose the optional added lab time available and those that just come to class and get the little bit of lab time offered in class. Those that participate in mandatory and optional labs receive far superior grades. I'm sure these are the students that will succeed in the real world.
In fashion design courses, students need to be able to prove they have learned the core elements and principles of design. I like to tell them that they must first understand the rules before they can break them!
Also, in our sewing courses, it is imperative that students have the skills to physically create their designs. Not all schools think this aspect is important, but I have worked with clothing designers who don't know how to sew and they make terrible clothes and basically have to be redesigned in order to be properly manufactured and worn.
In these ways, competency-based education is vital to our program.
Dr. Hansen,
Yes I do share this with my students and in the past I was able to give them examples from my former employer.
William,
Thank you for your post. Do you share this perspective with the students? It would probably reinforce the "real world" learning we typically provide.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Working in the Medical Technology field for as many years as I have has given me an appreciation for competency based learning. This is how training is done on the job. Using this approach in planning and teaching can give the learner a realistic view of what is to come.
Melissa,
You may wish to post some details on how you assess their ability to perform the tasks in the Assessment thread.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
The value comes in teaching what the students will need to know and be able to do. They must not only have the knowledge but also the ability to do the tasks.
Luz,
Yes, spelling out expectations in detail helps to guide students toward success.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
In the Smog program we use Competency Based instruction at its best. It is exactly as described "a Foundation" that not only guides us instructors as to what/when to teach but also guides the students to learn in a cohesive way, in other words, the material flows easily from one topic to another. Each topic has a dedicated lab assignment and these assignments need to be specific and clearly detailed step by step. I agree with the fact that sometimes things are taken too much into context. For example, "Let's build a lab-based program". Now a lab-based program is built that is only lab, in other words, we can't forget that some class instruction is needed as well, and viceversa. A mid point of classroom and lab instruction is needed for the material to be assimilated in full, and lab procedures need to be very specifically detailed to avoid confusion and also injuries.
