The Flexible Learning Environment: Supporting Student Diversity

By:
Louise O'Boyle
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This paper will present the role of the teacher as educator within a higher education context. The students are studying full-time on the BAHONS Art & Design programme at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK. With an increasing number of students entering higher education from non-traditional routes, we need to be able to cater for a greater range of abilities and consider the changing needs and circumstances of our students. Traditional teaching and learning methods need to be complimented with resources to enhance the learners experience both inside and outside of the classroom and the adoption of an appropriate method of delivery or teaching style which ensures good communication and a healthy learning environment for all. We as teachers play a role in facilitating learning and change. By creating learning resources within a flexible environment that students can access as individuals for individual interest and individual need, my role as teacher becomes one which facilitates the learning experience to become lasting and significant. Flexible learning materials are designed to promote independent learning, by giving students a choice of which direction they want to explore. They can encompass a range of different media and activities. Flexible learning puts the student at the centre allowing self supported study, not self supporting study.


Keywords: Art & Design, Flexible Learning Materials, Supporting Learning, Supporting Student Diversity
Stream: Creative Arts and Learning
Presentation Type: 30 minute Paper Presentation in English
Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Louise O'Boyle

Associate Lecturer in Art & Design, School of Art & Design, University of Ulster
Belfast, Antrim, UK

I am interested in the role of the artist as social commentator, as a practising sculptor I draw on childhood memories and aspects of daily life to highlight and raise discussion of personal, political, cultural and social issues in my artwork. I enjoy adapting my narrative ideas and skills to suit a variety of contexts, completing small independent artworks to large-scale public commissions. I also have extensive experience as a facilitator and project manager on a wide variety of art based initiatives and projects with people of all ages and abilities throughout Northern Ireland. In tandem with this work I have been teaching within the further and higher education setting for the past nine years and currently I am an Associate Lecturer at the University of Ulster, Belfast. My research interests are two fold; supporting teaching and learning through the development and use of flexible learning materials and exploring creative responses to the past, present and future environment of Northern Ireland

Ref: L07P0634