Summary of different kinds of flexibility

As I told you in my profile (in Dutch) I’m following the course pedagogies for flexible learning supported by technology. Dr. Petra Fisser is our teacher in this course. You can follow here blog on:

http://petrafisser.blogspot.com/

To give you a first impression of this course will explain the different kinds of flexibility.

For this summery I've used the hand-outs of the first lecture of Dr Petra Fisser.

According to Dr Petra Fisser there are 5 different kinds of flexibility. Each kind has their own description which I will write down. For every kind of flexibility I will also write down some advantages and some disadvantages according to Dr Petra Fisser and my own experiences.  

Flexible learning is not just about distance learning (Collis & Moonen) but a movement toward a situation where the learner has a range of options from which to choose with respect to key dimensions. These key dimensions could be: time, content, entry requirements, instructional approach, delivery and logistics.

Flexibility can be related to:

-          Time

-          Content

-          Entry requirements

-          Instruction approach and resources

-          Delivery and logistics

 Dimensions of learning flexibility, options available to the learner (revised from Collis, Vingerhoets, & Moonen, 1997)

Flexibility related to time gives students the opportunity to start and finish a course when they want to. The students can be responsible for the time of submitting an assignment of interacting within  a course. They can decide which tempo or space they study and what the moments of assessments are.

+ This kind of flexibility gives the student the opportunity to plan their own study program. For a part time student who has to combine study with work is this a real advantage.

-  This kind of flexibility could support study delay. If a student is less motivated it can take a while before he/she is graduated

Flexibility related to content gives students the opportunity to select their own courses.

+ This kind of flexibility motivates student to study by selecting courses they are interesting in.

- It’s hard for teachers to adapt the content of the course to all the wishes of the students.

Flexibility related to entry requirements gives student a opportunity to participate in courses of they fulfill the conditions of the entry requirements. For example I could start the Master Educational Science and Technology without following the Bachelor.  But I needed to follow the pre-master to fulfill the entry requirements.

 +  gives students the opportunity to switch between studies or reintegrate in education.

- entry requirements should really clear with no entry requirements the quality of an educational program can be influenced.

Flexibility related to Instruction approach and resources gives students the opportunity to chose in the way they want to learn.  Thinks of theoretical/ pratical, books/lectures etc.

+ the instruction approach can be adapted to the learning strategy of a student which can be benefit the learning outcomes

-  It takes a lot of effort of the instructor itself to provide these different kinds of instructions.

Flexibility related to Delivery and logistics gives students the opportunity to chose the time, place, method, types of help, location and delivery channel. For example distance learning.

+ Gives student the opportunity to choice for distance learning. Students from abroad could study in the Netherlands without moving here. There are no limits.

- flexibility according to delivery and logistics is really hard to organize because of cost and effort

I hope this summary gives you an idea of flexibility.
If you have any questions please contact me.

with kind regards, Simone