Feedback and interaction

We have designed all modules so that you collaborate with other colleagues in a group. There will be opportunities for you to discuss all aspects of your learning with your collaborative group. There is a strong emphasis in each module on collaboration, and you may even want to keep in contact after the module has finished. We also expect you to carry out activities with your learners in your schools and then to discuss your successes and failures with your colleagues and your tutor. In this way, you will be sharing ideas and reflecting on improving your teaching. This process plays a major part in your learning and development as an educator.

Interaction between you, your group, and your tutor is what makes these modules a supportive process. These interactions will take place via a number of possible communication tools which will be specific to your own course provider:

These interactions are important to:

• Give you support when you encounter problems
• Give you maximum benefit from the module by being supported and supporting others (it is in teaching that we learn)
• Meet other people in your profession with whom you might maintain contact after the module and
• Help you feel as if you are part of a wider learning community.

You will notice that there are many places in the activities where you are asked to submit work to the group or to the tutor, and are then asked to comment on other people’s work that you receive. Please do not think of this as a threatening process, where you worry about what other people might think of what you write. Think of it as, a process that is an important part of learning. Do not think that people want to criticize you, but rather that you can share ideas and learn together. Try to take the same attitude when you comment on what your colleagues have sent to you.

This is a really important part of the learning process. You do not have a face-to-face tutor or teacher, and you will be working alone for much of the time, so this exchange of ideas and comments on other colleague’s work is the way you are learning. We call this a learning community.