Using learners' feedback to develop resources: 2D3D commentary

Teachers may be so familiar with a topic that it is hard to remember how confusing it might be for learners in the early stages of their encounters with it.

John Sekula's experience shows just how informative it was to see things from his learners' perspectives and to listen to what they had to say. This enabled him to find out just where their problems lay. He was then able to design materials that started with a stripped down version of the final format of drawings. The complexity was then restored step by step.

His story also illustrates the value of setting up activities that encourage learners to articulate their thinking. Listening to your learners as they talk their way through an activity is a powerful way of finding out where they have got to in their learning and what they need to do to progress further. It is an integral part of assessment for learning.

In a virtual learning environment such as Second Life, learners can use the 'building materials' to construct a 3D version of the 2D representations on display. They can then check the accuracy of their creation by 'walking' around it or 'flying' over it. Being able to view it from any angle means they can quickly compare their construction with the original drawing and so get immediate feedback on its accuracy. The facility offers them a very simple version of the three dimensional drafting that a professional engineer might do but takes little time to learn how to use it. It has the added advantage of giving learners an experience that mimics the gaming environment that so many of them are familiar with.

It also offers the possibility of virtual group work, meaning learners could work with peers anywhere in the world.

Related links

For more guidance on developing your skills in managing group learning and finding out more about assessment for learning, go to CPD builder: Challenging topics