Pttls

Analyse different ways in which you would establish ground rules with your learners, which underpin behaviour and respect for others. Setting ground rules at the beginning of a course is fundamental in ensuring mutual respect amongst students and tutor alike. It has been stated by many eminent teacher training commentators including Gravells that such rules and boundaries should be made clear as early as possible, for example at the first session, this ensures that from the off both learners and tutors are aware of what is expected of them. Dean faculty website (14.08.09) corroborates such a statement commenting “the ground rules should always be set out at the start of the session to help ensure that learners feel safe to express their views and make mistakes, and that a congenial, relaxed atmosphere is developed and maintained.” Aside from this, establishing ground rules or indeed guidelines (a preferred term as it does not sound so regimental) “…creates a safe learning environment that promotes tolerance respect and cooperation between… learners.” (Gravels, A & Simpson, S, 2008: 11) There are different ways of establishing ground rules ranging from the tutor setting them before hand, the learners establishing them through group discussion or a combination of the two. Tutors establishing the rules themselves is beneficial if it is a one day course as time will be lost if an exercise involving learners is used which may prove detrimental to achieving the ultimate goal of the course. On the other hand it can prove advantageous if learners themselves elicit rules after engaging in group discussion, as this allows the learners to have ownership of the rules which thus results in them being adhered to. By combining the former two techniques time will be saved allowing the engagement and initial communication between learners and tutor. It also provide “the opportunity for the learners to respond, (amend) and negotiate the ‘rules’. This provides good role modelling and a transparency about expectations for behaviours. (London Deanery, Faculty Website 14.08.09) Examples of typical ground rules are as follows: Arrive and finish on time, switch off mobile phones, listen to others without interrupting, treat others contribution with respect and respect confidentiality within the group. Establishing ground rules provides a structure for the duration of the course and can be revisited during the course at any time. Bibliography Gravells, A (2008) Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector third edition, Learning Matters Ltd. Gravells, A and Simpson (2008) S Planning and Enabling Learning Learning Matters Ltd. Faculty Development, London Deanery, NHS London, Setting ground rules, http://www.faculty.londondeanery.ac.uk/e-learning/small-group-teaching/setting-ground-rules, (accessed at 14.08.09, 15:00)