Initial Suggestions for ‘Cultural Awareness’ DOCS course
The introduction involves making the participants comfortable with each other and setting the scene for the day. The ice breaker activity is for them all to introduce themselves and their relation/ experience with cultural diversity. I believe this can remain the same. The next activity consists on asking the question: ‘What is culture and culture identity?’ This is to be done using butchers paper and post it notes. While this is a good idea, perhaps the use of powerpoint could be used, with a bubble of the topic, and participants with contributions can come up and write their idea in a text box.
The remainder of the sessions, from my point of view- that is not quite relevant because I am not trained in this area, seem well written. I did note however, that there is a large use of butchers paper. Personally butchers paper has been used so much throughout high school and university that I cringe when I see it being pulled out. The course could improve by changing simple things such as this. Some suggestions could include the use of power point or other device being projected up onto the screen or simply a class discussion. Or even the use of basic overhead projectors.
As also learned through this subject, there are lots of short videos (vodcasts) available on lots of different websites eg. youtube which could be used to make a change in the classroom setting for informing the participants on topics such as historical facts on assimilation, integration and multiculturalism in the second session. This would also then accommodate for those who learn best by visual and aural means.
Powerpoint slides are used frequently throughout this course. A lot of e-learning gurus do not like powerpoints for some reason, perhaps because they do not come under the umbrella of Wed 2.0 technologies, however I find them effective for displaying what the facilitator is talking about. They can also be used to show diagrams. I am also pretty sure that videos can be uploaded onto them cutting time spent looking for them.
The activity of goal setting in the final session can be done on paper as it set out to be, or they could use a pc and email their goals to themselves, therefore they have a) thought about the goals and set them. b) written them out in order to imprint them in their mind and c) when they open their emails at work next, they are reminded of their goals. This repetition should be effective for sticking to them.
I suggest a wiki page to be set up with a link to the NGO’s website which all course participants will have access to (with a nominated password). This will encourage the learners to follow up on their training after they leave the course and go back to work. Another suggestion could be the use of a system similar to UTS Online where participants can contribute to discussions. This would be a learning tool for all as they could learn from other people’s experiences by talking about them and offering advice. Public goals previously developed could be placed on here as well.
This course should be non assessable, it is for the good of the participants and it is the aim for them to take away what is valid for them and their work situations. Everyone has had different life experiences and will have further different experiences, therefore information provided will be taken in a different perspective by all.
The course could also be podcast up onto this website so that participants can review it if necessary.
Evaluation will be done online through this website, encouragements for evaluation could be provided, such extra funding/ equipment if the evaluation is completed within the week. A further evaluation of the course and its effectiveness can be done perhaps 6 months later by telephone.
Although I am suggesting using a range of technologies to increase the effectiveness of the course, there are some items which should not be taken out, such as the listening activity in Session 3. This will add to the relationships formed from the participants and therefore builds a foundation for them to continue learning from each other in the future (perhaps through technological means such as social networking, or the site that DOCS is going to make for them under my recomendations).
