Guidelines
The resource is originally designed for experts in the field, who can be leaders of future animal assisted courses as special therapists, teachers, social workers, pschychologists, etc. The suggested size od the group is 20 persons making active individual and group work possible. It is advisable to teach the resource following its content structure.
A)
- autonomous introduction to assigned parts of the resource,
- common analysis and discussion of these parts in a f2f session with the lecturer,
- adding practical exercises to the above mentioned parts with e.g. self-experience, videos
- sharing experiences, analysis following the assessment guidelines;
B)
- autonomous introduction to individually assigned parts of the resource,
- lectures on the very same topics in f2f sessions,
- common analysis,
- adding practical exercises to the above mentioned parts with e.g. self-experience, videos,
- sharing experiences, analysis following the assessment guidelines;
C)
- completing the course in f2f sessions in a way preferred by the lecturer (e.g. lecture, group work, cooperative methods, etc.)
- adding practical exercises to the above mentioned parts with e.g. self-experience, videos,
- sharing experiences, analysis following the assessment guidelines
Strengths:
- better time management (A),
- more time for the student reflection (A, B)
Weaknesses:
- less time for practice (B, C),
- no immediate response for sts’ questions and doubts (A, B)
- the problem loses its relevance by the time there is a f2f lesson (A).
The self-check parts are ideal to check learning achievements. The activities can be individual or group work depending on the lecturers’ decision. The course objective is to prepare sts for practice, so it could be ended with the final exam tasks.
Suggested assessment criteria:
- careful planning,
- applicability,
- matching the group needs,
- matching the objectives,
- taking general didactics into account,
- conscious application of methods and work forms,
- details of planning (objectives, activities, place, instruments, time, helpers, etc.)
- appropriate usage of language for specific purposes.
The main advantages of the digital resource:
- wide theoretical knowledge,
- videos making the lectures authentic,
- the resource provides motivation for learning and further application
Dangers when only the digital resource is used:
- less practical experience for the student
- therefore sts could exaggarate the effect and implications of the method,
- because of the lack of self-experience, sts cannot realise the difficulties of the method,
- less motivation because of the lack of self-experience (this is the reason why the course was initiated during digital education period).
The guidelines were provided by Erika Köböl.
