Last week I introduced the adaptable sewing packs to my first year students on Wednesday morning. It didn’t go as smoothly as planned. I introduced the packs whilst students were at their machines sewing, and it was hard to tell whether the students were focusing on what I was saying or were distracted by the task at hand.
I had the packs on the tables they were using, but no students engaged, despite it being a full group. I did find that the class I was teaching were the most capable sewers I have ever taught, and are also on a pathway that tends to have more experienced first years than others. This being said, it is difficult to oversee a class of 14 students and tend to their varied needs, whilst keeping a good pace and ensuring we cover all aspects of the workshop. I myself also forgot to keep reiterating the availability of the tools and their uses.
As no students engaged with the packs I had no responses on my survey which is concerning. Luckily I am also teaching the second half of the form group this week. To improve chances of engagement I will be introducing the packs on the very first day and I will do some demonstrations with them. I have also reached out to 2 colleagues to request if they will participate by distributing the packs to their groups.
The initial teaching week is usually quite overwhelming and exhausting, and we are very restricted by time. I hope that the second week of teaching will feel less chaotic and I will have time to introduce the tools in a more formal and consistent manner, to produce some survey responses. I will also look at requesting the surveys are completed on Friday morning to ensure students don’t leave before completing them.