The six tasks below illustrate how information about some common topics in care work can be presented using an active learning approach. They cover a variety of task formats and ability levels. -


Giving a bed bath (Entry Level) Storing Food Safely (Entry) Individual needs (Level 1) Key Facts in First Aid (Level 1) Health and Safety Law (Level 2) Care Plans (Level 2)


Tarsia puzzles


Some of the most popular active learning tasks for vocabulary development in ESOL teaching are the jigsaw activities that can be quickly created with a free software package called Tarsia. The puzzles are essentially a matching task format but they can be created in variety of formats so that as the puzzle is completed learners find that they have assembled a geometrical shape such as a triangle, hexagon, octagon. You just enter a list of matching items in a table which is then converted into your preferred jigsaw format which can then be printed out, laminated and then cut up for use as a table top activity.


On induction courses and in refresher sessions NVQ trainers have used Tarsia puzzles to assess subject knowledge whilst checking vocabulary at the same time. For example, tasks have been created that involve -


 pairs of words to make common phrases in food safety, fire safety e.g. danger + zone, naked + flame


 short sentence & instructions e.g. don't + run, keep + calm  matching metric units e.g. 1200 ml = 1.2 litres  24 hr clock e.g. 4.00 pm = 1600  standard English & idioms e.g. angry + put out


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27