Community Learning Development Resource 103 – 11
AN ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR USE WITH NEW LEARNERS – ‘THE DIAMOND NINE’
This method was used with a small group of women from a target ‘Hard-to-Reach’ neighbourhood and was the first ‘formal’ assessment exercise used with the individuals, within a Parents and Toddlers group setting.
The group had been set up by the worker to bring together parents with young children where there was no such provision. The participating parents had been invited by the worker to join the new group and they included some referred to the worker by local Health Visitors.
The worker had an agenda to involve the adults in learning and her interest lay in work with the adults and the organisation of the Parent and Toddler group was a means to this end.
Each adult was given a set of nine diamond shaped cards, each with a statement written on it, and asked to arrange them in an overall diamond shape on a table top – so that at the top of the diamond pattern was the card with the statement on which they felt represented what they had gained most or how they felt different about themselves, from the experience of participating in the group.
The participants were told that it didn’t matter if they all chose to put their choices in different places in the pattern. What was important was that they placed the cards according to their own chosen order of importance.
The worker used this exercise when she felt that the learners would be ready and comfortable to participate and would be not be concerned about sharing what they had produced. She also said that it would be good to talk about what and where they had chosen to put the cards.
The statements on the individual ‘Diamond Nine’ cards are:
- ‘Better able to express myself/talk’
- ‘I now feel I can learn’
- ‘More confidence’
- ‘Better able to recognise quality childcare/ activities’
- ‘Be with adults, develop friendships’
- ‘I am listened to and feel more valued’
- ‘More likely to think through decisions’
- ‘Computer skills’
- ‘Help with and take part in activities with and for the children’
These statements were chosen by the worker. She felt that they were relevant to what had been going on during the early period of the Parents and Toddlers group and that they significantly connected with learner needs and their achievements.
One purpose of the exercise was to look for confirmation of what the worker had informally assessed from watching and keeping a diary of the life of the group. She felt that some of the statements might capture specific gains made by individuals that they themselves would recognise and own.
She also wanted to encourage reflection by the learners and a shared confirmation and celebration of gains and changes. She also suggested that she used a digital camera to record what each had done.
PROMPT FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
- Can you prepare a set of statements for a ‘Diamond-Nine’ activity with a group of learners within your work practice?