== About Learning Activities and Sequences ==

=== Definition ===
A '''learning activity''' has been defined as:

|| ''"an interaction between a learner or learners and an environment (optionally including content resources, tools and instruments, computer systems and services, 'real world' events and objects) that is carried out in response to a task with an intended learning outcome." (Beetham, 2004)'' ||

There may be only one activity in a particular learning session, or there may be a '''sequence''' of activities. The exact number depends on a number of inter-related factors, including:
 * The length allowed for the session in the course timetable
 * The nature of the content, concepts and/or skills to be learned
 * The different techniques that may be appropriate to the content, concepts and/or skills
 * The amount of time you expect each activity to take.

=== Activity types ===
We have suggested a number of different activities that you might need to design for a particular learning session:

 * [wiki:Ph2ActivitiesPreparation Preparation] activities to be done before the session
 * [wiki:Ph2ActivitiesMainSequence The sequence of activities] that make up the learning session itself
 * [wiki:Ph2AssessmentActivities Assessment] activities to ensure that students have achieved the intended learning outcomes
 * [wiki:Ph2ActivitiesFollowUp Follow-up] activities: non-assessed activities that you might want the students to do afterwards
 * [wiki:Ph2ActivitiesExtReinf Additional] activities, such as extension activities for more able students and reinforcement activities for students who may have difficulty with particular aspects of the material
 * [wiki:Ph2ContingencyActivities Alternative] activities that might be needed in case of unforeseen circumstances

=== Sequence structures ===
You can organise the activities in a sequence in different ways, depending on the nature of the subject matter, students’ capabilities and preferences, and your teaching approach. The following diagram illustrates a number of possible structures:

[[Image(PhoebeFiles:SequenceStructures10Jan07.JPG)]]

[wiki:PhoebePh2Contents Contents]