National Teaching and Learning
Change Programme
Improving teaching and learning in Adult Learning

Video transcript

Student:

I have certain problems, which perhaps other people don't. It's only minor things like high blood pressure and problems with my knee etc. And basically if Karen notices or you mention it to her that you have a certain problem she will adapt the exercises to help you, so you're not actually having to do things that are painful for you or damaging for yourself in any way. She will also when you do the exercise notice what your ability is and will adapt it, because we are all different and can exercise some muscles more than others. She will adapt the exercises to fit you.

Karen:

Anybody who has an injury or has had an operation or whatever is their general problem, all this I have on file. I'll be able to say you won't be able to do this, this or this, so I'll have to give you the alternatives to that, and sometimes the alternatives don't work either, so you actually have to modify the exercise and maybe give them something that might not be exactly the same muscle group as everybody else, but it's very close.

Student:

Well, she always gives us alternative exercises. If the others are doing harder ones she gives two or three levels which we can work at. And she will also adapt the exercises if you do have a disability, like I can't bend my knee very well; she used the elastic band so that I could hold it. Where the others can hold onto their shoes I can't do that, so she gets a rubber band and I use that. When I first came I felt very embarrassed because I hadn't exercised very much, and I felt that everybody would be laughing at me, but I have got a confidence now, and I just fit in I think.

Karen:

The lady who was actually sitting on the chair today, she has very stiff hamstrings and that's the main reason I sit her on the chair for those last stretches, because she can't actually physically sit up straight enough. It wouldn't be a relaxed stretch, if she were doing it on the floor, because she would be holding herself, so that's the reason I sit her on the chair.

Forward straight legs, put the hands on floor, and you can keep soles together for this one. Reach up with the other arm. Keep the shoulders square to the front and reach over as far as you can to the other side. Deep breath in and as you breathe out see if you can go just that little bit further over to the other side.

I actually responded to this particular lady, the very first class that she came in, because I saw immediately that she was having a problem sitting comfortably on the floor. And I thought, 'this is no good, she can't stretch in that position properly', so I gave her the chair to sit in.

Voice over:

How effectively do you think you 'differentiate' to accommodate different learners' physical needs in your own sessions? Think about how to develop this approach more fully.