Process: Given such a diverse range of materials from independent learners with a range of backgrounds and aspirations it was not immediately apparent how to evaluate their learning outcomes. As a starting point, we drew together a team of people with relevant expertise to look at the knives. As a result we decided we needed to gain more background information from each of the learners before we could assess their work. An email questionnaire was sent to all of the group which enabled more detailed information to be provided for the main assessment.
Outcome: All the learners had been able to come up with a concept for a folding knife and carry it through to making a knife that integrated form and function. Their achievements were comparable to that of first year undergraduate students who would have had a significant amount of personal instruction from an expert. At least half the group have the potential to continue knifemaking at a high level.
Conclusion: This project has shown that we can use new methods to transplant skills outside the industrial setting into the hands of people who have the motivation to innovate. In a small follow-up project we used these methods to develop materials to support Undergraduate students in the design workshops and plan to extend this work in a more widespread project to promote learner autonomy.
More details:
Evaluation process
Research outcome
Conclusion & further research
