Janami Design
ABN: 51710231080
Marianne Slade - Instructional Designer
Mob. 0455802642
Email: mslade@janamidesign.com
About Marianne Slade - Teacher / Instructional Designer
My career in teaching and supporting learners began in primary schools in New Zealand, during which time I was often responsible for the extra-curricula activities such as sports, music and cultural activities in the schools. After several years I moved to Australia and it was then that I ventured into the adult teaching realm.
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As a literacy and numeracy trainer in Australia I was lucky enough to work with many enthusiastic and talented learners from different cultures and of different ages. I learnt as much from them as they did from me. I designed and developed contextualised programs and resources for them focused on developing employability skills.
Some of the training sites I worked at were on Indigenous owned cattle stations in the Northern Territory, in northern areas of Western Australia and in northern Queensland. The jackaroos, as the trainees liked to be called, were completing qualifications in Agriculture. I worked in collaboration with the Vocational trainers to provide literacy and numeracy support for the trainees, incorporating skills they needed for future jobs.
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Other times my training took me to sites in small, remote indigenous communities including Gunbalanya, Milingimbi and Elcho Island. In these areas I integrated literacy and numeracy support into the cultural and work topics that learners were already familiar with.
While living in Derby (north of Broome) I worked with indigenous students who were completing building or civil construction qualifications. Once again I collaborated with the Vocational trainers so together we could ensure the trainees all succeeded in passing both the practical and theoretical components of the courses they were doing.
Sometimes I trained in city sites such as Darwin, Cairns and Alice Springs. The learners in these classes were often a mix of many cultures including migrants who were new to Australia and needed much support to gain employment. Programs for them were designed to build on from their prior knowledge and past experiences, before introducing new literacy and numeracy terms, concepts or skills that they could apply to future jobs or further education.
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I gained a graduate diploma in adult language, literacy and numeracy practice in 2015 which cemented my knowledge of adult learning theories and methodologies. Coupled with my experience with learners from a range of cultures and with different interests, abilities and learning styles, I am able to design learning activities, for face-to-face or online learning that are carefully designed and contextualised to ensure learning is always engaging, purposeful and achievable for every learner.