How can the humble Allen Key be related to teaching, let alone the basis of my teaching philosophy?  Before getting into the philosophical aspect, let's take a look at the importance of an Allen Key.  One of the world's wealthiest men, Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, knows the worth of an Allen Key.  He has taken this relatively unknown, small, inexpensive and multi-sized tool to celebrity status by converting a flat pack of
materials into a useful piece of furniture.  This was no accident, it was a stroke of genius!   How many of you have erected a piece of furniture (with or without a few well chosen words) using an Allen Key?  Then you will  understand the usefulness of this understated hexagonal implement. 
 

My philosophical approach to teaching has undergone major paradigm shifts since I started teaching three decades ago.  The development of a teaching philosophy encapsulating the attributes of an Allen Key, unlike Ingvar Kamprad, was a monumental accident.  However, this doesn't degrade the value of this philosophy (maybe it's not worth IKEA billions, but it's worth is invaluable to me). So how does this philosophy correlate to an Allen Key? 

The first aspect of the Allen Key that reflects this toolhardy  philosophy is the shape.  A regular shaped hexagon has six lines equal in length and six equal angles.  This  predilection for six inspired me to develop the Six Degrees of Contemplation™, the nucleus of the A.K.T.P™.  (See below for the elements of the Six Degrees of Contemplation™.)

Secondly, besides being a regular shape, the Allen Key comes in different sizes.  I've coined the phrase "...one tool suits all" (as opposed to one size fits all) to explain the premise behind using the same topic and activities for a multi-levlled class (post secondary).  For example, Level 1 literacy and numeracy students would write a receipt - record the items, costs and calculate overall cost, while Level 3 would record items etc, but they would also calculate discounts and GST (General Services Tax).  Read more...

We've all played some form of games at one time or another.  A game of cards or Triominoes over breakfast is a daily ritual for me.  (Not sure if it helps with digestion but a good way to get the grey matter ticking over for the day.) Besides the entertainment or frustration element,  games offer a mulitude of opportunities for learning. Over the years I've used games to develop literacy & numeracy skills and concepts. Why games? They're FUN and this medium is a non threatening method for reluctant learners and / or people with delayed learning issues to become involved in their learning. 

Take reading the instructions for instance.  How do people with limited literacy skills ever read instructions? They don't! Usually someone else does the reading and interpreting.  From my observations people in these situations always orally learn the game rules.  How to overcome this?  I've used graphical cues and PowerPoints to assist when introducing a new game. Also, prior to introducing the game I would develop a glossary of terms related to the game.  Students would use an online dictionary to assist with pronunciation and meanings.

Scoring is the most obvious numeracy activity but some games offer a broader numeracy experience, for example: Blokus - spatial awareness; darts - subtraction from 501 and multiplication; Triominoes - addition and subtraction; Monopoly - handling money and operations (+, -, x).

Today's adult classes are all about improving a person's literacy & numeracy to enable them to get a job. How can games help to get a job?  First and foremost they assist people to develop interpersonal skills.  One critera all jobs require today is - able to work in a team. Yes there may be dummy spits during games, but overall participants want to be involved and usually pick up the dummy and play on. You need strategies to play games and these may include: working from what you have (known) to improve your position (unknown); cause and effect - if you play this card or tile then your playing partners / opponents won't be able to move or play a specific card; problem solving - which card / piece / tile to use.

Let's get to it! Find a game, have FUN and learn!