The Online project

New training programmes for staff development through online learning

Are you looking for a new staff development training programme, or to widen participation within your provision?

NIACE are offering you the opportunity to enrol on a short online course taking place between October 2006 and February 2007. There are 8 courses in total, which form part of a wider project to encourage the use of online learning and online methods within adult and community learning provision.

Depending on the course you choose, the time commitment will be between 30 and 60 hours over 10 to 14 weeks. Places are limited, so early booking is advisable.

Background

The NIACE survey of adult and community learning (2005) showed that online learning is under developed. The Development of online courses with full online support project aims to encourage adult and community learning organisations to use online learning and online methods within their delivery of teaching and learning. The development and delivery of online and blended learning courses will enhance practitioners' skills through the reflective practice of their learning process. NIACE is developing and disseminating models of good practice in online learning that practitioners will then be able to apply in the development of provision at a local level.

The courses

There are three different courses utilising three different online delivery methods:

1. Online course: The application of online learning. This programme will be delivered six times. There will be a face-to-face induction day (three in the North of England and three in the South of England.), followed by a 10-week course delivered online via the NIACE Moodle learning platform. This course includes a combination of collaborative group work and self-study work.
    
2. Blended course: Training for trainers. There will be a face-to-face induction day (in the Midlands.), followed by a 14-week course delivered mostly online via the NIACE Moodle learning platform. Three further face-to-face sessions will also be included within the 14 weeks (approximate timings for these days are from 10:00 to 16:00). This course includes a combination of collaborative group work and self-study work.
    
3. Self-study course: The principles of e-learning and widening participation. This course will involve working through a number of specified modules on the Staff development e-learning centre (SDLEC) over a specified time period. Whilst predominantly a self-study course, there will be the option to collaborate with other participants using the SDELC forum, and full learner support will be available for the duration of the course.

All of these courses will involve a full evaluation process covering the duration of the course.

Induction days

The face-to-face induction day provides the opportunity to meet the facilitators and other participants in person. The day will also provide the opportunity to set up your user account on the Moodle learning platform, and to gain practical experience of using the online communication tools that will be relied upon during these courses. For those unable to attend the face-to-face induction day, an online version will be provided, but it is recommended that participants attend the face-to-face induction wherever possible. Approximate timings for the face-to-face induction days are from 10:00 to 16:00.

Course dates

1. Online course - The application of online learning:

2.  Blended course - Training for trainers: 
[FULL]

3.  Self-study course - The principles of e-learning and widening participation:
[FULL] 

Course Content

1. Online course - The application of online learning: This course will support staff in adult and community learning organisations who wish to use online learning and online methods within their learning provision to reach new and different learners. By completing the online programme, participants will gain the practical experience of being part of an online learning community, and will explore the skills and knowledge required to create their own online courses. This course will consist of five modules:

1. Introductory module - exploring pedagogy, learning styles and the principles of e-learning and online learning.

2. Widening participation module - exploring widening participation by incorporating e-learning and online learning into your delivery, and associated issues such as accessibility and outreach provision.

3. Developing online programmes module - exploring the conversion of face-to-face courses to blended/online courses, useful software, and support mechanisms.

4. Personalised online support module - exploring effective online learner support, the role of online facilitation, the use of communication tools and how to manage an online community.

5. Evaluation module - exploring a range of evaluation methodology for face-to-face, blended and online courses, and providing an opportunity to evaluate your own blended/online learning experience.

Modules i and v are mandatory and will be completed collaboratively with small and whole group discussions and assignments. Modules ii, iii and iv are optional but participants must complete at least one module. These optional modules will be predominantly supported self-study, but there will be the opportunity to collaborate with other participants who have chosen the same module(s).

2. Blended course - Training for trainers: This course explores the principles of training and development and aims to increase your competence as a trainer and provide you with experience of training using a blended delivery method. Content covered will include:

1. Learning and training cycles

2. Training standards and values

3. Facilitating learning - teaching and training styles, co-training

4. Planning and designing training sessions

5. Resources for delivering training - including e-learning resources

6. Supporting learners - including humanistic theories NLP, TA

7. Equal opportunities and working with conflict

8. Creating and running e-communication groups

9. Supporting learners in the use of e-learning technologies

10. Assessment and evaluation

Some of these elements will be mandatory, but participants will be able to negotiate some elements depending on the needs of the group.

3. Self-study course - The principles of e-learning and widening participation: This course explores widening participation by incorporating e-learning and online learning into your delivery. Content covered will include:

1. Getting to grips with e-learning

2. Widening participation with e-learning

3. E-learning and accessibility

4. E-learning and outreach

5. Evaluation

Note: All course information is provided as a guide and is subject to minor change prior to the commencement of the delivery of the courses.

Participant commitment and requirements

To gain the maximum benefit from these courses, you will need:

Eligibility

All of the courses within the online project are open to:

Accreditation

It is intended to offer accreditation for the online and blended courses in order that participants can gain a nationally recognised award. This will be in the form of credits at level 3 or 4.

How to book on

There will be 20 places available on each of the online courses, 20 places available on the blended course and 20 places available on the self-study course. Please complete the RSVP form and return it to NIACE Conferences and Courses Office, Renaissance House, 20 Princess Road West, Leicester, LE1 6TP, or fax to 0116 285 9670.

For more information about any of the courses, please contact: ali.close@niace.org.uk.

Closing date: Friday 13 October 2006

All applicants will be contacted by the NIACE Conferences and Courses team regarding confirmation of places on the courses.

The Online project is a collaboration between the LSC, the organisation that exists to make England better skilled and more competitive, and NIACE (the National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education - England and Wales).
 

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