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Online Course Delivery
Application of Online Learning
| Date: | 14 April - 7 July 08 |
| Ref: | C16-87/0408 |
| Fee*: | Fee:
£425, Additional fee covering registration for NOCN accreditation £35 NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on conference and course fees |
[Background] [Who will benefit?] [Course Content] [Reviews] [Participant commitment and requirements]
Background
To suit the changing needs of today’s workforce in education, NIACE began delivering staff development training online in 2006. Our courses have proved to be very popular with participants from providers such as work-based learning, adult and community learning, further education and offender learning and skills, who have benefited from the combination of collaborative group work and self-study.
The Application of Online Learning course aims to support those wishing 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.
A new round of this NOCN accredited, fully facilitated 12 week online course will commence on the 14th April 2008 and finish on the 7th July 2008.
What the course offers
 | High-quality purpose written course materials, which introduce and guide participants through the principles of online learning |
| Support from two course facilitators and collaborative working in small tutorial groups |
| National Open College Network accreditation at level 3. Participants will complete 3 NOCN units worth 3 credits each. |
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Who would benefit from the course?
The course is suitable for tutors, lecturers, trainers, managers, senior managers and other staff from adult and community learning, further education, higher education, offender learning and skills, the work-based learning sector and other training organisations.
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Course structure and content
The course aims to provide participants with the opportunity to explore the potential of online learning and consider how it might be incorporated into their learning provision. It encourages a reflective approach and will contribute towards participants’ Continuing Professional Development.
The programme is delivered through the NIACE Moodle learning platform and consists of an online induction and five modules. Modules 1 and 5 are compulsory and participants choose one optional module from modules 2, 3, and 4, completing three modules overall.
Induction
Introduces participants to the Application of Online Learning course and
provides them with the opportunity to practise using Moodle.
Length: 2-3 hours
Module 1: Understand e-learning (introductory module)
Explores the pedagogy and principles of e-learning and online learning.
Module aims: The module aims to define terminology relating to online learning,
examine basic principles of e-learning and e-learning pedagogy, discuss the
benefits and disadvantages of e-learning and online learning and explore methods
of incorporating e-learning into the participants’ organisation or curriculum
area.
Length: 12 hours plus additional independent study time over 4 weeks.
Module 2: Widening participation and e-learning
Explores widening participation by incorporating e-learning and online
learning into participants’ delivery, and associated issues such as
accessibility and outreach provision.
Module aims: The module aims to provide
information about what ‘widening participation’ means, identify who ‘hard-toreach
learners’ are, explore existing practice in widening participation with
e-learning and provide information about the use and benefits of e-learning for
widening participation.
Length: 12 hours plus additional independent study time
over 4 weeks.
Module 3: Developing online programmes
Explores the conversion of face-to-face courses to blended/online courses,
useful software, and support mechanisms.
Module aims: The module aims to provide
an introduction to developing online materials, offer guidelines on
instructional design for online learning and discuss some of the issues that may
affect the success or failure of online learning materials.
Length: 12
hours plus additional independent study time over 4 weeks.
Module 4: Personalised online support
Explores effective online learner support, the role of online facilitation,
the use of communication tools and how to manage an online community.
Module
aims: The module aims to provide information about the role of an online
facilitator, advise on technical support for online tutors and learners, give an
understanding of how online learning can support individual learners’ needs,
explore online communication tools and give an understanding of the structure
and management of an online community.
Length: 12 hours plus additional
independent study time over 4 weeks.
Module 5: Evaluation and assessment of online learning
Explores a range of evaluation methodology for face-to-face, blended and
online courses, and provides the opportunity to evaluate the participants’ own
blended/online learning experience.
Module aims: The module aims to explore
assessment methods including online assessment, examine ways of evaluating a
learning experience, enable participants to appreciate how reflective practice
can contribute to personal development, allow participants to review their
experiences of completing an online course within continuing professional
development and enable them to create an action plan for moving forward with
online learning within their professional practice.
Length: 12 hours plus
additional independent study time over 4 weeks
Assessment
Assessment is through a series of Assessed Activities, which consist of written assignments, participation in collaborative activities within the online environment, reflective journal entries and use of e-learning software. Participants can expect to complete between five and nine Assessed Activities per module.
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What past participants say
“It has opened my eyes as to how well an online course can be run and I am looking forward to trying my hand at this.”
“Content of the course is excellent in giving a good grounding in understanding e-learning and how and why it is developed.”
“I have learned so much during this course, not only about the application of online learning but also about myself and how I learn and about technical skills which I previously did not have.”
“The facilitators were second to none. Great support and encouragement provided throughout the duration of the course.”
“My confidence has increased and I feel the course has inspired me more to pursue delivering on-line within my own courses.”
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Participant commitment and requirements
To gain the maximum benefit from these courses, participants will need:
Access to an internet-connected computer and an individual email address.
Experience of using the web, email, Windows® applications and office-based products such as word processing and presentation software.
Personal commitment to follow and complete an online learning course and adequate study time - participants can expect to spend five or six hours a week participating in collaborative activities and on independent study.
Minimum Technical Specifications
Ideally, the computer you are using should have the following minimum specification and facilities:
| Intel Pentium 100 processor or above |
| 1 Gb hard drive |
| 64Mb RAM |
| 56K+ modem or equivalent (broadband is preferable) |
| Reliable access to the internet |
| Internet Explorer 5 or above or equivalent |
| Windows 98 or above or equivalent operating system |
| Headphones/speakers |
| Email account |
| Word processor software |
| Presentation software |
| Up-to-date antivirus software and firewall |
| Adobe Reader (free download) |
| Adobe Flash plug-in |
| Anti-spam software (useful) |
| Printer (useful) |
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