This online course aims to provide participants with the key skills for designing online activities, teaching online and enhancing the effectiveness of technology use in a course, whether on-campus or distance, blended or entirely online. Participants experience excellent online learning first-hand, and learn online tutoring skills that will help maximise the effectiveness of online activities in a course. Participants should expect to spend 3-4 hours a week on the course (at any time to suit themselves).

Delivered as a

• 3-week intensive basic course

or as a

• 5-week course including practical application to your own courses

Available as a public course open to all (held in Moodle) or delivered for an educational institution or group in your own VLE.

The tutor, Helen Whitehead, has taught similar courses in a variety of institutions, settings and VLEs, including Moodle and Blackboard/WebCT (whatever your VLE, the skills taught in this course are transferable).

By the end of this course a participant will be able to:

• Understand the pedagogical basis of collaborative online learning
• Develop, motivate and retain learners
• Create online activities that complement other features of a learning programme (blended learning)
• Save time and resources
• Respond to posts, weave & summarise
• Encourage good contributions from others, and give appropriate feedback

Suitable for:

Academics, teachers and tutors who are or are planning to teach online, and staff who support learning online in FE, HE or adult and work-based learning environments.

Indicative course content:

Week 1: Induction

• Introduction
• Completion criteria
• Induction activities
• Becoming an online learner
• Discovering Moodle

Week 2: Online/Offline

• Time management
• Models of online learning
• Building on offline teaching skills
• Getting people communicating
• Motivating participants
• Reflective learning

Week 3: Key skills for online teachers

• Designing effective online activities
• Encouraging participation
• Encouraging collaboration
• Summarising
• Weaving

Week 4: Learning Together

• Challenging & questioning
• Evaluating your contributions
• Dealing with inappropriate contributions
• Communities of practice

Week 5: Practical Applications

• Evaluating and promoting deeper learning
• Facilitating your own activity
• Farewells

The course will take up approx. 3-4 hours per week. You should aim to be online several times a week. The course can be accessed from any computer with internet access (home or work) and there are no set times: you can log on and work at times to suit yourself.

Facilitator

Helen Whitehead is an elearning consultant and online tutor. She has trained online teachers, tutors and academicss in schools, universities and colleges in the UK and internationally.

What previous students have said:

• "I thoroughly recommend this course to absolutely anyone who is to be involved in running e-courses. You will be taken through the basics right through to full-blown activities which will let you go through the same steps your learners will have to go through so that you get the chance to see how it all works before being unleashed on unsuspecting students :)."

"The course allows you as a tutor to experience online learning from the learner's point of view. In doing so it encourages you to reflect on your own teaching practice and fully appreciate the benefits that e-learning can add for learners."

"This course has been of immense value in understanding the many facets of online teaching and in developing a practical online teaching toolbox."

For further details please contact us.