Register today and strengthen your online learning understanding with our four MOOCs
AU has been a global leader in distance education since those early days and is committed to nurturing the development of supportive learning communities. We currently have four massive open online courses (MOOCs) running to support those who may be looking to better their teaching or understanding of learning in an online space.
Understanding challenges to fully online learning
To gain a better understanding of what some of the challenges are and identifying strategies to become better equipped to manage fully online learning, these MOOCs give learners information that they need to be successful in fully online learning. Drawing on the work that has been done for the MOOCs by members of AU’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences‘ Centre for Distance Education, Dr. Marti Cleveland-Innes, Dan Wilton, Dr. Nathaniel Ostashewski, and Carmen Jensen-Tebb, below are some of the challenges to consider when shifting to fully online learning:
- Technology access: What resources are available? What is the internet connection like? Is there internet at all? Does the person have the device they need (i.e., laptop or smartphone)? Understanding access and how to enable it is important before coming up with solutions to create and move learning activities full online.
- Design: Creating online learning activities means designing the courses with pedagogical principles of integrating technology that supports learning and the learner in a meaningful way.
- Safe and security: This speaks to an understanding of cybersecurity best practices as well as academic integrity and the more social aspects, including bullying. Having systems built-in, awareness, and mechanisms for intervention are crucial.
- Skill development, support, and training: Students and instructors need to have a certain level of technological competency and literacy.
- Individual mental and physical readiness: This is particularly important in considering the shift to online. Motivation and well-being all factor into the ability and willingness to move fully online, especially in light of the current pandemic response.
MOOC information
Identifying and overcoming challenges can help the shift to fully online learning. If you’re wanting to learn more about how to better equip yourself, the below listed MOOCs may be right for you! These free courses are running right now and you can register at any time while the course runs.
Introduction to technology-enabled learning runs from January 10 to February 13, 2021, and you can register in this free course at any point during its run time. This course is primarily aimed toward teachers who want to build on their knowledge and practice in teaching and learning with technology.
Designed to accommodate teachers’ busy schedules, the course offers flexibility with options for learning the content. You will learn from readings, videos, discussions with other participants and instructors, meaningful exercises, quizzes, and short assignments.
Learning to learn online runs from January 18 to February 21 2021, and is a free course. You can register at any time while the course runs. This course is recommended to both students and teachers who are looking to understand how learning works in an online space.
LTLO explores the fundamentals of the learning process and various models of online courses to determine your learning preferences and which forms of online learning are best for you. Activities will address common misconceptions, frustrations, and fears about online learning, and introduce techniques to help overcome such obstacles and gain confidence as a learner.
Blended learning practice runs February 7 to March 6, 2021 and you can register at any point during the course. This course is an introduction to blending technology and distance education teaching strategies with traditional, in-person classroom activities. This course is open to teachers and other educational professionals considering implementing blended learning practices into their own classrooms or programs.
Learning to learn online express runs February 22 to March 21, 2021 and focuses on the transition to online learning, designed especially for youth aged 14 to 22.
This course will focus on all the things nobody ever told you about online learning: what the whole experience of learning online is really like, the new kinds of relationships you’re going to with have your teacher and classmates, and how to keep yourself motivated and moving ahead down the tracks towards your goal. Moving your education online can mean adopting a whole new approach to learning, one with more independence but also more responsibilities in deciding when, where, how, and perhaps most importantly, why you’re learning online.
