Open Networked Learning

The course is aimed at teachers, course designers, educational developers and educational technologists in higher education. It offers opportunities to explore the potential of open networked learning with colleagues from around the world in a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural context. ONL is offered as a freely available open course as well as professional development course in higher education pedagogy for teachers at the collaborating institutions. The course is equivalent to two weeks of full time studies, i.e. 80 hours, and runs for a period of 12 weeks. There are no ECTS credits but teachers can add outputs to their personal development portfolios if they have them.

The course runs online over a period of twelve weeks using open, collaborative learning practices, a problem-based learning (PBL) format and with the aim of building personal learning networks. The studies consist of online work in PBL groups, reading (or otherwise taking part of) learning materials, writing (or otherwise documenting) individual reflections and giving peer feedback in an open international context. Each course topic includes optional common activities such as webinars as a support to the learning process.

The course is structured as follows:

• Week 1: Getting started (1 week).
• Week 2: Connecting (1 week).
• Topic 1: Online participation and digital literacies (2 weeks).
• Topic 2: Open learning - sharing and openness (2 weeks).
• Reflective week.
• Topic 3: Learning in communities – networked collaborative learning (2 weeks).
• Topic 4: Design for online and blended learning (2 weeks).
• Topic 5: Lessons learnt - future practice (1 week).

Learn more about it here.

Learning objectives

The aims of the course are to offer participants opportunities to explore and gain experience from collaborative, open online learning in order to understand the value, potential and challenges of using digital learning spaces to support teaching and learning. The course is also an opportunity to engage in internationalisation at home.

The objective of the course is for the participant to acquire knowledge, understanding, skills and abilities in order to be able to:

• Explain, discuss and reflect on different aspects of online learning such as digital literacy, collaborative learning and openness.
• Critically reflect on questions concerning open networked learning related to their own teaching practice

Competences

• Digital skills
• Creativity & problem solving
• Communication & collaboration
• Intercultural skills

Requirements

The course is for anyone supporting open and networked learning. Some knowledge and experience of higher education pedagogy is recommended.

• Selection strategy: First come, first served.
• Number of participants: Open to everyone.
• Certificate/ECTS: Participants will be rewarded a certificate.
• Language: English.

This activity is part of Work Package 2.