1. #FDOL131
unit 2: Introduction to Flexible,
Distance and Online Learning
Prof. Stephen Gomez and Dr Alison Le Cornu
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25 February 13, 7-8pm(GMT)
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#FDOL131
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Flexible, Distance and Online Learning an open course using COOL FISh
http://fdol.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @openfdol #fdol131
Chrissi

2. be creative ;)

3. unit 2
Introduction to Flexible, Distance and Online Learning
Rationale: This second unit explores some of the drivers behind
flexible, distance and online learning. The 21st century has seen a change in
student demographic. The student body is increasingly diverse, for
example, many students are older learners who may have work and family
schedules as well as study commitments, attending traditional face-to-face
classes in a college or university may not always be possible. Ubiquitous
networked computer technology, the growth of the Internet and the widely
use of personalise technologies as well as social media provide multiple-
platforms for cooperation and co-learning has given increased opportunity to
both students and educators, in a time of increasing uncertainty in the
educational landscape. Participants will be encouraged to explore some of the
drivers behind these changes from a personal, institutional and international
perspective and challenged to explore a variety of learning and teaching
approaches that support aspects of FDOL.
Chrissi

4. unit 2: activities
• Google communities discussions
• Getting together in PBL groups
• Autonomous learning opportunities
• Unit 2 webinar
Chrissi

5. unit 2 presenters
Dr Alison Le Cornu Prof. Stephen Gomez
Academic Lead for Flexible Learning Academic Lead for Online Learning
Higher Education Academy, UK Higher Education Academy, UK
alison.lecornu@heacademy.ac.uk Stephen.Gomez@heacademy.ac.uk

6. Flexible learning: What?
Where? When? How?
Dr Alison Le Cornu, FHEA
Academic Lead: Flexible Learning February 25th
2013

7. Flexibility in your practice
8

8. Flexibility in…
• Pace of learning.
• Pathfinder projects.
• Flexibility within the curriculum.
• Place of learning.
• Employer engagement projects.
• Mobile learning.
• Mode of delivery.
• Technology-enhanced learning.
Dr Alison Le Cornu, FHEA

9. Student-centred learning?
Geraldine O‟Neill and Tim McMahon, 2005.
The personalisation of learning.
Dr Alison Le Cornu, FHEA

10. Why do we need flexibility?
• Students now consumers?
• Individuals becoming the „hub‟ of their existence
• Andrew House, CEO Sony: “The living room is no longer the center of the
PlayStation universe, the gamer is.” Feb 20th 2013.
• Chaging behaviours
• Ease of access
• Mobility
• Ability to share content and experiences
• Connectivity and ease in which they connect
• Consumer-centric
• Console or hand-held
Dr Alison Le Cornu, FHEA

11. Diversity of students
• Part-time
• International
• Adults, mature learners
Dr Alison Le Cornu, FHEA

12. Enhancing and developing
flexibility
• Institutional infrastructure and systems
• Transfer of credit
• Students need to develop a „flexible mindset‟
• Academic staff need to acquire skills (and imagination!)
Dr Alison Le Cornu, FHEA

13. Flexible learning at the HEA
flexible.learning@heacademy.ac.uk
alison.lecornu@heacademy.ac.uk
Subscribe to the Flexible Learning mailing list by going to:
https://my.heacademy.ac.uk/. Create your personal account,
and go to „Subscribe to Bulletins‟. Tick „Flexible Learning‟.
Let us know what flexible initiatives your institution is taking.
Dr Alison Le Cornu, FHEA

14. FDOL Unit 2: Online Learning
• Professor Stephen Gomez
• FDOL131 Unit 2 – University of Salford • 25 February 2013

15. Importance of digital technologies in
HE
 Digital internet technologies have transformed society and the world of
commerce.
 Use of IT in HE – slower appreciation.
 UK HEIs still largely wedded to traditional approaches.
 New technologies in education can potentially:
- extend the reach of HE
- increase the range of ways of delivery HE
- provide new ways of interacting with learners
- access non-traditional learners
 Online mode of learning
 The social web
 Open Educational Resources
 HEA – highly active in supporting digital literacy of the HE community
16

16. learning and teaching online
benefits challenges
17

17. What help would you need?
18

18. Addressing the challenges
Examples of two challenges that we are addressing:
 Production of online materials
 Professional development of staff in online learning
approaches
19

19. Online resources - OERs
Open educational resources (OERs) are free and openly
licensed educational materials that can be used for
teaching, learning, research, and other purposes.
Pod- Khan
YouTube Photos Academy
casts
Presen
Assess- Hand-
t-
Disciplin ments outs
e ations
Virtual Dia- MIT
reposito grams OCW
labs
-ries eg
Humbox Anima-
iTunesU JORUM
tions Open
Online edX/
data /
MOOC Publish-
courses Coursera
ing

20. Benefits of Open
Economies of scale: Not having to re-invent the wheel.
Peer review of teaching materials: improves standards.
Marketing: Promotional tools.
Increase enrolment: taster courses.
Student satisfaction: Access to more and varied learning
materials.
Community building: Encourages communities of practice.
21

21. Changing the Learning Landscape
(CLL) – Step Change
22

22. Target groups
• Curriculum & teaching
development roles
Developers • Professional support roles
across professional and
academic contexts
• Teaching staff
• Module leaders
Academics • Programme leads
23

23. Education developers
24

24. Academic programme
25

25. Professional development
activities
One-day
workshop
Online
activities
Online
resources
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources 26

26. Any questions?
Happy to address any questions now or
through email later.
27

27. FDOL131 updates
unit 2: week 2 now
•Google + community
•PBL group spaces
•PBL groups to get together agree working practices
next week: break or catch-up > preparation for unit 3
unit 3: starts on the 11th of March
•groups to pick a story and start learning together
•unit 3 webinar in week 2
Chrissi and Lars

28. Lars

29. COOL FISh
Facilitator:
Lars

30. #FDOL131
next webinar
unit 3: collaborative learning and communities
Sue Beckingham
18 March 13, 7-8pm (GMT)
Thank you for
joining us today
and see you online
Flexible, Distance and Online Learning an open course using COOL FISh
http://fdol.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @openfdol #fdol131

31. #FDOL131 organisers
Chrissi Nerantzi Lars Uhlin
Academic Developer Educational Developer
University of Salford, UK Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
FDOL organiser FDOL organiser
PBL facilitator PBL facilitator