Open Networked Learning
The course aims to offer participants an opportunity to explore and gain experience from collaborative, open online learning to better understand the value, potential, and challenges of using digital learning spaces to support teaching and learning. This course is relevant for teachers, course designers, educational developers, and learning technologists in higher education.
Description
This course is a thematic course, focusing on how available digital technologies can support course design and enhance opportunities for collaboration, engagement, and learning. The course is designed using a problem-based learning approach, which engages learners in small groups to collaborate – through discussion, experience sharing, and collective learning.
The course is a collaboration with other universities in Sweden and abroad (currently Finland, Singapore, South Africa, and Switzerland). As such, it offers a great opportunity to learn with colleagues from around the world in a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural context!
The course runs online over a period of twelve weeks using open and collaborative learning practices, a problem-based learning (PBL) approach, and aims to build personal learning networks. The studies consist of online work in PBL groups, reading learning materials, writing individual reflections, and giving peer feedback in an international context. Each course topic includes optional course-common activities such as webinars to support the learning process.
Course Dates
The course runs from 16 September – 8 December 2024.
There is one compulsory face-to-face meeting via Zoom or in Lund on
17 September from 13:00-14:30. The location and/or Zoom link will be provided in the welcome letter sent to accepted participants.
While this course runs online, participants are expected to actively engage in their assigned problem-based learning groups. Thus, weekly online presence via Zoom is required, as well as asynchronous work contributing to the functioning of the group. These meeting times and tasks are determined by the group at the beginning of the course.
In addition, the course offers various webinars as course-common events. The dates for these events will be published on the course website.
Scope & Assessment
The course is equivalent to two weeks of pedagogical training, amounting to 80 hours of full-time work. To receive a certificate, course participants shall demonstrate achievement of the intended learning outcomes by:
- Actively participating in the assigned problem-based learning group, contributing to both synchronous and asynchronous work, creating presentations, giving feedback, and sharing responsibility for the functioning of the group.
- Writing a reflective piece for each topic (equivalent to at least 400 words per piece), supported by references to relevant literature and other resources.
- Commenting on at least one reflective piece by peers for each topic.
If a participant does not complete a course within the specified time, all course components must be submitted within three years of commencement in order to receive a course certificate.
To receive a course certificate, the participant shall demonstrate an ability 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 one’s own teaching practice.
Knowledge and experience of higher education pedagogy are recommended.
The course builds on open educational resources, all of which are available through the course website. Additional resources are collected and shared by course participants in the course community.
Who is this course for?
This thematic course is suitable for anyone interested to learn more about how to use digital tools for teaching and learning. We welcome a wide range of participants, including teachers, course designers, educational developers, and learning technologists in higher education.
This course is especially suited for individuals that:
- Are exploring innovative ways to integrate digital tools into their teaching practice.
- Seek to enhance their digital literacy to better facilitate student engagement and learning.
- Wish to develop a global network of colleagues and share cross-cultural insights.
- Require professional development in the use of technology for teaching and learning in higher education settings.