UpskilledBuilding an online learning community

Leanne CourtneyHead – Business Faculty Operations Manager

Upskilled

RTO since 2010

Over 12000 enrolled

students to date

In excess of 7000

certificates issued

Moodle LMS since

2011

Traditional classroom

training

Over 90% now online

learning

Research

• Graduate Certificate in eLearning – very practical assignments lead the design principles used

Building Online Learning Communities Rena. M. Palloff and Keith Pratt

Creating a Sense of Presence in Online Teaching R. Lehaman & S. Conceicao

Moodle Vision – Stage 1Start Here•Orientation Video•LLN•Student Handbook•RPL•Skills Assessment• Individual Learning Contract

Watch & Learn•TED/Youtube•Podcasts•Lynda.com•PowerPoints•Screencasts

Read & Learn•Recommended Readings/Text books

•E-Text•Blogs•Web links

Interact & Learn•Chat•Discussion Forum•Weekly Webinars

Show us what you have

learntAssessment

Self Reflective Journal

eLearning 2.0 Principles

Student

Knowledge Builder

Student focussed

Trainer

Critical Friend

Co-Learner

Structure

Not self-paced

Not content driven

Design

Not criss-crossed

Linear format not

vertical

Information presented

sequentially

What have we learned?• Build trainer and student social presence in Moodle• Use Social Media – which is great for after hours support• Social Media Community Management

Build an online learning community

• Maintain the student’s original enthusiasm• Trainer’s role is that of a Mentor –Create a Mentor Plan with student• Set the trainer communication parameters early

Frontload Trainer & Student Support

• Use Training Timetables• Send Reminder emails• Rolling enrolments problematic – use set start date

Assessment Due Dates

• Trainers need to facilitate and promote further online discussion• Make forum participation compulsory, use open ended questions• Trainers are reticent themselves – need training and monitoring

Asynchronous

Discussion Forums

• Offer extra mentoring – Specialised Additional Mentor Role• Personalise communication – do not automate your emails• Monitor last log in dates and use Engagement Analytics

Chase disengaged students early

• Live but recorded with Guest Speakers• Students lack technology required to be vocal in webinars, use polls

and question/chat boxes for engagementWeekly Webinars

• Mentoring skills required not just for trainers but support staff also• Big difference between online v’s classroom trainers• Psychology of online learners ( I wish I knew more)

Soft skills

Proshaska’s Stages of Change

Pre-contemplation

Contemplation

PreparationAction

Maintenance

• It’s a circle!

• It never ends!!

• Student progress then they lapse, progress then they could lapse again. AGH! Student’s progress dependent on support

offered to them through these potential lapses

LAPSE LAPSE

LAPSELAPSE

• Gamification - Use Moodle Badges

and Link student success to social media, LinkedIn,

Facebook

• Build collaborative assessments

• Stay in touch with eLearning and online learning developments

• Stay curious and passionate about online learning for VET

• Trainer’s tool for student collaboration and engagement

• PILOT use of 5 Stage Model

• E-tivities

• E-moderators NOT trainers

Professor Gillian Salmon

Webinars

Build product

Build our knowledge

What’s next?