EBSN Professional Development Series for Basic Skills Teachers



Implemented by: EBSN Secretariat

Approaching Digital Teaching & Learning

General Information

Target audience:

Basic Skills Teachers / Tutors / Adult Literacy Instructors / Adult Educators

Course date:

29 March 2023 – 30 May 2023

Course status:

Closed

Certificate of Completion:

Participants completing the course will be awarded in the following ways:

1) Digital Certificate on Completing the Course: Approaching Digital Teaching & Learning

Criterion 1: accessed each of the content pages in the MOOC.

Those who meet this criterion will receive a digital certificate automatically at the end of the course. The certificate will certify that the participant has completed the course and engaged with all elements of the course thematics / content.

2) EBSN Badge on Professional Development Series: Approaching Digital Teaching & Learning

(Only for those completed criterion 1 and received Certificate of Completion)

Criterion 2:  completed knowledge checks (quizzes) and submission of at least 1 meaningful and relevant post in the forum discussions every week (corresponding to the thematic questions of the week, altogether minimum 4 entries within the course course).

This will prove that the participant reflected on the course content from the perspective of their own practice and were able to apply newly gained knowledge and insights in their own context.

The Professional Development Series is an initiative of the European Basic Skills Network to support adult educators and teachers as well as other personnel in basic skills education and training to develop their skills and methods to effectively help people progressing on their upskilling pathways. Within the project supported by ERASMUS+, a series of OERs and MOOCs are being developed. It is also an ambition of the partnership to establish Microcredentials which are awarded to those successfully completing MOOCs.

“Approaching Digital Teaching & Learning” is one of the courses which is being implemented and tested with adult education professionals as participants, in the period of 8 weeks.

Course objectives

This course has specifically been designed to assist tutors of basic skill in using digital skills to enhance their teaching practices when working with adults of basic skills. It provides an introduction to technologies used in the blended learning classroom and will equip tutors with the tools to evaluate the use of technology in their teaching context. 

It has been developed as part of the EBSN project in tandem with South East Technological University (SETU) (formerly Waterford Institute of Technology) and the School of Education and Lifelong Learning.

Course results

By the end of this MOOC, you will be able to: 

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of digital pedagogical practice
  2. Assess key digital technologies and identify how to integrate appropriate digital technologies for blended learning purposes
  3. Identify strategies to increase learner interaction with technology.
  4. Implement digital teaching practices

Course format

The MOOC will be implemented as an 8-week long 4-unit online course (2 weeks for each unit, with a workload of app. 6-7 hours/unit; a total of 25 hours equivalent to around 1 ECTS), self-instructed study with self-checks as well as moderated thematic forum discussions and 3 live webinars via Zoom with a tutor. The webinars will take place at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the course.

The MOOC on Approaching digital teaching and learning will include an ample variety of learning resources brought together from international setting, presenting best teaching strategies and practices. The presentations, videos and other resources are becoming available every two weeks

Key themes of the course

Unit 1: Digital basic skills

Unit 2: Planning blended learning courses

Unit 3: Engagement of adults of basic skills

Unit 4: Preparing for blended learning

Assignments & Assessment

During this course you will come across several Knowledge Checks which are short quiz questions to check your understanding of various topics. Please try your best to answer these and revise the relevant section if you come into difficulties. In addition to this, you will be asked to reflect on your teaching practices using the newly gained knowledge.

Each unit will have a workload of between 6-7 hours.

Detailed course objectives

 

Unit 1: Digital basic skills

Unit’s objectives:

  1. Understand the concepts of elearning 
  2. Understand the impact of using blended learning for basic skills learners
  3. Find and evaluate digital technologies appropriate to the basic skills classroom.
Unit 2: Planning blended learning courses

Unit’s objectives:

  1. Understand how to apply the blended learning wave
  2. Understand the importance of  constructive alignment in blended course design
  3. Be mindful of the potential disadvantages of blended learning courses.
  4. Be mindful of the potential disadvantages of blended learning courses.
    Unit 3: Engagement of adults of basic skills

    Unit’s objectives:

    1. Define engagement in the classroom and its importance
    2. Understand the difference between effective and ineffective online teaching
    3. Explore the benefits of  emoderation in blended course
    Unit 4: Preparing for blended learning

    Unit’s objectives:

    1. Understand the importance of the role of the instructor in blended and online courses.
    2. Be mindful of the inclusion of media in your course.
    3. Use storyboarding as an effective means of planning blended learning courses.

    Registration

    Facilitator

    Tanya Agius