#FDOL131

Flexible, Distance and Online Learning an open course using COOL FISh http://fdol.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @openfdol #fdol131

an open course using Problem-based learning

28 May 2013

#FDOL131 organisers and facilitators

Chrissi Nerantzi Academic Developer University of Salford, UK FDOL organiser PBL facilitator

Lars Uhlin Educational Developer Karolinska Institutet, Sweden FDOL organiser PBL facilitator

Maria Kvarnström Educational Developer Karolinska Institutet, Sweden PBL facilitator

#FDOL131

ABOUT:

• flexible, distance and online learning

FOR:

• teachers and other professionals who support learning in Higher Education

FORM:

• trial a group based learning approach in an open course (COOL FISh)

• opportunity for teachers to connect worldwide

• open for everybody

• model the use of freely available technologies to support open online mobile

learning

LMS? FDOL? MOOC?

FDOL overview

Unit 1 (1 week): orientation

Unit 2 (2 weeks): introduction to FDOL

Unit 3 (2 weeks): collaborative learning and communities

Unit 4 (2 weeks): supporting learners

Unit 5 (2 weeks): open practices

Unit 6 (1 week): celebrating learning

Chrissi

COOL FISh

Step 1: Focus

What do we see?

How do we understand what we see?

What do we need to find out more about?

Specify learning issues/intended learning outcomes

Step 2: Investigate

How and where are we/am I going to find answers?

Who will do what and by when?

What main findings and solutions do we/I propose?

Step 3: Share

How are we going to present our findings within the group?

What do we want to share with the FDOL community?

How can we provide feedback to another group?

What reflections do I have about my learning and our group

work?

linking spaces: important!

http://fdol.wordpress.com/

communities

FDOL131 community space

FDOL131 PBL group 1

PBL group 1 hangout

FDOL131 unit 1: orientation webinar

guest speakers FDOL131 webinar (unit 3)

FDOL131

• Registered before start: 80 (PBL groups: 64 (core: 46

peripheral: 18) + autonomous 16)

• Not confirmed to PBL groups or early drop-outs : 22

• Signed up in FDOL131 Google+: 45

• Participants in webinars: 10-20

• Participants who completed: 16 (20%)

#FDOL131 PBL group 1, unit 3:

• course was challenging but rewarding

• everybody who engaged throughout in the PBL groups learnt

• useful to be a learner and experience difficulties in preparation for teaching online

• progressively developed confidence as an online learner

• developed better understanding of how to use tech more effectively in own practice (Google apps seemed to work well also on mobile devices, extending opportunities to engage)

• exploring opportunities for application in own practice

• community feel was important > how to achieve this?

– getting to know each other through synchronous online ‘events’ such as hangouts and webinars made a huge difference, hearing a voice, seeing a person made it human

– increased commitment when you know the others

– bonding happened through engagement

– learning to trust

– more early hangouts were suggested

• COOL FISh simple and effective for online settings: speeded up working in groups, to keep on track, experience PBL

• tutor support was vital, knowing that there was somebody there when needed, especially at the beginning

• suggestion: more peer-to-peer learning and feedback with other groups

• suggestion: central feedback space, group buddy system could be developed

summary of participants’ experiences shared during unit 6 webinar

LMS? FDOL? MOOC?

#FDOL132

Flexible, Distance and Online Learning an open course using COOL FISh http://fdol.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @openfdol #fdol132

starts Sep 2013