FET5600 Online and Distributed Learning

FET	5600	70161	3, 2007	WEB	Online and Distributed Learning	1.00	Toowoomba
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOEDU
Academic org:	FOE003
Student contribution band:	National Priority Teaching
ASCED code:	070303

Staffing
Other requisites
Rationale
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Other requirements
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Petrea Redmond
Moderator: Shirley Reushle

OTHER REQUISITES

State law in Queensland (Australia) requires that all adults working/undertaking professional experience/researching with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland are required to possess a current suitability card (Blue Card). (See "Other Requirements" for further information.) Also see: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html

RATIONALE

Online and distributed learning environments are becoming increasingly important for both learners who wish to access flexible learning opportunities and providers who wish to service educational markets beyond traditional systems and behaviours. Online and distributed learning strategies are also becoming increasingly popular for servicing on-campus learners and other distributive activities of provider organisations.

SYNOPSIS

This course explores the value and uses of distributed and online learning as a possible response to the delivery challenges of the emerging educational environment. From this historical platform, participants then consider the make-up of the online and distributed environment, looking at the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders who support and utilise this technology-enhanced approach to learning. Participants will clarify and understand the role that technology may or may not play in the support of effective learning and will be expected to take a critical look at online and electronic environments, developing criteria and skills for evaluating such learning environments. The skill and ability of the online facilitator is important to the success or otherwise of online and distributed learning environments. Learners will look at what makes for successful facilitation of online environments and explore strategies for engaging learners through the electronic medium. Making our learning environments flexible and attractive is a popular aspiration of many current teachers and providers. However, the challenges in terms of articulating flexible and responsive assessments are an elusive and challenging consideration. This learning package will take this challenge into discussion and collaborative analysis. In collaboration with its participants, this course is about constructing knowledge, skills and attitudes that will support professional activities in building, managing and assessing online and distributed learning environments.

OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. On completion of this course students will be able to:

identify the key philosophies and theoretical foundations that support successful online and distributed learning. (Reflection 1)
demonstrate skills in facilitating and managing online learning. (Facilitate virtual discussions)
demonstrate an understanding of the process of collaborative and generative learning. (Facilitate virtual discussions)
critically review and discuss design principles for online and distributed learning environments. (Assessment 3)
analyse best practice principles for implementing and managing online and distributed learning environments. (Assessment 3)

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Principles underlying the construction of online and distributed learning environments	25.00
2.	Roles and responsibilities within online and distributed learning environments	25.00
3.	Facilitating online and distributed learning environments	25.00
4.	Managing online and distributed environments	25.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Assessment	35.00
Directed Study	130.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date
ASSIGNMENT THREE	45.00	45.00	12 Feb 2007
REFLECTION ONE	15.00	15.00	02 Dec 2007
FACILITATE VIRTUAL DISCUSSIONS	40.00	40.00	14 Jan 2008

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. Generally, participants are encouraged to participate in all course discussion via the Internet. With relation to the assessment item FACILITATE VIRTUAL DISCUSSIONS, participation is compulsory in order to meet the specific assessment requirements.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least a grade of C- for each assessment item.
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks or grades obtained for each of the assessment items in the course.
Examination information:
There is no examination in this course.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
University Regulations:
Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

1.	NB: It is strongly recommended that learners have knowledge of or access to an education/training environment in order to address the requirements of assessment in this course.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students enrolling in WEB courses MUST have ongoing convenient and reliable access to the Internet in order to access course materials and participate in activities that will affect assessment. The levels of equipment required may change from time to time, with the most recent specification listed at http://www.usq.edu.au/currentstudents/computingstandards/default.htm. You can check whether your computer system meets these requirements from USQAssist (http://usqassist.usq.edu.au/).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc..) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html. *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the state of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.

This version produced 20 Dec 2007.