FET4640 Teaching and Learning in a Flexible Environment

FET	4640	86590	1, 2009	WEB	Teaching and Learning in a Flexible Environment	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:	070109

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

STAFFING

Examiner: Peter Albion
Moderator: Petrea Redmond

OTHER REQUISITES

Students cannot gain credit for the same program for FET3210 and FET4640. As the assessments in this course are context-based, it is necessary that participants have a sound appreciation of or access to an actual instructional situation in a formal education, community or industry setting. 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

Flexible teaching and learning environments are becoming increasingly common in all educational environments including schools, post compulsory educational institutions and workplaces. This course is intended to introduce participants to the concepts and practices of flexible learning. Engagement with the course is intended to be both theoretical and practical in nature.

SYNOPSIS

Flexible learning is fast becoming a key agenda of those involved in education and training contexts. Participants will identify the key elements which underpin a successful flexible teaching and learning within online environments, and analyse potential barriers and opportunities within their context. Participants will plan and create a flexible learning course relevant for their educational context. In addition they will participate in online dialogue and critically evaluate and give feedback about the flexible environments created by their peers.

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 successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1.: demonstrate an understanding of contemporary developments, issues and practices, flexible learning (Assignment 1)
2.: identify and analyse the key principles and elements which apply to implementing flexible learning in a given context, including potential barriers and affordances (Assignments 1 and 2)
3.: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the range of flexible learning tools, media and applications relevant to your instructional context. Apply this knowledge and understanding to the planning, construction and implmentation of a flexible learning initiative for your instructional context. (Assignments 1 and 2)
4.: participate in online discussion forums (Assignment 1 and 2)
5.: develop online learning experiences (Assignment 2).
6.: demonstrate competence in and appropriate use of language and literacy, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and bibliographic referencing. (Assignment 1 and 2)

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Emerging perspectives and issues in flexible learning	10.00
2.	Principles and elements of flexible learning	15.00
3.	Tools, media and communication technologies	35.00
4.	Planning and implementing a flexible learning experience.	40.00

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).

There is are no prescribed texts in this course.

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.

Whether you are on, or off campus, the USQ Library is an excellent source of information http://www.usq.edu.au/library. The gateway to education resources is http://www.usq.edu.au/library/faculties/education/default.htm

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Assessments	60.00
Directed Study	105.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
ASSIGNMENT 1	20.00	20.00	23 Mar 2009	(see note 1)
ASSIGNMENT 2	20.00	20.00	04 May 2009
ASSIGNMENT 3	60.00	60.00	12 Jun 2009

NOTES

1.: APA style is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use APA style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The USQ library provides advice on how to format information sources using this system. http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/ehelp/ref_guides/apastyle/default.htm

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. This course contains a discussion forum where students' participation is formally assessed.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks available 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 summative 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.

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/).
Students can expect that questions in assessment items in this course may draw upon knowledge and skills that they can reasonabley be expected to have acquired before enrolling in the course. This includes knowledge contained in pre-requisite courses and appropriate communication, information literacy, analytical, critical thinking, probelm solving or numeracy skills. Students who do not possess such skills should not expect to achieve the same grades as those students who do possess them.
Students are expected to use the APA referencing system.
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 28 Aug 2009.