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Pre-induction supports for flexible learners: the head start online MOOC pilot. A practice report

Brunton, James ORCID: 0000-0001-7223-0524, Brown, Mark ORCID: 0000-0002-7927-6717, Costello, Eamon ORCID: 0000-0002-2775-6006 and Farrell, Orna ORCID: 0000-0001-9519-2380 (2018) Pre-induction supports for flexible learners: the head start online MOOC pilot. A practice report. Student Success, 9 (2). pp. 1-7. ISSN 2205-0795

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Abstract

This practice report discusses the development of the Head Start Online MOOC. This initiative targeted flexible learners, defined as adults engaged in part-time or online distance learning, during the initial stages of the study life-cycle. Drawing on the literature, the experiences of major international Online and Distance Learning (ODL) providers, and a set of overarching design principles, the MOOC (Massive open online course) was developed with a suite of digital readiness tools at its heart. These tools were combined with other supporting materials in order to deliver a comprehensive pre-entry socialisation course. A small pilot of Head Start Online ran over five weeks with 150 people enrolled and 50 going on to receive a certificate of completion. The feedback received, albeit limited by the numbers of respondents, indicates that a course that strategically uses digital readiness tools can have a positive impact on new and prospective flexible learners.

Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Subjects:Social Sciences > Education
Social Sciences > Educational technology
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > NIDL (National Institute for Digital Learning)
Publisher:Queensland University of Technology
Official URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.5204/ssj.v10i1.434
Copyright Information:© The Authors
Use License:This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. View License
ID Code:22832
Deposited On:07 Dec 2018 14:17 by Thomas Murtagh . Last Modified 16 Apr 2021 13:29

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