Upskilled Building an online learning community Leanne Courtney Head – Business Faculty Operations Manager

Upskilled RTO since 2010 Over enrolled students to date In excess of 7000 certificates issued Moodle LMS since 2011 Traditional classroom training Over 90% now online learning

Research Graduate Certificate in eLearning – very practical assignments lead the design principles used Building Online Learning Communities Rena. M. Palloff and Keith Pratt Creating a Sense of Presence in Online Teaching R. Lehaman & S. Conceicao

Moodle Vision – Stage 1 Start Here Orientation Video LLN Student Handbook RPL Skills Assessment Individual Learning Contract Watch & Learn TED/Youtube Podcasts Lynda.com PowerPoints Screencasts Read & Learn Recommended Readings/Text books E-Text Blogs Web links Interact & Learn Chat Discussion Forum Weekly Webinars Show us what you have learnt Assessment Self Reflective Journal

eLearning 2.0 Principles Student Knowledge Builder Student focussed Trainer Critical Friend Co-Learner Structure Not self- paced Not content driven Design Not criss- crossed Linear format not vertical Information presented sequentially

What have we learned? Build trainer and student social presence in Moodle Use Social Media – which is great for after hours support Social Media Community Management Build an online learning community Maintain the student’s original enthusiasm Trainer’s role is that of a Mentor –Create a Mentor Plan with student Set the trainer communication parameters early Frontload Trainer & Student Support Use Training Timetables Send Reminder s Rolling enrolments problematic – use set start date Assessment Due Dates Trainers need to facilitate and promote further online discussion Make forum participation compulsory, use open ended questions Trainers are reticent themselves – need training and monitoring Asynchronous Discussion Forums Offer extra mentoring – Specialised Additional Mentor Role Personalise communication – do not automate your s Monitor last log in dates and use Engagement Analytics Chase disengaged students early Live but recorded with Guest Speakers Students lack technology required to be vocal in webinars, use polls and question/chat boxes for engagement Weekly Webinars Mentoring skills required not just for trainers but support staff also Big difference between online v’s classroom trainers Psychology of online learners ( I wish I knew more) Soft skills

Proshaska’s Stages of Change Pre- contemplation ContemplationPreparationActionMaintenance It’s a circle! It never ends!! Student progress then they lapse, progress then they could lapse again. AGH! Student’s progress dependent on support offered to them through these potential lapses LAPSE

Gamification - Use Moodle Badges and Link student success to social media, LinkedIn, Facebook Build collaborative assessments Stay in touch with eLearning and online learning developments Stay curious and passionate about online learning for VET Trainer’s tool for student collaboration and engagement PILOT use of 5 Stage Model E-tivities E-moderators NOT trainers Professor Gillian Salmon Webinars Build product Build our knowledge What’s next?