The overall aim of this module is to enable you to gain a practical and theoretical understanding of central themes in the field of technology supported learning in an online environment.

Learning online requires the same level of commitment as a `face-to-face¿ course. You will receive guidance on how to make the most of learning online, experience is not required though a willingness to get involved is. The course is built around the idea that we learn from each other, through dialogue and through sharing experiences therefore a commitment to regularly engage with others in an online learning space is an essential attendance requirement of the programme.

A GP ASSIGNMT weighted at 25%. A WRITTEN INDIVIDUAL assignment length 1500 WORDS weighted at 75%.

The assessment for this module will be through 2 assignments. Both assignments must be submitted and a pass gained in each.

- 25% Group work Presentation - your contribution to the presentation will be peer assessed (Communication)

- 75% Final assignment - 1500 word individual written assignment. An approach to course design (Application, Reflection and K & U)

Electronic Resources: To access some of the e-journals and bibliographic databases you will need an ATHENS account to request one go to: libraryhelpdesk@staffs.ac.uk

Full text:

* Educause: a practitioner's journal for college and university managers and users of information resources¿information, technology, and services
* Emerald: Full text business related articles: Athens account required
* Infotrac Computer Database: gives full text articles on computing and I.T related issues: Athens account required
* Lexis Nexis: Contains the full text of all major UK newspapers: Athens account required
* Swetswise: This database allows you to search across the full text of many of the e-journals that the Library subscribes to. A very useful resource available from your desktop. Athens account required.
* Taylor and Francis: Articles on a variety of subject areas. Athens account required.


Bibliographic and Citation Databases:

* British Education Index: BEI contains subject descriptions of, and bibliographic references to, significant journal literature relating to education and training. Athens account required
* ERIC: Educational Resources Information Centre, U.S database. Athens account required
* Web of Knowledge: Provides references to articles from a variety of subject areas. Athens account required.
* ZETOC: a database containing all the journals that the British Library holds. While you can only access the contents page it is still a useful tool and offers an alerting service to keep you abreast of new material in your area. Athens account required.

Web Sites and Subject Gateways


* CETIS: Centre for Education Technology Interoperability Standards http://www.cetis.ac.uk/
* Deliberations: A gateway to sites covering educational related material, organizations and resources http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/deliberations/
* HEFCE: Higher Education Funding Council for England http://www.hefce.ac.uk/
* Higher Education Academy: Previously the ILT (Institute for Learning and Teaching) http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/
* Joint Information Systems Committee: JISC supports further and higher education by providing strategic guidance and advice and opportunities to use ICT to support teaching, learning, research and administration http://www.jisc.ac.uk/
* SEDA: Staff education and development association http://www.seda.ac.uk/
* QAA: Quality Assurance Agency http://www.qaa.ac.uk/


Mail Lists

* Jiscmail: Jiscmail lists academic discussion lists by subject http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/
* Cetis: Cetis SIGs (Special Interest Groups) http://www.cetis.ac.uk

Printed & Electronic Journals available in the University Library
* Active learning in higher education
* Assessment and evaluation in higher education
* The Curriculum journal
* Journal of vocational education and training
* Studies in higher education
* Technology pedagogy and education
* Widening participation and lifelong learning
Electronic Only:
* Education journal
* Computer education
* Computers and education
* Innovations in education and teaching international
* Educational management administration & leadership
* Journal of Curriculum Studies
Print Only:
* Research in education : An interdisciplinary, international research journal
* Higher quality : the bulletin of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

The approach the module will use with respect to texts and resources is as follows
* We will indicate available and relevant resources which participants could use to prompt their enquiry, and where possible, we will make these available online via links from the online learning environment. This will include openly accessible documents on the web; journal articles (online and paper-based) available to University staff and students; and books (held by the University Library).
* Any books indicated will be treated as indicative, but not essential, study.
* We expect participants to proactively find other appropriate articles and papers on the web and in journals accessible to them; to critically evaluate them and to (critically) share these with their peers.
* We will encourage and facilitate participants¿ exploration of appropriate journals held by the University and the evaluative comparison of these with openly available web-based resources.

Indicative texts (held by the University Library) include

* Garrison, D. R. (2003) E-Learning in the 21st century : A framework for research and practice. London : RoutledgeFalmer.

* Stephenson John., (2001) ed. Teaching & learning online: Pedagogies for new technologies. London : Kogan Page

* Laurillard, D. (2002) Rethinking university teaching : a framework for the effective use of learning technologies. London : Routledge Falmer

* Salmon, G. (2002) E-tivities : the key to active online learning. London : Kogan Page
* Salmon, G. (2011) E-moderating: The key to teaching and learning online , 3rd edn., London : Routledge
* Beetham, H. (2007) Rethinking pedagogy for a digital age : designing and delivering e-learning. London : Routledge

This module is taught online, which will help you to compare the learning and teaching strategies used with traditional approaches to learning and teaching and will give you the opportunity to gain direct experience of learning online.

Using tasks that will encourage you to find and share appropriate resources that contribute critically towards building the knowledge and practice of your fellow online participants, teachers or facilitators: thus contributing to the development of the community of practice.