Purpose
The initiation phase of Transform (during 2013) is organized so
that six selected 48 credit point ‘chunks’ of learning (one from each Faculty) are
planned for online implementation from 2014. This means that learning
experiences from each Faculty’s nominated Graduate Certificate award will be
designed for learners to access through a range of digital interfaces.
Principles
Principles for the design of these online learning experiences are
based on the successes afforded by our new physical learning environments and
the principles that underpin our student success and real world learning
initiatives at QUT. Our intention is
that these principles are translated to digital learning experiences aligned to
QUT’s branding. This mean that QUT’s
online learning experiences will be designed to:
- be inquiry-based around real world challenges
- offer flexibility for learners
- allow for collaborative learning between peers (with varying degrees of synchronicity)
- allow for contact between learners and experts (with varying degrees of synchronicity)
- allow us to curate learning resources and experiences in meaningful and coherent ways
- enable learners to provide evidence of their learning
- provide appropriate guidance and support for learners
Support and Resources
In order to support the purpose of this initiation phase the QUT
Transform Team (including twelve Transformational Learning and Teaching Fellows
in collaboration with six Faculty-based course teams) will develop:
- an outward-facing online environment to engage learners wherever they are located at whatever times they may wish to take up learning; the platform will
- allow for learners to interact with each other and with QUT experts
- allow for the curation of resources and provide support to assist learners to achieve their learning aspirations
- incorporate a Portfolio to allow learners to gauge their readiness for new learning based on prior course and work-based experiences. It will also provide a place where learners can collate and provide evidence of their learning in ways which may assist them to gain an accredited awards further along their learning pathways
- include eCommerce solutions (including pricing structures for learning experiences)
Outcomes of initiation phase
Our hope is that, by the end of this year, each Faculty’s course
team will produce, with the support of the Transform Team:
- a plan for the equivalent of 48 credit points of learning experiences to be delivered online. The plan is likely to include:
- a map of proposed learning experiences with a synopsis of each experience outlined, and
- a version of the map that can be used to show learners how their learning could build to an accredited award (where one is offered).
- the detailed design and production of a number of learning experiences for offer from 2014,
- a framework to assist learners to provide evidence of their learning which would qualify them to seek credit towards an accredited award
- a schedule for the proposed roll-out of further learning experiences so that learners, once engaged, can continue in the field they have chosen.
How are we tracking?
We’re well underway. Our
course teams are adapting to thinking about the experiences we can offer to learners
in new and different ways. Course teams
are getting their collective heads around who their learners could be and how
we might best meet these learners’ aspirations in ways which remain true to
QUT’s mission and values. We are prototyping
online ‘shopping-like’ platforms for offering learning experiences and we’re
talking with colleagues across the University about pricing models, marketing,
communication, IP, ways to support learners, means of achieving course learning
outcomes through a new model of delivery and business solutions which are lean
and easy on learners.
Our focus is on our learners, as it always will be. Through this lens we hope that the knowledge,
skills and expertise of QUT’s disciplines can be brought to many more learners
than those students who are fortunate enough to live within daily travelling
distance of one of our campuses.
Onward and upward! Please
be in touch if you have ideas and advice that will help QUT reach a whole new
cohort of learners.
Sue Savage
Director, Learning and Teaching Transformation
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