Graduate Certificate in Online Learning (Higher Education)

Introduction

The University of Adelaide's Graduate Certificate in Online Learning (Higher Education) is an initiative to promote excellence in university teaching.

The GCOL program is presented within the CLPD, with the award to be conferred by the University's School of Education in the Faculty of the Professions.

The aim of the program is to assist staff in further developing their expertise in the field of online learning and teaching practice and research.

The program is the equivalent of one semester of full-time study (12 units), and participants will progress at the rate of one 3-unit course per semester. The four courses which make up the program are:

• ICT Literacy in Higher Education
• Online Learning Design, Assessment and Evaluation
• Online Learning Communities
• The Changing Nature of Educational Research

All courses in the program will be undertaken completely online, including scheduled live online classroom sessions.

Program Syllabus

ICT Literacy in Higher Education

3 units  |  Semester 1
An estimated 144 hours, undertaken completely online, including scheduled live online classroom sessions.
Prerequisite: none
Assessment: Online participation, peer review and collaboration, and a 2000 word assignment. Non-graded pass.

This course examines the technological implications of online learning within an educational context. It focuses on learning management systems (LMS) and other educational technologies which support both asynchronous and synchronous interactions among teachers, students and content within higher education. The participant will gain an understanding of how various online educational technologies enhance a constructivist and student-centred approach to higher order learning.

Online Learning Design, Assessment & Evaluation

3 units  |  Semester 1
An estimated 144 hours, undertaken completely online, including scheduled live online classroom sessions.
Prerequisite: none
Assessment: Reflective activities, online participation, peer review, and the development of an e-assessment task. Non-graded pass.

This course incorporates online instructional design considerations which take into account learning styles and a constructivist, student-centred approach to higher order learning, as well as current research and development in scenario-based learning, online roleplay simulations and virtual classrooms. It also includes strategies on making assessment part of the learning process and promotion of learning through effective online assessment including collaboration, groupwork, discussion boards, exemplars and rubrics. Evaluating the impact of the online course design and assessment on student learning is a third and critical component of this course.

Online Learning Communities

3 units  |  Semester 2
An estimated 144 hours, undertaken completely online, including scheduled live online classroom sessions.
Prerequisite: none
Assessment: A reflective journal, online participation, and a 2000 word peer reviewed project report. Non-graded pass.

Learners to be both independent thinkers and interdependent, collaborative workers. A community of learners is a critical component of higher order learning and the technologies of online learning allow for both private reflection as well as public discourse. This course will expand on how online learning communication technologies are changing cognitive and pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning. It also examines a community of inquiry framework which can be considered when planning and delivering online learning. Effective online facilitation techniques will be incorporated. Cultural implications will also be covered.

The Changing Nature of Educational Research

3 units  |  Semester 2
An estimated 144 hours, undertaken completely online, including scheduled live online classroom sessions.
Prerequisite: none
Assessment: Annotated bibliography, online participation and peer review, 3000 word major assignment. Non-graded pass.

This course overviews various research methodologies used in higher education and explores how online technologies are impacting on these research methods. It also identifies emerging technology-enabled research methods including collaborative, interactive and open access research.

Assumed Knowledge

It is assumed that applicants will be involved in teaching within higher education and have had some exposure to online learning management systems as a teacher and/or learner. Applicants should also be familiar with standard desktop software applications.

Fees

In 2012, up to five University of Adelaide teaching staff will be offered fee-waived course places. These places are only available to staff on continuing appointments and, if there are places available, to staff on fixed term contracts. Enrolment for these five fee-waived course places will be conditional on approval by the Head of School, Executive Dean and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic). Please note, the allocation of fee-waived course places is subject to continuing contractual employment with the University of Adelaide.

If a Faculty approves more than one application, and if the total quota of five participants is exceeded, the Executive Dean will be asked to rank the applications in order of merit and/or suitability for selection for the program. Some Faculties may, in addition, fund further course places.

Current postgraduate course fees apply for all participants who are not eligible for a fee-waived course place. The cost for the Graduate Certificate in Online Learning (Higher Ed.) will be $6500 (GST free), or $1625 (GST free) for each of the four courses, in 2012.

Course Dates 2012

All courses in the Graduate Certificate in Online Learning (Higher Ed.) will be undertaken completely online, including scheduled live online classroom sessions.

Semester 1

ICT Literacy in Higher Education.
This course will be completely online & will commence on Monday 5 March 2012.

Online Learning Design, Assessment and Evaluation .
This course will be completely online & will commence on Monday 5 March 2012.

Semester 2

Online Learning Communities.
This course will be completely online & will commence on Monday 1 August 2012.

The Changing Nature of Educational Research.
This course will be completely online & will commence on Monday 1 August 2012.

To Apply

Applicants must use the appropriate application form, which may be downloaded below or obtained in hard copy from:

Deadline for Applications
The closing date for applications for enrolment in Semester 1, 2012 is Tuesday 1 November 2011.
Late applications may be considered.

Please address applications to:

Brochure

Brochure

Application Form

Application Form

For further information contact