Open University course to help educators with distance teaching

The Open University (OU) has developed an Online Teaching microcredential to equip those teaching in a higher or further education setting with the practical skills to create online courses and teach adults online. The microcredential is open for enrolment now onsocial learning platform, FutureLearn.com, and teaching commences on the 8th June 2020.

The closure of education settings due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a "hasty pivot to distance learning, leaving many teachers and universities feeling underprepared", the Online University said.

Online Teaching: Creating Courses for Adult Learners, is a credit-bearing course that allows learners to explore various practical technologies for supporting online and distance learning in specific contexts, drawing on a range of experiences and research. The course covers online assessment, supporting diverse learners online, selecting learning technologies and designing accessible and engaging online activities.

Alongside leading distance learning experts, learners will investigate the benefits and challenges of various approaches to online learning that will not only be of use during the coronavirus crisis, but will have long-term career value beyond lockdown.

The Online Teaching: Creating Courses for Adult Learners microcredential, worth 15 academic UK credits at postgraduate level, is designed for
anyone working in, or looking to work in, a higher education setting as a teacher, trainer, learning designer, educational technologist, head of department or institution leader.

This course is part of The Open University’s ongoing support internationally to both learners and teachers in the Higher Education and Further Education sectors, to share its knowledge and expertise in the development of high quality online teaching, supported by academic research.