Education

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Academic Counselling for ODL Learners
(2020-11) Mohapatra, Srikant
In the open and distance learning system, the academic counselling sessions are very important. The sessions are meant for Informing, Advising and Counselling. The academic counselling can cover both academic and non-academic components at the various stages like at pre-entry, during entry to the programme, during the course of study, at the time of examination and post-study. The academic counsellors are mostly drawn from the formal higher educational system and the exposure towards ODL system, therefore, is minimal. However, the academic counsellors are the pivotal link between the ODL institution and isolated distance learners. Their role in handling face-to-face and online academic counselling sessions at the study centre is very important. The role of an academic counsellor is multifarious and requires both tutoring and counselling. For maintaining quality in academic counselling, the accumulation of multi-dimensional skills, attributes and information is essential on the part of the counsellor in ODL. Among these, possessing information at various levels about ODL system is an enabling factor to effectively support isolated distance learner. // Teachers/Students/Educational Leaders/ODL Practitioners who want to learn more about the Academic Counselling in ODL will find this Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), Academic Counselling for ODL Learners (AC4ODL), informative and engaging. Using up-to-date learning design and simple, accessible technology, the course runs on an easy-to-use learning platform available via the Internet. The course is designed for Teachers and ODL Practitioners who want to build on their knowledge and practice in teaching and learning. It will run over four weeks and requires approximately three to five hours of time each week. Designed to accommodate learners’ busy schedules, the course offers flexibility with options for learning the content. You will learn from readings, videos, discussions with other participants and instructors, meaningful exercises, and quizzes. Certification is available for those who wish to complete all required exercises and quizzes.
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Advanced Cybersecurity Training for Teachers
(2021-02) Commonwealth of Learning
The shift to digital learning exposes teachers, learners as well as their parents and carers to sophisticated online attacks. Therefore, it is crucial for teachers and educators to be cognisant of these threats and be equipped to defend against them within the digital learning realm. The Advanced Cybersecurity Training for Teachers course is designed to provide teachers with superior knowledge they need to protect themselves and their students online, as well as create awareness for the parents and carers. The course targets participants who have gone through the Cybersecurity Training for Teachers (CTT) course and also those with the background and experience that is relevant to the course, to be able to support ongoing cybersecurity capacity growth in their schools.
Open Access
Authentic Assessment for Online Learning: Course Material
(2023-07) Openo, Jason
This course material provides an overview of learning designs, to help learners conceptualize authentic assessments. Upon completion of this course, learners are equipped with knowledge and practical strategies to design learner-centered digital assessment focusing on academic integrity, engagement, authenticity, and deep learning in the e-learning environment.
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C-DELTA Course Platform
(2018) Commonwealth of Learning
Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA) is a long-term programme of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) to promote digital education environments in Commonwealth nations. This learning platform gives access to the modules on digital education skills to promote leadership and lifelong learning. Teachers and students can register on the platform and assess their digital education skills, learn more to upgrade their current level and receive certification through self-learning.
Open Access
Climate Change and Its Impacts: Adaptation, Mitigation, and Climate Justice
(2024) Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
The course will focus on strategies for adapting to climate change’s impacts, mitigating its consequences, and addressing climate justice issues. Teacher candidates will engage in discussions about various approaches to climate resilience and explore the ethical dimensions of climate change. By examining real-world examples, participants will gain insights into effective adaptation and mitigation practices, preparing them to promote climate justice in their local areas.
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Climate Change Education for Teachers
(2024) Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
The urgency of climate change, marked by human-driven global warming, rising sea levels, and extreme weather, calls for widespread educational reform. The 2022 IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report underscores the critical need for climate change education that enables teachers, students, and communities to understand and address these impacts. Globally, teachers are tasked with embedding climate knowledge and actionable insights into curricula, yet often lack sufficient resources and support. Innovative, localised approaches are essential, allowing teachers to connect climate impacts with students’ own communities and foster individual responsibility. Consequently, the Commonwealth of Learning proposes a six-course diploma programme on climate change education for teachers, with modules at various stages of completion. Grounded in constructivist pedagogy, this programme builds capacities for pre- and in-service teachers. Licensed under Creative Commons-Attribution-ShareAlike, it aims to nurture a community-oriented perspective that emphasises ecological justice and community resilience. Through this approach, teachers and students can engage meaningfully in climate action, transforming awareness into impactful, community-driven responses. The programme can be adapted to suit different institutional contexts.
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COL Video Series: Distance Education Leadership and Management
(2012-07) Lentell, Helen; Abrioux, Dominique A M X; Collinge, Joan; Haughey, Margaret; Keough, Erin; Kwan, Angela; Mead Richardson, Alison; Paul, Ross
Helen Lentell, a Fellow in Distance Learning at the University of Leicester, UK and former COL staff member co-produced this video series with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) through conversations held in July 2012 at COL's Offices in Vancouver, Canada. The videos are open educational resources (OER) and available for download and use by anyone. // 1) Introduction - In this introductory video, Helen Lentell discusses the series of videos she helped produce for COL on the subject of distance education leadership and management. (Duration: 4:32) // 2) Conversation with Dominique Abrioux who has led a large single mode distance learning provision and written extensively about leadership in distance learning. (Duration: 23:39) // 3) Conversation with Joan Collinge who has led and managed large distance learning departments within dual mode provision but with different student bodies and institutional missions and has been very active in the professional bodies of Distance Learning. (Duration: 20:29) // 4) Conversation with Margaret Haughey, who has worked for a number of distance learning providers and had many distance learning roles. She has a background in educational administration and policy. She is currently responsible for all academic affairs at a large single mode provider. She is an active researcher and has been very active in the professional bodies of distance learning. (Duration: 21:23) // 5) Conversation with Erin Keough, who has led and managed large distance learning departments within dual mode provision but with different student bodies and institutional missions and has been very active in the professional bodies of Distance Learning. (Duration 21:07) // 6) Conversation with Angela Kwan, who has set up and led COL’s for profit provision within an organisation that is not primarily concerned with direct course provision. (Duration 14:16) // 7) Conversation with Alison Mead-Richardson, who has worked for many development agencies commissioning distance learning provision and she is also a distance learning practitioner having worked in many and diverse contexts. (Duration 13:16) // 8) Conversation with Ross Paul, who has worked in leadership roles in both single mode and dual mode provision and written about leadership in academic institutions. (Duration 16:46)
Open Access
Commonwealth Certificate for Teacher ICT Integration (CCTI) Course Modules
(2015) Commonwealth of Learning; SchoolNet South Africa
Course Material: The Commonwealth Certificate for Teacher ICT Integration (CCTI) has been developed to improve teachers’ experience teaching in the classroom using a range of information and communication technologies (ICT) appropriately, and increase school manager’s involvement in the ICT implementation process in the school. It challenges school managers and teachers to constantly reflect on what they do in their school and classrooms and how ICT can be integrated into their evolving management and teaching styles. The CCTI has been designed as a distance education course and is aligned with the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers. It is an open educational resource (OER) that the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is making available to teacher training institutions throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. The material can be used as is or can be adopted and/or adapted into existing programmes. The learning materials are developed, tested and revised by SchoolNet South Africa (SNSA) through extensive consultations with teachers and teacher educators around the world. COURSES 1. Professional Development with Technology 2. Designing Learning 3. Technology-Enriched Teaching 4. Education in a Digital Society 5. Innovative Approaches to Learning with Technology 6. Planning Learning Through Projects 7. Managing Technology-Rich Learning Spaces 8. Planning for Technology Integration 9. Change Leadership for Technology Integration
Open Access
Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action
(2017-10) McGill, Lou; Meadon, Liana; Moore, Derek; Gunness, Sandhya; Rampersad, Rubina; Brown, Cheryl; Pancham, Kershan
The Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA) is a programme of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) that intends to promote digital education in the Commonwealth nations. In order to develop Digital Education Leaders (DEL), these modules have been produced by the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching CILT) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in collaboration with COL. The conceptual framework underpinning these modules has been published - see http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/2442. The first three modules are for students, while all the seven modules are for teachers and practitioners.
Open Access
Computational Thinking for Teachers
(2021-06) Bhagat, Kaushal Kumar; Dasgupta, Chandan
This is an introductory course on Computational Thinking designed to support teachers and students to enhance the problem-solving skills required to solve complex real-world problems. It can be applied across all disciplines, irrespective of students’ grade level. This is a PDF version of the course that is available on https://colcommons.org.
Open Access
Creating and Repurposing OER Using FOSS: A How-To Guide for Teachers and Learners
(2017-06) Kasinathan, Gurumurthy; Ranganathan, Sriranjani; Abeywardena, Ishan S
There is a need to promote the creation, revision, publishing and adoption of OER across the world. One way to do this is to make available more digital tools for people to use, create, revise and publish OER. This toolkit aims to promote the creation, repurposing and publishing of OER using free and open-source software (FOSS). // The toolkit has been developed by IT for Change, an organisation working with teachers and school systems to support the use of FOSS for OER creation. The development of this course material was supported by the Commonwealth of Learning, Burnaby, Canada as part of Grant #2015-2585, generously made by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, USA. // The toolkit has been designed to allow each section to be used independently and as a whole.
Open Access
Creating Learning Materials for Open and Distance Learning: Introducing the Commonwealth of Learning Instructional Design Template
(2009) Commonwealth of Learning
Creating learning materials for open and distance learning: Introducing the Commonwealth of Learning instructional design template COL has developed a template for instructional design that helps content developers to convert their subject matter expertise into learning materials. It helps authors incorporate ODL instructional design techniques into their learning texts. Created in just over a year and tested in many countries and institutions with feedback from many instructional designers, this template is truly a collaborative effort. COL hopes that anyone who may feel discouraged from developing ODL learning materials will now feel empowered to begin to do so. COL's Instructional Design (ID) Template: http://hdl.handle.net/11599/469
Open Access
The Culture of Leadership
(2013) Hirtz, Sandy; Munoz, Patricio; Commonwealth of Learning; Virtual University for the Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC)
The Culture of Leadership examines the place of educators and leaders within a rapidly developing global world. This course will provide learners with an understanding of the importance of developing a safe, collaborative and inclusive professional environment. Central to this aim, is the necessity for all educators and leaders to partake in lifelong learning and understand the importance of positive personal and professional values, including effective reflective practices. // This course is action-oriented and will engage learners through scholarly literature, real case studies, diverse narratives and global-focused readings. On completion of this course, educators and leaders will be equipped with the fundamental skills with which to adapt to change in both a confident and flexible manner. // This course forms part of the Master of Education in Educational Leadership developed through the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth.
Open Access
Curriculum Leadership: A Creative Approach to Theory and Practice
(2013) Hirtz, Sandy; Munoz, Patricio; Virtual University for the Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC); Commonwealth of Learning
This course examines the diverse and often contentious field of curriculum studies. This course places curriculum theory and practice within the broader sociopolitical context, drawing upon real case studies from across the world. This course also examines the work of educators and curriculum theorists, both past and present, who have contributed and/or continue to contribute to knowledge within the field. // This course takes a creative approach to curriculum studies. Learners are encouraged to adopt a creative viewpoint, examining key issues and past reform efforts through new and alternative vantage points. On completion of this course, educators and learners will be equipped with the fundamental skills and knowledge to contribute towards curriculum theory and practice within their professional environment. // This course forms part of the Master of Education in Educational Leadership developed through the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth.
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Cybersecurity Training for Teachers (CTT)
(2020-11) Commonwealth of Learning
To mitigate the effects of school closures as a result of COVID-19, digital platforms have been variously adopted by governments to enable teachers to deliver blended or full online lessons to the learners. In many families in the developing Commonwealth, learners are increasingly accessing online learning and assessment resources using devices owned by parents or older family members. // The shift to online learning presents various security threats to teachers, learners as well as their parents and carers as they are now more prone to cyber-attacks than before. Recent reports show a spike in cybercrime since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, making cybersecurity a key concern for educators. // The Cybersecurity Training for Teachers (CTT) course is designed to provide teachers with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and their students online, as well as create awareness for the parents and careers. // The course targets secondary and primary school teachers as well as teacher educators and will run over four weeks. It will require up to five hours of time each week. Participants will learn from articles, case studies, videos, as well as discussions with fellow learners and mentors.
Open Access
Deconstructing the Digital Natives Discourse
(2014-07) Bullen, Mark
In this video, Dr. Mark Bullen looks at the Digital Natives discourse, the idea that young people are fundamentally different than previous generations because of their exposure to digital technology. He suggests we should be skeptical of the key claims associated with this discourse because they are not supported by empirical research. (Duration: 7:57). // Issues in eLearning & Distance Education Video Series, by Dr. Mark Bullen, Education Specialist for eLearning at the Commonwealth of Learning. Produced by the Commonwealth of Learning, July 2014. // Resource contains a video link as well as a PDF document of the transcript.
Open Access
Foundations of Educational Leadership
(2013) Felicien, Anthony; Andimignon, Merina; Jawawi, Rosmawijah; Virtual University for the Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC); Commonwealth of Learning
This course will introduce leaders to the concepts and principals of educational leadership. This course will provide learners with an overview of the roles of educational leaders and the impact of educational leadership on the society and educational system. This course will explore different theories and models on educational leadership and the impact to the individual, organization and society. It is a course that will challenge learners to reflect upon theory and practice and apply the principles, concepts and framework to real world situations. // This course forms part of the Master of Education in Educational Leadership developed through the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth.
Open Access
The Future of Education in the Developing World
(2014-01) Barrett, Claudette L; Virtual University for the Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC); Commonwealth of Learning
Education is essential to social and economic development, especially for citizens in developing countries. The future is changing so dramatically and quickly that it poses more challenges for current educational leaders. They are educating students for the unknown. Hence, educational leaders need to explore the necessary changes and challenges that their educational systems are faced with now; and how innovation can be used to inform their future. In order to achieve a sustainable future for their community this course will help educational leaders explore the trends, issues and practices that impact the future of their educational systems. // This course forms part of the Masters Degree in Educational Leadership developed through the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth.
Open Access
Graduate Diploma in Open School Operation and Management
(2015) Mitchell, Jean; Roman, Martsie; Richards, Griff; Helder, Ralph; Carbol, Barry
This diploma is a seven-module diploma that can be adapted for separate certificate programmes. // The diploma includes: Module 1 - Foundations, History and Evolution of ODL and Open Schooling; Module 2 - Open School Systems and Models; Module 3 - OER Design, Development and Publication; Module 4 - Management; Module 5 - Student and Faculty Support in Open Schools; Module 6 - Open School Management; Module 7 - A Major Project // This graduate programme will prepare administrators, support staff and faculty to effectively plan and manage the day to day operations of an open school using a variety of delivery technologies and pedagogical methods. // Brochure with further details about this diploma is accessible at: http://hdl.handle.net/11599/2720
Open Access
Graduate Diploma in Open School Operation and Management
(2017-03) Commonwealth of Learning
This diploma is a seven-module diploma that can be adapted for separate certificate programmes. // The diploma includes: Module 1 - Foundations, History and Evolution of ODL and Open Schooling; Module 2 - Open School Systems and Models; Module 3 - OER Design, Development and Publication; Module 4 - Management; Module 5 - Student and Faculty Support in Open Schools; Module 6 - Open School Management; Module 7 - A Major Project // This graduate programme will prepare administrators, support staff and faculty to effectively plan and manage the day to day operations of an open school using a variety of delivery technologies and pedagogical methods. // Diploma accessible at http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/2726