During the first week it is very important that you allocate time to get to know the learning environment and tools and that you join ONL communities and connect with your peers. Investing time in this helps you get over some of the thresholds for participation in ONL.

Start-up activities for all learners

ONL162 course community
The ONL162 community in Google+ is where you can connect with all ONL162 participants and facilitators. This is where much of the course communication, discussion, sharing and networking will take place.

• If you have not yet joined the community; go to ONL162 community and “ask to join” and we’ll let you in as soon as possible.
• Present yourself in the ONL162 community (make a post in the category “Introductions”)
• Take part of the presentations by the other learners and comment if you would like to.

ONL course site
The ONL site is where you will find information and guidance for participation in the ONL162 course. The site also serves as a blog where the course team regularly post information about the course

• Look at the ONL introductory film guiding you through the different sites and tools that you will use.
• Read through information on the ONL162 course site, most information that you need should be there! If you don´t find it, please ask facilitators or fellow participants.
  – Overview and schedule ONL162
  – How to participate and course requirements
  – Tools
  – and of course this topic page where you can see what to do
• Subscribe to updates in order to be alerted when there is a new post from the course team; at the start page add your e-mail in the box to the right and click “follow”.

Activity Tracker
The Activity tracker will help you to keep track of your activities during the course as well be used for certification at the end of the course.

• Go to the Activity Tracker form and read through the introduction. Bookmark this so you can easily find it!
• Fill in your basic information including the link to your blog page.
• You can also check that you have done what you are expected to do during topic 1.
• You can return to your Activity tracker when you want using the same Google account.

Learning blog – reflections
The course reflections are an important part of your learning process, please read more about ONL learning blogs here. Keeping a learning blog is one of the requirements to get a course certificate.

• Set up your own blog to be used for your reflections during the course.
• Add your blog address to the Activity tracker.
• You are encouraged to make a first blog post about your expectations, hopes, fears, etc. and initial experiences of joining ONL162.

Readings and resources
For each topic there will be a list of resources be presented. Please check out the readings for topic 1.

Start-up activities in PBL groups

• During the first week of the course PBL groups will begin to form and plan for the collaborative work. It is essential that you are present and active in this important first phase of forming and starting up your group work.
• On Monday 26th September you will be invited to join a PBL group in Google+.
• Please join the PBL group you have been assigned to as soon as possible.  Present yourself to start connecting!
• As a starter for introduction and discussion in the PBL group you may briefly address things like:
  – who you are as an individual in the digital age and your journey so far.
  your expectations, hopes, fears
  – what ONL might mean for your development.
  Comment on the posts of your peers
• A facilitator and a co-facilitator in each group will guide and support you and take the lead for the start-up e.g. invite to a first online synchronous meeting. The first meeting is about getting to know each other and to discuss how you are going to work together (“setting ground rules”).
• Each group will also have access to a Google drive folder for collaborative work where you also will find some guides and templates to start up your work. Please fill in your contact details in the spreadsheet provided here.

AIMS

By the end of this topic, you will have had the opportunity to:

– familiarize yourself with the learning spaces and tools for the ONL course

– connect with other participants and your facilitators

– learn about and discuss problem-based, open and collaborative learning in the context of ONL

– explore important literacies to survive and thrive in the digital age as learners and educators

– reflect on and discuss your own digital presence and identity as well as your experiences, concerns and challenges

COURSE SYNCHRONOUS ACTIVITY

Introduction webinar – see event

See other events at the  Course overview