14 September – 20 September

Welcome to Open Networked Learning!

First please watch the course introduction film.

During this week the focus is to get familiar with the learning spaces you will be using on the course. This is a week for trying out the different tools and platforms we will be using on the course. Next week you will be connecting with your PBL groups and getting to know each other.

Activities for all learners

Getting started with ONL202: main course site

All the information you need about the course is available on this main course site. The ONL site is where you will find information and guidance for participation in the ONL202 course. The site also serves as a blog where the course team regularly posts information about the course

  • Read through information on the course site, most information that you need should be there!
  • Please read the information about your privacy: Privacy and ONL.

Watch a short introduction film about the main ONL course site.

The video is from the #ONL192 iteration. The structure of the #ONL202 is the same though and the video can help you to get an overview anyway.

Learning blog – reflection

The course reflections are an important part of your learning process. In ONL you will publish your reflections on each topic on your own blog. Five blog posts are required if you want to receive a certificate for the course. Instructions and suggestions for this will be posted for every topic.

Read about, discuss and familiarize yourself with the ONL design and ONL learning activities including using the FISh model for collaborative inquiry.

Twitter (optional)

It will also be useful to use your Twitter account or create one and follow @OpenNetLearn which is ONL’s Twitter presence. The hashtag of the course is #ONL202. Additional conversations linked to ONL will happen there. The ONL Twitter feed is also displayed on the ONL homepage. Watch the following film to get an introduction to Twitter:

Additional activities for institutional and open learners (part of a PBL group)

Getting started with the ONL202 community space

All institutional learners will receive an e-mail invitation with a link to join the ONL202 community space and need to create a user account. If you do not receive this please contact your institutional course leader. If you are an open learner, your account was created during the registration. If you have questions regarding this as open learner, please contact Lars Uhlin. Once you created your account you have access.

In the ONL202 community space most of the course activities, discussions and sharing will take place. All institutional and open learners on the course will belong to the main ONL202 community. Independent learners will not have access to this space. In the ONL202 community space you will also find your PBL group space. In this closed group for your PBL group most of the course work will take place. Groups can post their collaborative PBL work and can share and discuss in their own environment. Here are a few things you should do:

  • Present yourself in the ONL202 community space by writing an update
  • Update your user profile in the top right corner of the ONL202 community space. The course will be much more meaningful and enjoyable if we take the time to get to know each other and share some information and a picture of ourselves!
  • Check the other learners’ introductions in the community and comment if you would like to.

Watch the following video for an introduction to the #ONL202 community space and what you can in it. Similar as above, the video is from the #ONL192 iteration. The structure of the #ONL202 community space is the same and the video can help you to get an overview of it.

Getting started with Google Drive

Google Drive is a place where you can store files, documents and folders and share them with your colleagues. You will be using this in your PBL group work, writing collaborative documents and sharing meeting notes and slideshows etc. In order to use Google Drive, you need a google account. If you have a @gmail.com email address, you also have a Google account. The Google account does not neccessarily have to be a @gmail.com e-mail address, though. You can create a google account and access Google Drive without a @gmail.com e-mail address. If you do not have a Google account sign up for one here. Here is a film to help you get started with Google Drive.

Help

If you have any questions about using the learning spaces mentioned above or any other difficulties in getting started with the course we have arranged a number of drop-in video meeting times where one of the course team will be waiting to help you. Click here for starting the Zoom support ONL202 Helpdesk (use passcode 732 733 – only available during the times listed below).

The helpdesk times will be scheduled as follows (check time zone converter):

  • Monday 14/9 11.00 – 12.00
  • Tuesday 15/9 11.00 – 12.00
  • Wednesday 16/9 09.00 – 10.00
  • Thursday 17/9 13.00 – 15.00
  • Friday 18/9 11.00 – 12.00

All times are Central European Summer Time – CEST.


AIMS


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

  • familiarize yourself with the learning spaces and tools for the ONL course
  • make your first contribution to the ONL202 community
  • familiarize yourself with how to use Google Drive for collaborative writing
  • start your own blog for individual reflection on the course topics and connect it to the course homepage

 


Check-list

  • Read the course information under About ONL
  • Create a Google account
  • Introduce yourself in the ONL202 community
  • Reply to other participants’ introduction posts in the ONL202 community
  • Familiarize yourself with Google Drive and how to share documents
  • Set up your learning blog and connect it
Suggested reading

Open Networked Learning: Challenges and Opportunities. Blog post by ONL student, co-facilitator and contributor Kay Oddone (Queensland University of Technology, Australia)