Continuing Professional Development
Using VLEs in my teaching
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
This course explores understandings of effective learning environments, both physical and virtual, and looks at the potential benefits of using a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) in a school setting. You’ll consider tools or functions commonly found within a school or Local Authority VLE, explore how pupil activities employ these tools, consider their relevance and value, and use them to devise activities to support your own teaching. You’ll finish by assessing the effectiveness of these activities in terms of pupil learning and teacher workload. This course is aimed at practitioners across primary and secondary phases, and is delivered through The Open University’s own VLE.
Course content
This course is part of a suite of Continuing Professional Development courses (see our website) for school practitioners that directly link to their professional practice in the classroom.
The course offers you opportunities to experience, as a learner, a range of different VLE tools. You will consider criteria for an effective learning environment and how these might best be realised in a VLE. You’ll also be encouraged to share your experiences with colleagues, and to make recommendations for future use of a VLE.
You will learn to:
- identify the different components of a VLE and explain the function of each
- suggest criteria for successful use of VLE tools in teaching and learning
- critically examine different uses of VLE tools and consider the extent to which these provide effective learning experiences
- devise activities to support pupil learning using different components of your school VLE and evaluate these in terms of pupil learning.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. The course will take 30 hours to study and includes web text, collaborative activities, self assessment questions and activities. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the protected course website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify course materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (Note: the course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to be working in an educational environment and the course assumes a familiarity with educational terminology.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course is delivered wholly online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some course material or some course activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our booklet Meeting Your Needs. You can obtain a copy by contacting our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Course materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the course forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The work-based activity for this course is a written report or presentation and has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity that you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your professional work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate that you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or a professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
Study explained
- Special fee arrangements
- - the OU has relationships with many professional bodies, and as part of those relationships members may be entitled to special fee arrangements.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
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Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
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