Introduction

This course aims to combine practical tips with underlying principles for designing online learning. This could be a single online facilitated training event, or a supported programme of self-guided learning over several days or weeks, or a mixture of both. It includes learning where all participants and the trainer are online at the same time (synchronous) and those where participants work with provided materials at different times to fit into their own schedules (asynchronous).

The course consists of five main sections that can be studied independently, and in any order – you may wish only to focus on one or two sections that are particularly relevant to your context. Each section is designed to take about an hour to work through if your English is fluent. If you do work through most of the sections, the final activity will give you a chance to bring your learning together into some conclusions for your own practice.

Throughout Take your training online you will find activities that ask you to provide responses or comments in a text box which are then stored within the course itself, only viewable by you. Note that you must click 'Save' for each activity response you make before you can move to another section.

We have also included a glossary of important terms and concepts, which are in bold when they are first introduced in each section. If you click on one of these bold words, it will take you to the glossary.

If you work through all the sections and the final activity, you will be able to claim a Statement of Participation for completing the whole course. If you wish to do this, you will need to enrol so that we can track and record your progress.

As part of the course, you will learn how to make your own simple, short videos. The optional forum section gives you an opportunity to upload your video, sharing your experiences of taking your training online.

This course is an adaptation of the Open University course Take your teaching online but, as the amended title indicates, with the emphasis shifted from teaching in schools and colleges to the world of training, and specifically training by NGOs and charities.

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, you should be able to:

  • develop and use learner profiles to better understand learner needs and identify potential barriers to online learning
  • understand the value of different types of learning activity for effective online training
  • select and use appropriate online tools for communication and collaboration with and between learners
  • identify and evaluate sources of online resources that are appropriate for reuse in your context
  • make informed decisions when choosing ways to enhance, adapt or create training for online delivery.

Now, choose your first section to get started.

Active content not displayed. This content requires JavaScript to be enabled.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).