How to get the most out of this course

How is the weekly course content structured?

At the beginning of each week you will be introduced to the content by the lead educators, they will talk you through the key themes for the week and outline the learning aims.

The course is designed for you to work through it step-by-step, week by week. You have the opportunity to engage with a range of learning materials such as written articles, videos and discussions. There are also quizzes which provide you with the opportunity to test your knowledge and a short assignment (week 2) where you’re invited to share some of your work with a fellow learner and give feedback on the work of a peer.

At the end of each week you will find a summary of what you’ve covered from a lead educator.

How much time do I need to spend on the course?

We think you will need approximately three hours per week for the three weeks to engage with the learning material. You may find it most effective to spread your time over the week to get the most out of the discussion forums as it will allow you to reflect on the responses of your fellow learners.

What resources do I need?

The course includes some video and audio so before you begin, make sure the computer or device you’re using has the ability to play video and audio and you have access to speakers or headphones.

How can I get the most out of the discussions?

The discussions are a key part of learning on this course and we believe that you will gain more from the course the more you engage with your fellow learners. Some discussions prompt you for your initial thoughts and some require you to engage with the learning materials before participating. Each step has a comment section, but you will not be required to comment on all steps. If a step does require a comment, you will be instructed to write one.

Here is some guidance on how to get the most out of social learning and how to get started with writing comments and replies on the discussion forums.

5 useful tips and tools for social learning

Getting started with comments and replies

Will the educators see my comments?

In some discussions, the educators will read and respond to the comments. Other discussions, however, encourage peer-to-peer discussion, meaning the educators may not respond. It is still important to engage yourself in these discussions, and support your fellow learners.

Introduce yourself and meet your fellow learners

Get started with discussions now by introducing yourself! Click the link at the bottom of the page or next to the page title at the top. You could tell us why you decided to join this course or what you’re hoping to get from it.

You can follow other learners, like and bookmark comments to refer back to later. As the course progresses this may help you to keep a track of topics which interest you.