Academic Session ACA16
Different Horses for Online Courses: Exploring Project Based Learning in Blended Settings
The approach and findings from the case presented here form an opportunity to discuss multi-disciplinary approaches to learning and progression, particularly for marginalised or at-risk groups. Driving questions include: How can online programmes provide a bridge for blending formal and non-formal learning opportunities with community based partners? What opportunities does this approach contribute to project based learning and assessment that supports student-centred learning decisions? Where are the boundaries of responsibilities in a collaborative and multi-disciplinary blended learning environment?
Marianne Checkley
CEO, iScoil, Ireland
Marianne’s work has focused on developing strategies to increase educational opportunities for all. She has developed a multi-disciplinary approach using digital technology in implementing these strategies and contribute to evidence based theory in the field. Current projects include iScoil, an online learning community providing accreditation and progression opportunities for young early school leavers. The model has evolved to include online and blended learning programmes that support collaborative teaching and project based accredited learning opportunities. She is also part of the team of a new Virtual Community College with a focus on strategies for embedding technology and digital literacy in Community Education programmes. Her main research interest is how to achieve a design, using digital media and online learning, to provide creative, engaging and inclusive learning environments, particularly for those at risk of being on the margins of the digital divide.
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Moderator
Nives Kreuh
Senior Consultant, E-learning, National Education Institute, Slovenia
Nives Kreuh is a Head of e-learning at the National Education Institute in Slovenia. She is doing the national research, strategy planning and implementation of new curricula through teacher continuous professional development in the field of digital pedagogy and e-learning.
She was leading the national E-competent teacher project in which they designed the standard of e-competent teacher, principle and ICT coordinators in schools framework called The Way towards E-competency. She focused on designing key e-competencies and developing the efficient training model called The Way towards E-competency, leading the instructional design and online courses (MOOCs) development for in-service teacher training and professional development to raise pedagogical digital literacy in schools nationwide.
She is the Head of Programme and Organising Committe of the international SIRikt* conference (*Enabling Education and Research with ICT), which is the largest educational conference in Slovenia with around 1000 delegates each year.
She also works internationally as the national expert and is the author of E-Competent Teacher, Principle and IT expert Framework and Designing E-Student Books Framework.