Title: Stage 2: Course Design and Technology

Description: MStage 2 is focused on how we make the fundamental design choices about our courses whether the courses are face to face, blended, or fully online. If you really want to just get on with Vula (Moodle) then your decisions behind what happens in Vula (Moodle) will be better ones after this stage. During the stage we will use Vula (Moodle) for our communication, then towards the end of the stage we will consider how we can make good choices about Vula (Moodle) tools for teaching and learning.

Stage 2 Outcomes: On completion of this stage, participants will have:

- considered their assumptions about how students learn
- been introduced to the concept of pedagogic strategies
- chosen the features (characteristics) of their course
- applied the concept of affordances to the issue of tool choice
- used the Moodle Tool Guide as a practical application of affordance analysis

Category: EdTech-UEM: Eng — Note: This suite of modules is also available in Portuguese.

Why this course? This course arises in the context of the expanding possibilities for blended teaching and learning created by the EdTech-UEM sub-program. The goals of EdTech-UEM are consistent with the UEM strategic plan which includes the importance of integrating technology in teaching and learning. The pioneering work in several UEM units on the use of ICTs for teaching and learning, notably the Faculty of Education and the Centre for Distance Learning (CEND), dates back a few years, but progress has always been limited by infrastructure, resource constraints, Internet access and the experience and knowledge of lecturers.

    Thus, other components of the EdTech programme include the rehabilitation of communication networks within UEM, an increase in bandwidth and improved management capacity, and an increase in the computer equipment available within Faculties and Schools, as well as scholarships for graduate studies in the field of educational technologies. As a purpose, it is intended that most teachers and students of UEM will have access to the benefits of technological integration in their courses. At the most practical level this will mean that UEM teachers design their courses well for blended (and in some cases online) teaching and use the Moodle-based Vula platform courses to support learning by their students.

    The planned roll-out of the EdTech-UEM staff development course in the blended mode to all the UEM campuses was delayed by the advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The course has now been adapted for fully online provision, and the roll-out phase is able to commence online. The course will also be provided in a blended face-to-face format when conditions allow. Comments and input from participants will be important contributions to the further revisions and institutional adoption and sustainability.

Course Design and Technology
Essential Stage 2 and Support Information
  About Stage 2
  Glossary of Terms
  Supporting Course Resources
  Moodle HELP
Staying in Touch
  Announcements
  Stage 2 General news and announcements.
  Moodle FAQs & Tips
  Open Space Forum
  Stage 2 achievements, discoveries and questions ab...
Preparation BEFORE Stage 2
1. Introducing Stage 2 and Understanding our Students
  Design and Technology - Session 1 (sync - 90 mins)
  Stage 2 Live Session 1
  Topic 1 Learning Resources and Activities
  Focusing on Learning: Significant Learning
  Now undertake Activity 2.1: Review the course...
  Understanding Student Learning
  Next, complete Activity 2.2: Using Personas to und...
  Reminder: Moodle FAQ & Tips Forum – this ...
  Activity 2.1: Review the course learning outcomes from your own course
  Activity 2.2: Using Personas to understand student learning
2. Learning Theories, Strategies, and Affordances
  Design and Technology Session 2 (sync - 90 mins)
  Stage 2 - Live Session 2
  Topic 2 Learning Resources and Activities
  Reviewing a few important learning theories
  Continue to Activity 2.3: Thinking about our Pedag...
  The concept of affordances
  During the live session, undertake Activity 2.4: W...
  Finally, continue reflecting on your learning in A...
  Activity 2.3: Thinking about our Pedagogic Strategies
  Activity 2.4: What are forums, blogs, and WhatsApp good for?
  Activity 2.5: Mid-stage reflection
3. Moodle Tools, Course Characteristics / Features
  Course Design and Technology - Session 3 (sync - 90 mins)
  Stage 2 Live session 3
  Topic 3 Learning Resources and Activities
  Introduction to the Moodle Tool Guide
  Consider your course characteristics
  Work on identifying the characteristics of your su...
  Activity 2.6: Consider your Course Characteristics / Features
4. Choosing Tools, Consolidation and Evaluation
  Course Design and Technology Session 4 (sync - 90 mins)
  Stage 2 - Live session 4
  Topic 4 Learning Resources and Activities
  Moving from Characteristics to Tools
  Undertake Activity 2.7: Mapping course characteris...
  Moodle Basics Lesson
  Practical: Try out some Moodle tools in your own c...
  Finally, complete Activity 2.9: Stage 2 Eval...
  Activity 2.7: Mapping course characteristics to potential tools
  Activity 2.8: Explore some basic Moodle ‘Resource’ tools
  Activity 2.9: Stage 2 Evaluation / Feedback
Stage 2 Closing
Mid-course Consolidation Period (between Stages 2 and 3)
  Part 1: Stage 2 Consolidation - Practical (asynchronous)
  Part 2: Mid-course Consolidation - Reflection (asynchronous)
Learning Pathways (Recommended preparation for Stage 3)
  Recommended activity: Learning Pathways (asynchronous)