Preparing to Learn Online at University

This is a wonderful course to start within the field of online learning. It has a very systematic approach to educating the subscriber about the basic processes involved in learning online. From the very first activity, the course helps to uncover and learn the new methods and approaches of online learning. The course targets different sources of online learning and also explains how the effective methods can be used to watch, listen, read and research online sources.
Reflection and its importance in learning are explained in a very interesting way. The collaborative activities and how they can be used in an online version is also one of the very interesting aspects of this course. Finally, the uses of resources and employing critical thinking while researching them have very efficiently been explained and delivered to the participants of this course.

Despite my experience of online teaching during the pandemic using Zoom platform, I found this course enlightening and enhancing my skills and knowledge, both for online and offline teaching and learning. It has added to my practice of note-taking and motivated me towards writing reflective logs. I was able to broaden my horizon regarding the difference between online and offline group work, especially due to the global perspective of the population involved. As a result, the tips and tools for communication and collaboration highlighted in this course are advantageous for all environments. Also, research online material will definitely help me in critical thinking concepts and online searching. This course has established the groundwork for attempting further courses online.

Useful course. It did not feel like doing the course on my own in some ways because of being able to read another person's thoughts at the end of each page and add my own.

I thought I knew the basics of how to write in an online chat, but I learnt a fair bit. It could also be seen how the contribution of others in the comments sections became better as the course went on.

I had never come across critical thinking properly before either and this course touches on it well.

Finally my research skills were put to the test and because earlier in the course I had learnt about different reading techniques I conduct the task quicker and with more confidence than I would have done having not worked through what preceded it.