The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is offering a hands-on, activity-based course to help teachers in the Pacific and beyond learn more about the issues that need to be addressed if institutions are considering mainstreaming open and distance learning (ODL) provision. For example, it could be part of a longer-term strategy for greater resilience in the face of any future campus closures, for whatever reasons, or perhaps as a strategy to reach learners not being reached by more traditional provision.

Mainstreaming Open, Distance and Flexible Learning (MODFL) for Pacific Countries will be offered from 26 June 2024 to 17 July 2024 and requires a weekly time commitment of about five hours. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion.

This new course is designed to help education officials and teachers gain a deeper understanding of ODFL as a mode of provision, including its underpinning theories and how it has evolved over time. It is envisaged that by demonstrating that ODFL is both a field of study and an approach to educational practice that is supported by theory, participants will become more intentional in their choice of models of ODFL to implement in their contexts.

The course is offered under the Partnership for ODFL in the Pacific – a five-year project funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade to support enhancing capacity and efficiency of education sectors in the Pacific through greater use of innovative delivery mechanisms and technology.

Dr Tony Mays, COL Education Specialist: Open Schooling and one of the project leads, observes: “The new course is designed to elevate the discussion of ODFL from approaches which we can learn from if campuses ever need to close again to one where ODFL might be considered a mainstream option to address the needs of learners that are not being met by more traditional approaches.”

For more details or to register, please visit: https://mautic.oeru.org/modfl-2406

To download the brochure, click here