eLearning Academy For Educators

This module will allow learners to acquire a better understanding of what it means to teach and learn in the 21st century. Learners will recognize the challenges faced as a 21st century teacher and will develop a vision for teaching and learning in the 21st century.

Learners will also do a thorough analysis of the elements of the connected classroom and will create activities that can be utilized in the connected classroom. The capacity of learners to teach in a virtual learning environment will be developed.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze the elements of the connected classroom;
• Develop a vision of teaching and learning in subject specialization for 21st century learner in a connected classroom;
• Develop critical thinking in 21st century education;
• Apply elements of engagement theory and 21st century learning to engage students in effective learning in the connected classroom;
• Create activities for the connected classroom;
• Analyse the virtual learner environment;
• Use virtual learning environment in teaching and learning.

This module addresses ways of working with the digital tools and networks to which learners have access to in their contexts in order to enable them to create and manage their own online presences and footprints, and to exercise control over their expression of this digital identity (or identities).

This module also focusses on the processes of finding out which resources are available in their contexts, which skills they need in order to acquire the necessary capabilities to draw on these resources, the development of understanding how these resources are used in practice in their particular contexts, and the development of capabilities to evaluate, combine and create new resources.

Learners will also discuss ways of interacting with networks in a manner that is meaningful and purposeful. This entails constructively sharing information, knowledge and resources.

Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate personal digital literacy.
• Acquire strategies to develop digital literacy of others.
• Demonstrate understanding of digital identity and how it can be consciously and sub-consciously developed.
• Demonstrate an awareness about equity/inequity of access to resources.
• Understand the benefits and challenges of using open education resources.
• Reflect on their existing learning networks.
• Expand their digital networks.
• Discuss their contribution to changes in digital education.
• Identify how forming part of a network helps to build capacity.

In this module learners will explore the issue of assessing ICT integration and assessing ICT related teaching and learning. Learners will be exposed to tools that can be used in this assessment process. They will be required to use the insights into assessment gained from module one to explore tools and strategies to assess key skills related to ICT.

Learning Outcomes

• Develop a cross curricular approach to assessment;
• Employ various assessment methods for ICT integration;
• Develop a set of assessment guidelines for assessment during ICT integration;
• Identify ICT-related standards for assessment of ICT integration.;
• Evaluate the use of assessment tools for ICT integration;
• Design and assessment tool to gauge information literacy;
• Discuss ways of assessing critical thinking and creativity in ICT based teaching and learning;
• Discuss the role of feedback in assessment;
• Provide appropriate feedback to lesson plans and assessment tools.

The EdTech Maker Space (ETMS) process is designed to add a layer of engagement around teacher professional development through awareness that the effort put forth by participants will result in meaningful contribution and reusable learning objects to other educators.

As a result of this aspect of co-creation, ETMS projects can spark interest not just from those looking to build new edtech skills, but those who already possess skills using specific tools and are looking to participate in projects that support other educators and, ultimately, learners.

This course is designed to provide learners with a start-to-finish overview of the steps to run their own EdTech Maker Space.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the value of the EdTech Maker Space process to education.
• Plan their EdTech Maker Space process for their educational context.
• Identify needs and content options for the development of a Maker Space project.
• Evaluate edtech tools for suitability in Edtech Maker Space project design.
• Design learning resources and guides to support Edtech Maker Space.
• Design training resources and inclusive learning experiences for instructors’ use of Edtech Maker Space.
• Develop evaluation guidelines for digital educational content to be applied to the Edtech Maker Space.

Audio Video Production is a foundational course for learners who are interested in A/V (audio/visual) production occupations. It meshes the two skills of Audio and Video to help individuals produce work of exceptional quality for education as well as wider consumption.

In this course the learner will be able to manage a production, from initial stages to the conclusion, making use of audio-visual production methods and procedures. The learner will demonstrate effective use of production hardware and software and apply a digital non-linear editing system to develop and publish their product in an appropriate format for distribution.

Learning Outcomes

• Plan an audio-visual production.
• Use appropriate software to complete pre-production activities.
• Engage in production activities.
• Shoot material for educational video.
• Employ the appropriate steps for video editing.
• Publish audio visual product in appropriate distribution formats.

This course is designed to develop educators’ competencies in creating engaging visual products to support student learning. Participants will firstly explore the use of free and open-source software to create industry standard digital graphics products.

Secondly, participants will explore tools for developing animated sequences for instruction. These include open source and freemium software that can be used online or as third-party tools. Learners will also be required to manage a short-animated production, from initial stages to the conclusion, making use of 2D animation production methods and procedures.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the tools and features of Graphic Design Software to work to create graphics for the classroom.
• Apply the appropriate design principles to create professional imaging products. 3. Use ready-made animation products in instruction.
• Design an animated production for instruction.
• Develop a script for an animated production.
• Use appropriate software and tools to create an animated production for instruction.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning and research materials in any medium – digital or otherwise – that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open licence that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation, and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions (UNESCO).

These resources have had an immense impact on education, especially over the past two years during COVID-19 school shutdowns. Generally, these resources have been known to expand access to learning, augment learning materials and enhance regular classroom content.

In this course learners will explore the OER construct with the goal of moving their organisation towards the process of adoption. Learners will curate, create and implement OER within their organisations. Learners are expected to engage in a process of evaluation and reporting on the impact of their project.

Learning Outcomes

• Define Open Education Resources (OER) as it relates to your context.
• Discuss the value of OERs in supporting resilience in education in the OECS context.
• Apply principles of OER in the development, repurposing and distribution of digital education content.
• Use different licensing frameworks in the application of OERs in your contexts.
• Apply effective strategies for searching digital education content.
• Employ knowledge of instructional design to evaluate digital education resources.
• Design digital content to meet learner needs, learning styles and intelligences.
• Develop a clear framework for adoption of OERs in your contexts.
• Implement OERs in their educational context.
• Report on impact of OERs in their educational context.

This programme is intended for teachers, educational administrators, individuals working in education, human resource personnel and generally anyone who has an interest in conducting instruction and training within the online context.

The eLearning Academy for Educators runs for a single semester.

Upon completion of Stream One, participants will receive a Certificate in Technology Enabled Instruction. from the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. This certificate is supported by micro-credentials based on the competencies acquired for each module.
Completion of Stream Two will grant participants credentials in Creative Content Development.
Stream Three does not yield any credits.

This programme is funded by USAID and World Education. Participants who qualify will receive a scholarship to cover all tuition costs.

This programme employs a blended approach to instruction. Participants will engage in scheduled webinars for each module. Participants will also interact with module resources on our online portal. Participants will also use collaborative design and development environments to author digital products for instruction.