OU Learning Design team blog

A positive start to your online group will help people feel welcome. It’s also reassuring for the facilitator to know that everyone’s ready and able to contribute. We’ve found that these simple tips can ensure everyone can play a part. Greet people as they join the meeting to help them feel welcome. Have a general […]

It is fully embedded in the teaching and learning of (inter)disciplinary content (reflects a contextual and epistemological view of skills) At the same time, it is perceived as meaningful and relevant to students’ current and future lives (transferable, flexible) Students are apprenticed into the conventions, techniques, styles and approaches of their field(s) of study (they […]

Collaborative learning activities build students’ critical thinking skills and encourage them to reflect on their learning. However, students can struggle to engage with them if they don’t feel supported. Use these steps to build in support for students before, during and after online collaborative activities. The steps are based on a study by Zheng et […]

When students have the chance to share their insights, they feel more engaged in their study and more connected to their institution. And of course, they can offer fresh perspectives that will benefit future students. That’s why it’s vital to gather student feedback on your courses – not just through with end-of-course evaluations but also […]