Notebook or My Personal Learning Network

In order to address this failing the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities awarded Carleton University CAD225,000 (US$172,000) in funding in February 2014 to create a Certificate in Blended and Online Teaching programme.

Subsequently, Mighty and her team developed the certificate programme cuOpen. “It’s an open strategy with a variety of tools – a platform for e-text books, course modules, open access publication and repository.”

Carleton’s repository of open educational resources includes materials and modules licensed under Creative Commons available on the cuOpen website in editable formats which can be adapted according to the needs of other institutions.

A multidisciplinary team created 11 blended and online modules which include: online teaching skills; online course development; assessment in online environments; communication strategies in online environments; online learning communities; interaction, engagement and motivation; and the role and use of gamification in education.

“The course is 35 hours in length and combines theory and practical application,” said Mighty. “By the end of the course students will have developed a course and taught the course they have developed.”

“And it’s free,” Mighty added. “All materials are free and it’s unbranded so you don’t have Carleton all over it. It’s modelled on best practice so that people can adapt it themselves to their needs.