The Open training college’s Supported Open Learning Model

The Open Training College’s unique approach to education means that our students can enjoy the benefits of supported study while continuing to seek employment or work full-time in the sector. We use the Supported Open Learning Model to deliver our courses, which uses a range of delivery and support mechanisms to provide maximum flexibility for your study. Along with a Three-Way Collaborative Approach for some courses, which supports the application of students’ learning in the workplace, your learning will benefit from a sound theoretical foundation and the ability to apply your learning to your work life.

Flexibility and accessibility are key characteristics of any strategy devised to provide learning opportunities for adults, and any strategy that fails to address these issues will ensure that ‘education will remain a distant aspiration for many adults’ (HEFCE, 2001).  The White Paper on Lifelong Learning in Ireland in 2001 stated that all educational institutions to be successful needed to ensure any approach was highly creative, effective, challenging and relevant.

The Open Training College’s SOL model is always evolving to ensure that the accessibility and flexibility of the model is maximised.  The College recognises that managing learning can be difficult when juggling other commitments.  To that end our model ensures that students are supported to effectively manage their learning through timely supports.  The model outlined below is how the College supports learning in 2009/2010.

The model is described under two headings, what the student learns and what supports are available.

1. What the Student learns through

The College uses a range of delivery formats with an effective support system to facilitate effective learning. To learn more about each delivery format and support system, click the links below.

• Open Learning Materials
• Online Database/Library/Key Links
  
• Practical Assignments
• Workshops/Seminars/Online

Open learning Materials

The College provides high quality open learning materials that are regularly updated.  The materials are structured to cater for adult learners, through the provision of separate sections that support each learning outcome.  The materials, in addition, have a series of self-learning activities.

Online Database/Library/Key Links

The College provides access to a number of key information resources.  These include EBSCO SocIndex (full text), Social Care Online and socialstudies.ie. In addition the College provides links to the most up to date, best practice resources on the web.

Practical Assignments

A key component of the student’s assessment is their application of best practice examples to their place of work.  This process is assessed through a variety of mechanisms including the completion of a social care practicum, participation on discussion forums and wikis.

Workshops/Seminars/Online

These learning opportunities allow students to meet to develop the learning outcomes, participate in group tutorials; and provide an excellent opportunity to network and discuss practice issues with other practitioners from across Ireland.

2. What Supports are available

To maximise their learning students are supported in their learning in a number of individualised and innovative ways.  These supports include:

• Telephone/Online/Email/Face to Face Tutorials
• Action Email
• Group Tutorials Online
• Feedback (Formative and Summative)
• Online Supports
• Virtual Classroom
• Helpdesk

Telephone/Online/Email/Face to Face/Tutorials

The College provides a tutor the student can contact on an individualised basis to discuss any issue that relates to their learning.

Action Email

The student can support their tutorial by emailing a tutor an outline of their key questions and learning action plan beforehand.

Group Tutorials Online

The College’s online supports allow students to discuss issues in a group

FEEDBACK (FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE)

The College provides many opportunities for the student to gain feedback on their progress and understanding, as the student progresses through a module.  These opportunities include online quizzes, peer feedback through discussion boards and chat and the tutorials.  6 weeks after the completion of your assignment the College provides the student with a clear rubric that outlines a student’s performance against the key learning outcomes in the module.

Online Supports

The College provides many online supports that include online journals to keep a record of your learning, wikis for collaborative learning, discussion boards, Turnitin (this software allows the student to check their assignment for any potential referencing or plagiarism issues before submission) and a Study Skills module that allows the student to develop their academic skills.

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

This multimedia software allows students to hear and see the tutor explain and discuss assessment and learning issues.

Helpdesk

The College provides immediate office hour support on IT, academic or practice issues.