Clear description of main activities
- The design, development and delivery of a Massive Open Online course (MOOC) to support students in the transition from 2nd to 3rd level education in Ireland. The MOOC will consist of seven ‘modules’ or topics. Four of these (see 4a-d below) are specifically for senior cycle and first year undergraduate students and will constitute a 4/5 week long course. The other 3 ‘modules’ will each be designed for different cohorts (parents/faculty/adult learners).
- The MOOC will have numerous start and completion dates, likely to be every six weeks, commencing February 2016. It will remain ‘open’ i.e. accessible at all times (unlike most MOOCs).
Specific outputs of the project
1. Initial research and consultation with stakeholders: senior cycle and undergraduate students, USI, Transition Reform Steering Group, academic and technical staff, career advisors (May, 2015)
2. Module ‘Learning to Learn (at third level)’ (L2L@3L) to be piloted to minimum of seven secondary schools (one per region of the seven partnering institutions) (October, 2015)
3. Evaluation of pilot project (November/December, 2015)
4. The MOOC will consist of seven ‘modules’ or topics:
a. Learning to Learn (at third level) (Feb, 2016)
b. Critical & Creative Thinking (Feb, 2016)
c. Digital Literacy & Communication Skills (Feb, 2016)
d. Responsible Citizenship (Feb, 2016)
e. Parental Transition: from parenting school leavers to parenting undergraduates (June, 2016)
f. Supporting Faculty to support the undergraduate (June, 2016)
g. Transitioning Adult Learners – from the workplace to HE (June, 2016)
5. A nationally available ‘Transition MOOC’ for all senior cycle and undergraduate students, parents, faculty and adult learners returning to HE.
Implementation plan for ensuring national impact of the project.
The Transition MOOC will be promoted to all schools and HEIs nationally. Promoted through the Union of Students Ireland, Career Guidance advisors and councillors, school parent’s associations/National Parents Council. Promotion primarily in the form of YouTube video feature outlining the benefits of the MOOC.