Introduction

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Pacing the course work

Journey First Step by Melody Campbell

Work through this course module by module. Figure out your timeline early on by using the Study Plan template, and set aside time each week for your studies. You owe it to yourself to take time out for your professional development.

Remember that Bronwyn is available to support you through this course. She will stay in regular contact to help keep you progressing through the course.

Getting started involves:

• Becoming familiar with finding your way around this course on WikiEducator.
• Reading the Course Outline.

• Exploring the assessment requirements.
• Deciding how you will record your learning and track your progress.
• Find your way to the discussion forums and other resources in Moodle.
• Please introduce yourself on the Introductions Moodle forum.

Tip: If you haven’t already done so it is a good idea to bookmark the main page for this course as it makes it so much easier to go back to each time you want to access the course.

Becoming familiar with WikiEducator

Use the navigation bars at the top of pages to move around.

The Course guide provides overview information about the course, as well as more detailed information about the assessment requirements.

The StudyDesk is where you find course content arranged in modules, topics and sub-topics. Work through each module in order and your portfolio will slowly build.

Please note

From time to we'll use a block like this one to highlight something we think is important or potentially a problem!

As you work through the material here in WikiEducator, you'll come across some other specially formatted blocks of text:

Extra resources

We'll use this type of block to point you to optional extra resources which you might find interesting or helpful.

Activity

This type of block indicates something you should complete before you read on. These activities are not assessed but play an important role in your learning, and will help you prepare for the assessment activities. They are consistent with the programme philosophy of learning by experience.

Portfolio Activity

This block indicates an activity which will contribute to your portfolio. To pass the course you will need to complete the portfolio activity assigned to each module.

Read the Course Outline

Course Outline

Reading this is the first step if you are formally enrolled so that you can familiarise yourself with the expectations and requirements of the course. This document will guide you with the learning outcomes, the assessment instructions and marking criteria.

Exploring the assessment

Take your time to read the assessment requirements in the Course Outline carefully, as well as the information on the Assessment portfolio page. If you are uncertain about the assessment please contact Bronwyn as soon as possible.

Record and track your learning

As this course is based around self discovery learning, it would be helpful to think about how you will keep track of this learning.

Some people find a learning journal or a personal learning record useful for this.

The form that this takes is entirely up to you. Some people prefer to keep a written record which may be a word document or perhaps you may wish to use a blog and encourage some feedback from others, some may prefer a research notebook or to use voice or video recordings.

Extra resources

If you need more ideas or information, check out the Learning Journal information on the Student Hub at Otago Polytechnic.

Depending upon the format that you use to record your learning you can use excerpts from this as evidence in your portfolio.

Moodle

The Moodle site for the course is: http://moodle.op.ac.nz/course/view.php?id=2719. This site includes various resources to help your learning, including discussion forums to share your thinking and ask questions.

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