Edul@b members led the Workshop “Online Course Facilitation” for the AMED project

On the 25th of February, Marcelo Maina, Lourdes Guàrdia, Nati Cabrera and Maite Fernández-Ferrer, members of the Edul@b group, led the workshop “Online Course Facilitation” addressed to 16 facilitators of the e-Learning study programme designed as part of the AMED project and targeted at the professional development of the Maldives National University (MNU) staff. The event was also attended by a group of other 14 MNU lecturers interested in the topics covered by the course.

The workshop introduced the main concepts regarding course facilitation and provided insights into the modules of the Study Programme which is delivered at the Maldivian institution to 75 lecturers and decision-makers. This programme, which is the result of a co-design process led by the UOC and participated by the project partners, has the main purpose of training teachers and management staff in key aspects regarding the transformation of the university towards a bimodal model, thus implementing blended learning as a pivotal strategic approach for the institution. 

The session was divided into two main parts. The first part in which Marcelo Maina and Lourdes Guàrdia presented e-teaching and active learning essential concepts and strategies, and the second part, where Nati Cabrera and Maite Fernandez-Ferrer addressed the topic of online feedback and assessment as a means to enhance student learning. 

During the 3 hour session, participants were also involved in activities and participative tasks thanks to a balanced interaction that supported their motivation and engagement. Their interventions fed into the discussion on the e-learning facilitation tools and techniques introduced during the training.

The workshop concluded with a final activity addressed solely to the group of facilitators of the Study Programme which consisting of a Q&A session distributed into 4 breakout rooms according to each module of the AMED programme. Having completed the previous flipped activity participants interacted with the modules’ coordinators to clarify and share views on their facilitation.

The feedback gathered from the attendees was very positive especially regarding new concepts and tips for online course facilitation. Favourable opinions were also expressed on the overall workshop, namely on the content of the presentation, the duration and dynamics of the proposed activities.

The piloting of the AMED programme was launched on Monday 8 March, so all AMED facilitators are currently putting into practice the concepts and strategies presented in the workshop “Online course facilitation” as well as in the other online workshops organised by the AMED project.