11 Responses

1. I’d like to know that too
   Good question, Elizabeth. I’d like to know the same. Sorry I don’t have the answer for you.

2. On Line Training
   Hi Elizabeth. Although not directly answering your question, you may like to try the web site for the British Association of Open Learning http://www.baol.co.uk. Enter through the UK Visitors and have a look at the site for Quality Mark. This provides a host of information on what makes good (and bad) Open Learning. You may also like to try the Learn Direct site that contains a number of programmes about the creation of effective on-line learning.
   Hope this helps.

   Dave

3. LeTTOL?
   I have just completed the Learning to Teach Online course (LeTTOL). It was excellent! Learndirect also have a tutoring on line course but I gather it is very basic.

4. Online learning
   Hi

   I’m just about finishing doing the CIPD Certificate in Online learning, which took about 6 months. Its obviously done online so gives you good exposure to what its like to be an online learner. I would say its very good if you are aiming for a qualification around being an online tutor or helping to devise online courses. I found it less beneficial for looking at an online strategy and doing the whole sort of communications/getting buy-in bit.

   Regards
   Alison

5. Other possibilities
   How to get into online training – depends on what you want to do and where your skills are. Perhaps you are already a multimedia author? Do you know Flash, Director or Authorware? How about web authoring skills?? All these are useful at the very sharp end. Have you done anything online yourself (OU for instance)? If you give us a bit more to work with then hopefuly we can answer you better 🙂

   On a very general note. as well as LearnDirect and CIPD you could also try the IITT for courses, one of their membership tracks is based on online learning.

6. Using ready made materials
   I got into online training after doing a course during a previous existance as a headteacher. The company run an affiliate programme that allows you to use state of the art materials with clients. How you deliver them is up to you, many of my clients train at home/ work with myself providing support. Some choose to access the courses withn the training room where I am on site to assist where necessary.
   I also found the Chamber of comerce and Learn Direct very useful in gaining initial contacts.

7. online training
   Hi Elizabeth and everyone

   I am an experienced online tutor and got started this way:

   First, I did a Certificate in Online Education and Teaching at the Institute of Education, University of London. The person to speak to there is Anita Pincas.

   Second, I did a Certificate in Applying Technology in Learning at City University (this was a pilot course for the European Social Fund and is not being run any longer).

   Then, I volunteered to co-moderate a couple of online training courses and mailing lists to get a feel for things.

   After that, I applied to the Open University to tutor T171, an online course. I have been doing that for several years now and really enjoy it.

   Last year I did LeTTOL at Sheffield College. The contact name there is Amanda Barker. The course is *excellent* and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I’ve persuaded several colleagues to go on it, too.

   I looked at the Learn Direct “course” (they called it Module 16) which was ok for someone who had absolutely no experience at all but really didn’t cover very much or prepare the learner for a real-life situation.

   I now teach lecturers how to teach online.

   Best of luck

   Heather Serdar

8. Check out the guide in the Library
   Elizabeth

   There’s a guide to starting an online training business in the Library – see https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/cgi-bin/kasbrowse.cgi?action=detail&id=1746 for more details.

   Stephanie Phillips
   Editor, TrainingZONE

9. In answer to your query
   There are a number of qualifications and training courses available to people wishing to develop e-learning. The Lettol course being one of them. Your local college should have details of how to join. However, I know of an instance where a person went through the Learn Direct courses and applied for a job with them and did not get because they did not recognise there own courses in terms of vocational value.

10. Diploma in e-Learning
    Elizabeth,

    The current qualification that I am looking into, is the one from IITT. Although originally designed for IT Trainers, they say that it is applicable for all training.

    The starting point is the Certified e-Learning Programme, and there are 4 routes to choose from: Developer, Tutor, Manager and Consultant.
    While not cheap if you want to complete the diploma, they do offer a discount if you are freelance, or paying for it yourself.

    For more information have a look at the website: http://www.elearningprofessional.com

11. opportunities at postgraduate level
    You may be interested to hear about some opportunities for further study with the Open University (UK).
    We have a postgraduate certificate in teaching and learning in HE, designed for people already teaching at university level (it carries Institute of Learning and Teaching in HE accreditation). http://iet.open.ac.uk/courses/PGCTLHE/
    Also the MA in Open and Distance Learning. It does not lead to a professional qualification, but often leads to tutoring work and opportunities in other academic directions. http://iet.open.ac.uk/courses/ODE/
    Jo