Sustaining a community of online learners - a case study from the - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Sustaining a community of online learners - a case study from the Open University's MSc in Mathematics BEN MESTEL SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS THE OPEN UNIVERSITY TEACHING AND LEARNING MATHEMATICS ONLINE WORKSHOP 2 – 3 JUNE 2020

Open University’s MSc in Mathematics • Long-standing master’s programme at the OU • 400+ students taking 2 – 6 years to complete 6 30-credit modules with pathways in pure and applied mathematics, culminating in a 30-credit dissertation • Delivery is via wrap-around notes and exercises to a set book, with online tutorials, assessment, screencasts • Support via network of specialist tutors and academic staff with twice yearly f-2-f weekends • Assessment via four formative assignments with a 3-hour summative examination • Students mostly either retired or professionals studying for interest 2

Community in distance learning • The importance of Community • Counteract the ‘loneliness of the long-distance learner’ • Build support networks • Enhance & extend learning • Ensure attendance and no student is left behind • BBC’s Reithian mission: • Educate, Inform; Entertain Lord Reith, 1934 • + Consult, Listen, Involve (National Portrait Gallery) 3

Buildin community in the OU’s Mathematics MSc • Blended approach: • f2f & online events, social media, traditional forums, individual email & telephone support • (OU) Diverse student community with significant number of non-standard learners 4

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum • Moodle forums with high student participation (active & passive) • Proactive moderation by dedicated team • Module forums augmented by general discussion PG Café • Essential communications via cohort- wide Internet briefings and/or emailings 5

Postgraduate Café 6

Top tips for building community • There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) • 3Ps: personal, polite, patient • Informal, authoritative, honest • Both proactive & reactive, but occupy the high ground • Moderation: timely & sparing • Building community is hard work, requiring persistence 7

Thank you for listening https://northleeds.mumbler.co.uk/ Stay safe and well Ben Mestel Mathematics MSc Director 8

Questions? Some positive student feedback following our briefing session on Covid-19 contingency arrangements and on future plans for the MSc Thanks for the session this evening and thanks to all at the OU for all your ongoing hard work and effort in this difficult time! Thanks to the MSc team for an informative and useful meeting last night, and for clearly considering all of the options in very difficult circumstances. Great stuff - a lot to get through there, thanks for your stalwart work! Thanks for a brilliant briefing, it was so informative and professional. I just want to say that I think the OU team has done a fabulous job in maintaining the MSc programme during this crisis. Very clearly expressed and honest summary of the state of play (at a time when there's a general lack of honesty and clarity in the world!) The OU MSc maths team has handled this crisis in such a professional, informative and student-friendly way. I'm very grateful and I am left with this lovely feeling that everything will be OK. Which says a lot, these days 😋 Thanks - very clear, informative and honest presentation. 9