Monday 22 June 2015

Adult Learners' Week

 Adult LearnersWeek 2015 ran from 13th to 19th June. So the question is, what did you learn?

"Adult Learners’ Week is the UK’s largest  festival of learning, and the overall purpose of the initiative is to raise demand for learning and skills. It highlights the benefits of learning of all kinds, learning for work, informal learning as well as learning for personal development." (wikipedia.org) 

I'm currently learning about "Managing Behaviour for Learning" through a free online course from the Science Learning Network, provided by Canvas.net. We've been learning how to positively influence the behaviour of students through our own behaviour. Interesting stuff if you work in any kind of teaching situation (I'm thinking environmental education sessions!).‎

This is the latest in a number of online courses I've taken (others have included "Cultural Studies & Modern Languages", "Community Journalism" and "Teaching Adult Learners") . I believe quite strongly in continuing development, and not just professional "CPD". With the current online learning revolution, a wide variety of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are available to help you learn about a topic in your spare time around your other commitments. 

According to the UK Adult Learners' Week website, adults in the UK would love to learn new skills such as cooking and baking, playing a musical instrument, or learning a language. Obviously some of the more practical skills might be harder to teach through an online medium, but you will be surprised at the range of courses that are out there. Many are also provided by names which carry weight, such as universities or professional institutions. So although you won't be wearing a cap and gown, you will have the chance to study at Universities across the world and benefit from top-quality teaching from experts in their subjects.
Offline education can involve wearing cool threads. Copyright Will Folsom
Why not put your feet up and learn something new in the comfort of your home?

 My advice is, if you haven't already, take a look at some of the websites below (my favourite MOOC websites so far) to find a course that takes your fancy, whether it's for business or pleasure. With free learning in your own time, there's nothing to lose!


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