Rising to the challenge of flexible learner transition: A pre-induction socialisation MOOC initiative

This paper describes an initiative that addresses the issue of flexible learner socialisation/transition through the creation of a pre-induction socialisation MOOC, “Get Ready For Success: Starting your Higher Education... [ view full abstract ]

This paper describes an initiative that addresses the issue of flexible learner socialisation/transition through the creation of a pre-induction socialisation MOOC, “Get Ready For Success: Starting your Higher Education Journey”. This MOOC has been built as part of The Student Success Toolbox Project (@FLSuccess), which developed a suite of digital readiness tools to help flexible learners to both self-evaluate and improve their readiness for part-time or online study, during the early stages of the study life-cycle. Enhancing retention and completion rates of this group of learners is an acknowledged concern both globally and within the Irish context. Informed by research relating to student success, identity formation, and student readiness these rich media self-diagnostic tools allow prospective students to, for example: assess their readiness for flexible study; plan and budget their time; assess their computer skills; identify their sources of support; learn about the process of writing assignments. A number of these tools are now being integrated into a specially created flexible learner transition MOOC, which will be hosted by the new DCU Open Academy MOOC platform. The MOOC is a five week online course that will provide prospective flexible learners with key messages about how to prepare for studying in higher or continuing education. The MOOC is targeted at the earliest stages of the study life-cycle, where those taking the MOOC are either still making a decision about whether or not to become a flexible learner, or have recently made this decision and need to know how best to prepare themselves for study in higher or continuing education. This paper will detail the approach adopted to MOOC design and development and describe the development of the“Get Ready For Success: Starting your Higher Education Journey” course.