Freedom to learn

The purpose of this module is to introduce teachers to the philosophy which underpins the creation of the Alpha Digital School.

• Rationale for the Alpha Digital Facility, its curriculum and philosophy.
• Understanding the Alpha Framework and implementing practices which express it.
• Planning and assessment practices.
• Monitoring and review practices.
• Pastoral care within the digital facility, including emotional and social development and the creation of a safe learning environment.

This module explores the possibilities of the digital learning environment and develops fluency of operation and application in building a comprehensive range of learning programmes. It introduces prospective teachers to the Alpha premises and their function. It also explores the ways in which they enhance learning opportunities for students and create effective, synchronous student / teacher and student /student interaction

• Exploring the Resource Rooms in the site map and the ways in which they contribute to student achievement.
• Entering and engaging in the digital learning environment and using the full range of learning tools.
• Teaching via the Alpha audio conferencing centre and its operation.
• Utilising the audio conferencing classrooms to create global learning opportunities.
• Moderating and customising the digital environment and liaising with technical support and digital engineers.

Completion of module three will equip teachers with the skills to implement programmes which meet the diverse needs of their students. Teachers develop pedagogical practices which can produce confident learners who have a range of sophisticated lifelong learning skills.

• Forums and planning group lessons; creating special needs programmes and extension opportunities.
• Teaching and learning via wiki, co-authoring, document sharing and utilising the interactive design board.
• Teaching via student conference rooms and the one to one learning facilities.
• The role of monitored websites in supporting learning and publishing opportunities.
• Mentorship – planning, organising and moderating effective mentor interaction.

This module involves exploring the concept of Navigationism and developing programmes which expand a student’s knowledge base, advanced inquiry skills and application of knowledge.

• Teaching authentic inquiry skills.
• Navigating on-line learning sources.
• Discerning the validity of the learning sources.
• “Consider the Source” – accessing reliable data.
• Applying the new knowledge to create original product.

In this module we investigate the building of national and global educational partnerships and creating collaborative learning opportunities.

• Local and global mentorship.
• Establishing international collaborative inquiry programmes.
• Creating strategic relationships with global teachers.
• Practices to ensure on-line safety.
• Building professional development opportunities with teachers worldwide via the audio conferencing suites.

The final module of the course introduces prospective teachers to the tools which enhance their teaching and learning programmes.

• Publisher and Photoshop.
• Animated PowerPoint and audio files.
• Using Dreamweaver to create visually stimulating programmes and websites.
• Digital Learning Games Creation
• Exploring the possibilities of Flash animation.
• Movie Maker and streaming.