What is Online Learning?
Online Learning at the NCS College
Our aim is to provide high quality online courses in a wide range of topics. We encourage learning for the pleasure of learning, and our short courses are designed to stimulate thinking, provoke questions and provide opportunities for you to explore ideas.
Each course is written specially for the NCS College by the tutor who is not only an experienced teacher but also an expert in the subject. A course includes:
- reading materials containing graphics, illustrations, interactive multimedia, videos, references as appropriate;
- course forum for group work and discussion;
- support from the tutor, through the course forum and by e-mail; and,
- activities designed to help you learn, and to demonstrate to yourself, your tutor and the rest of the world what you have learned.
A typical course will require your attention for 2 to 4 hours a week, either working at your computer or on a given task in the ‘real’ world. At the NCS College we don’t want you to be glued to your computer all the time.
Open All Hours
The NCS College is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means that you can join us at any time day or night – whenever it suits you.
Tutor Support
As a student at the NCS College you will be supported and cajoled by your tutor. Your tutor sets your activities and assignments, and makes sure you complete them. Your tutor is your guide through the course, and will always be available at the end of an e-mail. Your tutor wants you to learn as much as you do: together you can.
Take Your Time
Learning isn’t a race, especially when you are only able to commit a few hours – or even less – at a time. With an NCS online course you can work at your pace, taking as much or as little time as you need to. As our courses are short we would ask you to complete your course within a fixed period of time. For example, we estimate that you will need around 30 hours to complete Understanding Journalism, but you have tutor support available for up to 4 months – and the course itself will remain available for a year.
You are not Alone
Online learning can sometimes be a lonely experience, but not here. You will be joined on your course by other students and learn together through the course forum and, on some courses, shared activities. At the New Curiosity Shop geography is not a barrier to learning: you could meet students from all over the world, from Auchtermuchty to Zibo.
Active Learning
Unlike many other elearning courses, a course at the NCS College is not just reading a screen. You will be given tasks and activities to undertake in the non-virtual world beyond the computer monitor. After all, the computer is only the means to an end, a tool to help.
Once you’ve completed your task you can share your success with your fellow students, and give your tutor the warm glow of satisfaction of knowing that you have learned something new.
What next?
Don’t just sit there looking at these words, why don’t you:
- choose a course from our course catalogue;
- try the demo course, The Fire Balloon, to get a feel for an online course;
- subscribe to our occasional newsletter (enter your details below); or,
- contact us to ask a question
- enrol in a course – go to the Courses.
