Description
This qualification is no longer available to new students. You must complete your study by 31 December 2021. If you would like to discuss your options with one of our advisers, please contact us.
This postgraduate diploma offers the unique opportunity to draw on the expertise of The Open University's Institute of Educational Technology - world leaders in the innovative use of new media and technologies in online education. You will study the theory and practice of online and distance education, covering topics such as the learning experiences of disabled students and the technical aspects of accessibility; and the processes of designing, implementing and evaluating technology-enhanced learning. Working with our experts in collaboration with colleagues from around the world, you will be at the forefront of the latest developments.
Key features of the course
- Designed to develop creative, effective elearning professionals
- Builds your research and evaluation skills in the context of online education
- Enables you to experience producing online and distance education resources and improving them through peer engagement and reflection
- Relevant for non-practitioners with an interest in online learning
Planning your studies
You must be prepared for study at postgraduate level. This usually means holding a bachelors degree - whether from a UK university or from one outside the UK - or its equivalent. However, if you have successfully completed two-thirds of a bachelors degree (an HND in the UK, for example) and have professional experience in technology-enabled learning, you may still be eligible for the programme. You will be asked to provide further information and evidence of your eligibility as part of the registration process for the programme.
All teaching is in English, and your proficiency in the language needs to be adequate for postgraduate study and for contributing to online discussions by text and voice. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend that you make sure you can achieve a score of at least seven in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). To assess your English Language skills in relation to your proposed studies, you can visit the IELTS website. Although experience of distance education may be an advantage, it is not essential. If you are not sure whether your qualifications and experience are suitable, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.
How long it takes
The minimum time to complete this qualification is two years.
Career relevance and employability
Workplaces and work roles increasingly involve media-rich and technology-enhanced forms of learning, professional practice and personal development, often summarised in the term ‘elearning’. Accordingly the experience of achieving this diploma has proved vocationally relevant across a wide range of occupations and locations, from managers in business organisations, teachers of languages, consultants, trainers and teachers at any level of the education sector.
Each module in the Postgraduate Diploma in Online and Distance Education requires study using a range of tools and learning environments. Consequently you will improve your personal skills in using these tools and this makes a positive impact on your own practice. You will experience the implications of learning technology choices made across a wide range of contexts and organisations, both formal and informal. You'll advance not only your skills of selection and design of technology, but also your understanding of how technologies engage learners and how they can be evaluated and developed on a continuing basis.
Depending on your choice of module study, the qualification will enable you to demonstrate in addition, expertise in particular areas.
The vocational relevance of a qualification in Online and Distance Education goes well beyond the obvious category of teacher and trainer, and previous alumni have included librarians, media professionals, project managers, consultants, entrepreneurs, practice educators in nursing, web developers and other professionals in commerce
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
To gain this qualification, you must complete your study by 31 December 2021.
You need 120 credits from the modules below:
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules H800, H801, H802, H803, H804, H805, H806, H807, H808, H809, H810.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 40 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Module availability
H880 will be the only module available for study after April 2021.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
Credit transfer is not available for this qualification.
On completion
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Postgraduate Diploma in Online and Distance Education. You’ll be entitled to use the letters PG Dip (ODE) (Open) after your name.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification