Learn as much as you want, when you want and how you want!

This course is designed for you to learn about a specific aspects of PLA. Each module gives you core information and links to additional materials/resources, allowing you to explore topics more in depth if you choose. Regardless of how you choose to use this MOOC, you'll find you are learning a great deal about PLA!

I've included a number of opportunities for you to discuss what you're learning or to share your work with your peers. You can also use these discussion opportunities as a way to pace yourself and process what you're learning. I'll be very interested in hearing your thoughts.

When you complete the Start Here and PLA Basics modules, the rest of the course content will be available to you.

I'll be checking in regularly each week to see how everyone is doing and to facilitate the discussions. You'll also hear from me at the beginning of each week through the Announcements page. I hope that you will use these opportunities to let me know how your inquiry is developing and if there is anything I can do to deepen your learning experience. I expect that you will have a lot to teach me, too!

I estimate that the course could take approximately 20 hours to compete. But If you're worried about completing the course, please keep in mind that there is no required level of activity and you won't lose your place if you aren't able to check in as much as you might like. The nature of the MOOC design allows you to do as much or as little as you can. And, you can even try to complete the entire course on the last day! You have the flexibility to complete as many modules in one sitting as you choose. If you get behind, jump back in, and easily complete the missed days.

The best way to make this a successful experience for yourself is to PARTICIPATE in the online discussions and complete each assignment. This isn't about me checking your work, as you might expect in a traditional course. This is about bringing your voice to the forum so that you can learn from each other. Hopefully, you will find this to be a favorite part of this course (I know I do!). You should expect that I will be in the discussions at least once a day and respond to specific posts within 24 hours. The same is true for giving feedback (not grades!) on assignments.

If you have questions about the course material that you'd like to share with the group, plan to post them to the eCoffeehouse discussion area. If you see a question posted by one of your peers that you can answer, go for it! This is one of the best places for us to break away from the course outline and into topics that will be of interest to all of us.

Discussion Board Netiquette:

If you want to contribute...start posting! Please be respectful of your classmates in your comments and responses.
Also, please try your best to comment in the appropriate thread - good organization will make the forums less chaotic.
If you join a discussion but want to shift to another topic, start a new thread. - we might miss it otherwise.
If you start your own thread, please label it clearly so others can find your comment.

Check out this video for more about discussion board netiquette

Discussion Board Netiquette(Clicking the triangle icon creates a larger view of this video, after starting the video if the video is too small to view, you can also view it in YouTube, by clicking the link above)

Questions?

Check out the FAQs
Go to the eCoffeehouse- see you there!