Module 10
Online Learning for Personal
and Professional Development
Module Objectives
What is Online Learning? Online Learning for Personal Development Learning on the Go: Mobile Learning
Online Learning for Professional Development Cyber Safety Issues and Online Learning
Key to Symbols
= Advanced Topic
= Cyber Safety
What is Online Learning?
Online learning means learning on the Internet. You can learn both formally (take
courses that will give you a university or college credit, or certificate) or informally (learn something new and useful, without fully registering for a course).
Examples of Online Learning:
Learn new skills
Learn a new language
Learn about a new place where you would like to travel
Learn how to do new things with your computer or mobile phone
Take a college or university course
Or anything else you can think of that you want to learn!
Question
Can you think of something that you would like to learn how to do using the Internet?
I want to learn how to bake pastry.
You can learn all these things online! I want to upgrade my
professional certification,
but I cannot take time off from work!
How do I replace the battery in my mobile
Online Learning for Personal Development
We learn new things every day! We learn new facts. We learn how to do things we could not do before. We do not need to be at school or college to learn something new.
Sometimes we want or need to learn something for personal interest, or to help us do something new. There are lots of online resources that can help us learn for personal development.
Some examples of online learning for personal development are:
Learning home or motor vehicle repair skills
Learning how to manage and use computers or mobile devices Learning how to cook or bake
Learning a new language
Taking non-credit college or university courses How do I change my
Shahiya.com is an example of an online forum where you can learn how to do things like cook traditional Arabic food. It is available in Arabic and English.
Try it:
Open Internet Explorer and go to http://shahiya.com/ar/
Use the Search Box to search for recipes and tips on making: Arabic Bread Falafel Lentil Soup Samosa Shawarma
Online Learning with YouTube
YouTube offers lots of short videos that can help you learn how to do new things. This YouTube video is a short tutorial about applying traditional Arabic Henna.
Try it:
Use the YouTube search box to find a
video tutorial to teach you about:
Making Hummus
Downloading short courses
Can someone on the Internet please show me
Online Personal Development Courses
There are lots of websites that offer courses for personal development, such as learning to speak a new language. Some websites offer free courses and tutorials. Others require a registration fee.
Rosetta Stone is a popular program for learning new languages. You can use Rosetta Stone entirely online, or order a set of CD-ROM discs.
Try it:
I would like to learn a language. Can I do
Non-Credit Personal Development Courses
Many universities and colleges around the world offer non-credit personal development courses online. Non-credit means that you will not receive credit
towards a university or college certificate… but you will still learn something
interesting and useful!
Try it:
Open Internet Explorer and go to http://understandquran.com/ to see
information about the different courses offered by Understand Quran.
Use the search box or menu buttons
to find out more information! I would like to learn how to
recite the Quran properly. Can I do that online?
Learning on the Go: Mobile Learning
Need to learn how to do first aid, or fix or do something in a hurry? Not at home right
now? No need to worry, you can learn about new things while on the go by using your mobile phone or tablet!
The pictures above show two resources for learning how to perform first aid to help
someone who is choking. One website offers step-by-step text instructions with pictures. The other website is a YouTube video, with an Arabic narrator, which shows
how to perform first aid for choking.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcNO_Nv7ED8) Try it:
Using your mobile phone’s Internet Browser, go to www.google.com Search for information about:
Uh-oh! Our friend’s baby is choking!
I’m going to learn how
Online Learning for Professional Development
The Internet can be very helpful if you want to improve your professional skills, or
upgrade your qualifications.
You may want to earn a university degree or college credits while you are working, or from a school in another city or country. Many universities and colleges offer “For
Credit” courses, or even entire degree, diploma, or certificate programs online!
“For Credit” means the online courses will be counted towards earning a degree or diploma.
Athabasca University is a Canadian online university that offers both undergraduate
(Bachelors) and graduate (Masters and Doctorate) degrees entirely online. I would like to earn a new
degree and get a promotion
at work… but I cannot take
Try it:
Open Internet Explorer
Go to the website http://www.athabascau.ca/programs Click on the “Browse Graduate Programs” button
Using the links on the left of the Master of Business
Administration website, find out:
1. What are the admissions requirements for the MBA program?
2. What are the program fees?
3. What are the Technical Requirements in order to participate in this online degree program?
Try Searching for other courses or programs offered by Athabasca University!
Open Internet Explorer
Go to the website http://www.athabascau.ca/programs
Use the Search Box at the top of the page, and type
in the name of a topic you would like to study!
Try searching for courses at some of these other online colleges and universities!
Arab Open University (Kuwait Branch – English): http://www.arabou.edu.kw
Arab Open University (Kuwait Branch – Arabic): http://www.arabou.edu.kw/index.php?lang=ar Arab Open University (Lebanon Branch – English):
Cyber Safety and Online Learning
Check the reputation of a website, college, or university offering online courses.
Check the Accreditation icon
Is the online learning program regulated by a government agency? Is the website, college, or university well-known?
Has anyone posted any complaints online about the program?
Avoid online learning websites with a lot of advertisements.
The most well-known and trustworthy programs will avoid “banner” ads (blocks with ads for other websites, products, or services).
Websites with lots of flashing banner ads (or pop-up advertisements, which open up in new Internet browser windows) may contain malware,
and may harm your computer.
Never use your credit card to pay for an online course if the website is not
secure!
A secure website will have an address beginning with (instead of just http://), and will have a small locked padlock next to the address.
Review
Using Internet Explorer, go to Google (www.google.com) and find:
A website that shows you how to make naan bread.
A website that shows you how to balance a family budget.
Using Internet Explorer, go to YouTube (www.youtube.com) and find:
A video that shows you how to repair a bicycle chain.
A video that shows you how to sew with a sewing machine.
Using Internet Explorer, go to Google (www.google.com) and find:
A free online course about Introductory Computer Repair Skills. An online education (teaching) degree program.
