Creating an Open Online Educational Resource to Support Learners as They Navigate Their Studies Alongside Work and/or Family

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  • Author(s): Philippa Waterhouse (ORCID Philippa Waterhouse (ORCID 0000-0001-5213-0593); Naomi Moller (ORCID Naomi Moller (ORCID 0000-0002-9756-0367)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning. 2024 25(1):226-239.
  • Publication Date:
    2024
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Descriptive
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Athabasca University Press. 1200, 10011-109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8, Canada. Tel: 780-497-3412; Fax: 780-421-3298; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.irrodl.org
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      14
    • Education Level:
      Higher Education
      Postsecondary Education
    • Subject Terms:
      Electronic Learning; Educational Technology; Open Educational Resources; College Students; Student School Relationship; Family Work Relationship; Student Personnel Services; Distance Education; Mental Health
    • ISSN:
      1492-3831
    • Abstract:
      As labour markets undergo rapid and profound transformations, lifelong learning is essential to ensure a responsive, competitive, and skilled workforce. Mature learners are a diverse group, but in comparison to their younger student counterparts, are more likely to have employment and/or caring responsibilities. This field note discusses the development and features of a novel online open educational resource, called "At a crossroads: Navigating work and/or family alongside study" ("At a crossroads" for brevity). The resource aimed to assist university students to both learn about the support options available to them as well as to consider how they themselves might make decisions if they experienced a conflict between their student/work/family roles. "At a crossroads" is innovative in terms of how it was developed (i.e., via survey-based research, story completion method, and consultations sessions with tertiary students) and in terms of what it is (i.e., an online interactive resource that incorporates short dramatizations, social polls, and opportunities to reflect). Our experience in developing this resource caused us to consider how making resources designed to be engaging and informative, while encouraging, positive changes, must be part of the solution. This is especially so when there is significant concern around the overall well-being of tertiary students and their course completion rates. While universities have attempted to offer a range of tools to support their students, on-demand online resources such as "At a crossroads" are easily accessed, free to use, and deliver content in an engaging manner.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2024
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1419325