Practical Matters for Online Courses (2024)

Practical Matters for Online Courses (1)

Scroll through this page to read about credit transfer and the online education environment, as well as our cancellation policy.

  • What's included in the fees?

    All online courses organised through the Summer Programmes Office at the Graduate School of Social Sciences (including this course) are designed so that you can focus on participating in the courseand immersing yourself in yournew digital environment. We make that possible by including the following in the tuition fee:

    1. All course readings and materials
    2. Access to the digital library at the UvA
    3. Welcome and wrap-up sessions
    4. Both live and pre-recorded lectures
    5. Access to the digital learning environment
    6. Individual feedback from our instructors on all course assignments
    7. An official transcript or certificate of participation
  • Study load

    We believe that the right sort of online education experience can deliver knowledge in an impactful manner. Our online courses are designed to deepen your understanding of a series of innovative topics, and to reach as many people around the world as possible.

    Past online courses have included participants from every continent: in order to facilitate this diversity we encourage discussion and feedback from all participants, andfocus onstudent participation in the structure and delivery. Our instructors also give detailed feedback on assignments, to ensure you get the most out of your online course, and our staff is available to help should you have any technical difficulties.

    Our online courses make use of both liveand pre-recorded sessionsin varying formats, including seminars and lectures, as well as guided self study. All sessions are roughly two hours long, and are typically held at standard times for the duration of the programme, making them easy to plan for and attend. The online programe "Comprehensive Introduction to Research Methodology" is an exception however, as this is a more intensive course.

    We also make use of preparatory and in-course assignments, and participants will get the opportunity to write a final academic/research paper, or work on a final major project for the course of their choosing. Participants can also expect daily readings and weekly assignments to help solidify what they learn in the digital classroom.

  • Credit transfer and gaining credit for your course

    Transcripts and earning academic credit:Students who wish to earn credits (EC) receive an official transcript stating the coursetaken, credits earned and gradeobtained.The number of credits your programme is worth is found on the main programme page in the programme at a glance table. An official transcript will only be issued if the student completes all necessary programme components, and also writes the academic/research paper at the end of the programme. Once the grade for the paper has been received, the transcript will be issued digitally and if needed, by post.

    Digital certificate of participation: Participants who are not taking the course for credit canreceivea digitalparticipation certificate from the University of Amsterdam. In order to receive this digital certificate, students are requested to adhere by the student code of conduct, and attend all programme elements. A digitalcertificate will only be issued to students who are not taking the course for academic credit.

    Counting credits towards your degree:Students are responsible for ensuring that their home university will accept the credits, and final credit conversions need to be made by the home university. If you have questions about credit transfer, or need more information/documents about the programme for your home university's administration, please email us at summer-info-gsss@uva.nl.

  • Digital learning environment

    All of our programmes make use of Canvas, the UvA's digital learning environment. Roughly one month before the start of your programme, you will receive an invitation by email to access Canvas. We recommend you do so as soon as possible. Once we invite you to Canvas,programme specific communication will appear there. Canvas is where announcements, schedules, and readings will be posted, both in advance of the course, and throughout its duration. Canvas is also the place to meet and interact with your fellow classmates.

    Within the Canvas environment, Zoom has been integrated for the live lectures and seminars. It is seemelssly integrated with the course calendar, and participating is only a click away. We will also be using Kaltura Capture, an application that comes built into the UvA Canvas environment. Kaltura is a video recording platform that securely integratescontent into Canvas, allowingparticipants torecord submissions for course assignments (where applicable) and make meaningful video content to share only with their fellow students and academic director, fostering collaborative learning and deeper social bonds in a digitally secure way, despite the physical distance between them.

  • Cancellation policy for online courses

    If the Summer Programmes Office is notified via email at least 30 days before the start of the programme (orientation/opening date), students may cancel their participation for a refund of tuition fees, minus the €250 administration costs. No refunds will be given after this date.

    In the event that a programme must be cancelled by the Summer Programmes Office, students who have paid tuition fees will be reimbursed in full minus€50 to cover banking costs. If possible, students will be offered a spot in another programme, if a similar programme is available.

Practical Matters for Online Courses (2024)

FAQs

What to consider when creating an online course? ›

Here are our 10 steps to create an online course:
  1. Pick the perfect online course topic.
  2. Check if there's market demand for your course idea.
  3. Create compelling learning outcomes.
  4. Structure your online course.
  5. Choose the most engaging and effective delivery method.
  6. Produce your online course: filming, recording, and editing.
6 days ago

What kind of things do you expect from an online course? ›

You can expect the same variety of work online as you would face-to-face. Online courses deliver a mix of quizzes, essays, assignments and group discussions. Depending on the course, you may work together with other students in groups, participate in peer review, or debate a variety of topics on the discussion boards.

How can I do online courses effectively? ›

How to Be Successful in Online Classes
  1. Find/Create a Productive Learning Environment. ...
  2. Find Ways to Stay Motivated. ...
  3. Keep a Positive Mindset. ...
  4. Don't Skip/Miss Classes. ...
  5. Stay Connected and Speak With Your Instructor. ...
  6. Set Goals for Yourself. ...
  7. Limit Your Time on Social Media. ...
  8. Develop Strong Time Management Skills.

What is quality assurance for online courses? ›

QA is an essential aspect of eLearning course development. It ensures that the course content is accurate, the instructional design is effective, and the course is accessible and functional for all learners.

What is the key to success in an online course? ›

Manage your time effectively.

Spend some time getting familiar with your online courses, understanding what is expected of you, mapping out key due dates, and planning study time. Block out study time in a physical or digital planner (such as an Outlook calendar). A consistent routine will help you stay on track.

Which are the three characteristics needed to be successful in an online class? ›

What Makes a Successful Online Learner?
  • Persistence. Persistence is perhaps the biggest key to success in online learning. ...
  • Effective Time-Management Skills. ...
  • Effective and Appropriate Communication Skills. ...
  • Basic Technical Skills. ...
  • Reading and Writing Skills. ...
  • Motivation and Independence. ...
  • A Good Study Environment.

What do students want in an online course? ›

They want to learn how to think differently, and put what they've learned into practice. Organization: An organized course allows students to follow a clear path to learning. It allows them to make connections easier, and gives them confidence that they can make it through the course.

What is the goal of an online course? ›

So what are the benefits of online courses? They are: Accessibility: Students can access an online course anywhere, anytime, and at a fraction of the price it would take them to learn the course content on their own or from traditional courses.

What is included in an online course? ›

Online courses are often made up of pre-recorded videos, but they can also include several other elements for an engaging online learning experience:
  • Live webinars.
  • Coworking sessions.
  • Discussion groups.
  • Coursework and projects.
  • Quizzes and assessments.
  • Course materials like worksheets and templates.

How to structure an online course? ›

How do you write a good online course?
  1. Structure.
  2. Group Similar Ideas into Modules. A progressive flow that depends on the order. ...
  3. Select Type of Content.
  4. Organize Online Course by Choosing a Format.
  5. Attendance. ...
  6. Providing Supportive Content to Students.
  7. Consistency is Important. ...
  8. Exams.
Apr 22, 2024

How can you make online learning more effective? ›

10 Tips for Success in Online Classes
  1. Establish a productive learning environment. ...
  2. Set a schedule for completing and reviewing assignments. ...
  3. Seek virtual interactions with your peers.
  4. Use the 'chunking' strategy to section out tasks.
  5. Try to increase your interest in the work.

How to focus in online classes? ›

Study Tips for Online Classes
  1. Establish a dedicated study area. Don't double your kitchen or dining room table as a classroom. ...
  2. Eliminate Distractions. ...
  3. Reward Yourself. ...
  4. Try The Pomodoro Technique. ...
  5. Form a study group. ...
  6. Take handwritten notes. ...
  7. Set Dedicated Study Time. ...
  8. Don't Forget To Sleep.

How do I create a high quality online course? ›

How to create an online course in 10 steps
  1. Choose the topic of your course.
  2. Conduct customer research.
  3. Select the format of your course.
  4. Test if your course has high market demand.
  5. Pre-sell your course.
  6. Outline your course content.
  7. Set course pricing and sales goals.
  8. Choose the right course platform.

What is quality in online learning? ›

● Quality online learning integrates proven and research-based best instructional practices applied in the online environment (Std 3). ● Quality online learning takes full advantage of a variety of technology tools, has a user-friendly interface and is accessible by learners with special needs (Std 4).

What does accredited online courses mean? ›

Accredited colleges have proven that they offer quality education. If you take classes online that are properly accredited, you have gained the same education and training that a student would at a traditional campus-based college.

Is creating online courses profitable? ›

An average course creator can make a few thousand dollars per month selling online courses full-time. If you are starting out part time, you can expect a few hundred dollars initially, but this depends on a lot of factors like the price of your course, your audience, and your marketing & selling skills.

What should you do first to prepare for taking an online course? ›

Find the syllabus and read it. This will give you an idea of what you are going to study, how much reading there will be, what kind of assignments you will be doing, and generally acquaint you with the professor's expectations. Knowing what to expect will help keep you focused and not overwhelmed.

What kind of online courses sell the most? ›

Some top trending niches for creating online courses include business and entrepreneurship, personal development, health and wellness, and technology. These niches have consistently high demand and offer various subtopics and target audiences.

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