Designing Online and Distance Learning

AID Pedagogical Approach for Creative and Critical Thinking Course

Abstract

The notion of delivering a diploma program module through an online and distance learning mode overcame accessibility to teaching and learning facilities. However, a more challenging issue in the course design ensures the successful delivery of the learning objectives. This project attempted to find the most suitable structure of a creative and critical thinking course for online learning. It proposed integrating the Active, Inquiry and Deep (AID) learning pedagogical approaches to shape students’ desired thinking skills. The project was conducted using 15 groups of students with 308 working adults aged between 20 to 40 years old from 2011 till 2017. The online and open distance learning mode is determined by 10 hours of synchronous and 30 hours of asynchronous learning. In the beginning, class discussions were centred on developing communication and information-seeking skills. As the students were ready to share and listen, the teaching was directed to identifying problems critically before taking on creativity in finding potential solutions to selected issues. Students translated their ideas into tangible and intangible outputs based on scientific techniques applied in investigation. Various activities were adopted to develop a set of skills for intended learning outcomes. Programmatic assessment tools were carefully selected to evaluate the progress. Students could present their innovative products at the end of the course through a small-scale innovation project exhibition.