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Flexible Autonomy: How online resources and live tutorials have been used successfully to develop and enhance subject knowledge in trainee teachers

Written by: Fiona Yardley, Lee Hazeldin and Jennifer Shearman
9 min read
The UK needs more teachers, particularly in shortage subjects. One way in which this shortage is being addressed is through subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) courses; aspiring teachers lacking enough degree-level knowledge of their chosen curriculum subject can complete a fully funded course before commencing their initial teacher training. Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) was the first university provider to offer a fully online SKE course, using computer-based assessments and gap analyses, access to high-quality digital materials and live group tutorials to provide a supportive and flexible environment in which students work autonomously. This article outlines the mechanism and impact of our ‘flexible autonomous’ approach through the lenses of course designer, tutor and student. Three theories of learning inform our thinking: social constructivism, emergentism and connectivism. Social constructivism, emergentism and connectivism as theories of learning The best know

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This article was published in January 2019 and reflects the terminology and understanding of research and evidence in use at the time. Some terms and conclusions may no longer align with current standards. We encourage readers to approach the content with an understanding of this context.

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      2019 Special Issue: Education Technology

      January 2019

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