In this learner guide we like to introduce you to the role and value that peer support can offer you. For a full introduction to how to start studying with openED visit the First Steps help page.

Contents

1. Peer Support

2. Assignments and peer review

3. Certificates and Letters of Recommendation

1. Peer Support

Each of the modules has a module facilitator to support you in your learning. However the philosophy of the openEd 2.0 course and its modules draws on the “community idea”. This is to say that you should look to others on the course for answers to your questions and you should try to answer other peoples questions when possible:

1. If you have a question or issue, you should first check the help guidance and forums threads to see if it has already been discussed 
2. Each request for help with learning related issues must be posted within the respective module on the forum
3. Technical & design defects should be posted to the Technical & General Support board.
4. Facilitators will often leave time for others to provide ‘peer-support’ before responding to a post themselves.
5. Each facilitator has the right to wait before answering your support request to allow for a community response first.

2. Assignments and peer review

One great way that you can get support from others, and also for you to support your peers, is to review their assignments. There is a special place on the website for everyone to upload their assignments. As you browse this assignment directory you will be given the opportunity to review, rate and comment on others assignments. If you have time, doing this can help both you and the other person. 

3. Certificates and Letters of Recommendation

At the end of a module and at the end of the course you have the option to generate a ‘Self-Print Certificate’. This ‘Self-Print Certificate’ will show all of the ‘Assignments’ you have submitted. This allows others to ‘validate’ what you have done and achieved within each of the modules.

For the third round we have also introduced a Letter of Recommendation. This allows you to have acknowledged the support and help you provided to others.

4. Extra services

If you are looking for in-class lessons nearby your place or private virtual support then please take a look at the ‘Extra Service’ directory. openEd 2.0 is a FREE and OPEN course, which means that educational providers around the world are FREE to offer individual services to you (although they may charge for these services).

Please note that support provision is based on peer-support and the course team cannot guarantee that other learners would provide such support, nor can the course team guarantee the quality of the support provided. However, the course team will do its best to provide some type of support for support requests that cannot be dealt with by the community / peers. All types of support requests should be posted to the Forums.