A free online learning program offered by New Mexico Highlands University and sponsored by other New Mexico colleges and organizations has some new features to enhance user experience.
When school and work moved online at the beginning of the pandemic, Highlands University stepped in to offer free tools to help teachers, parents, and care givers acquire more skills to navigate the online learning landscape. With the assistance of Technology Learning Support Specialists, or TLSS, these micro courses, or modules, have provided practical, curated resources to people wanting to improve their technological skills and learn tips for how to navigate online learning.
Marthann Schulte, the program director and lead designer of the learning support program, said that although schools are largely operating in person again, the pandemic continues to necessitate online learning for many people.
“We still have some students who are in quarantine or entire schools that need to do distance learning for a variety of reasons, and people who still need to work for a variety of reasons,” said Schulte. “TLSS can help with these issues of how to best use technology, not only as a parent, but as a teacher. These free courses are still available.”
Schulte said the courses, or modules, are short and can be completed in 60 minutes. She said they are accessible from a smartphone, tablet or computer and offer tips and tricks for the practical application of online learning strategies. And Schulte said that due to continued interest and need, these courses are now fully accessible in both English and Spanish, and TLSS mentors are available to support learners in both languages as well.
“I don’t mean that it’s based in English and then everything is translated into Spanish,” said Schulte. “What we’ve done is found Spanish content that relates. These are resources in Spanish, and the projects can be completed in either English or Spanish, or bilingual.”
Schulte said she hopes this enhancement will be beneficial to learners whose first language is Spanish. She said the Spanish modules are also a useful resource for teachers and students who want to improve their Spanish skills.
“These free courses are a way for students to take in the content, and then complete information or the projects in Spanish,” said Schulte. “It’s a low stakes way to test those skills.”
In addition to offering mentors who can speak with learners in either English or Spanish, Schulte said mentors are also facilitating group learning opportunities, both in-person and online.
“Rather than just an individual meeting, if people want to get their church group together to go through the modules as a group, or if some of the teachers in a school district want to work together, this would be a great way to use the modules as a group learning,” said Schulte. “And the mentors and myself can help set that up on behalf of those groups.”
Schulte said these facilitated group learning opportunities can be done in-person in various locations across Northern New Mexico, or on Zoom.
Although many people turn to the internet for resources, Schulte said the modules offer short, topical curated content that is accessible and interactive. According to Schulte, the modules have been popular with high school students, parents and caregivers, and early childhood educators.
“I think that part of that is the overwhelming need for early childhood educators in the state and in the entire country,” said Schulte. “We’re hearing from the Highlands University School of Education that it’s early childhood that needs to be the focal point for education so that young students and their parents can get started in that education journey.”
Schulte said the free online courses are not only resources for early childhood educators with licensure but can be used by anyone interested in becoming a paraprofessional, as well. Parents who want to help in their child’s school—whether it is volunteering or being hired as a paraprofessional, or who want to help a licensed teacher during a Zoom class, can build the job skills they need through the modules.
“These are stackable credentials; you can get a badge in about 60 minutes, and the badges then stack to a full certificate,” said Schulte. “COVID is still here, and the TLSS can help with these issues of how to best use technology.”
Your comment has been submitted.
Reported
There was a problem reporting this.
Log In
Thank you for taking part in our commenting section. We want this platform to be a safe and inclusive community where you can freely share ideas and opinions. Comments that are racist, hateful, sexist or attack others won’t be allowed. Just keep it clean. Do these things or you could be banned:
• Don’t name-call and attack other commenters. If you’d be in hot water for saying it in public, then don’t say it here.
• Don’t spam us.
• Don’t attack our journalists.
Let’s make this a platform that is educational, enjoyable and insightful.
Email questions to [email protected].
Join the conversation
Our Weekly Headlines newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Have the latest local news delivered so you don’t miss out on updates.
Currently in Las Vegas
We’re always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what’s going on!
