Format of COLLAR
The number and choice of available courses is regularly expanding with our available resources. Before you select and enrol on the course that interested you please take some time to read this whole page.
COLLAR courses are probably unlike any other online learning experience. All our teaching and support team are dog teachers and we have developed a very effective and enjoyable learning format. This is not purely study, it is a mixture of practical training, learning new skills and deepening your understanding. Such changes do not always come easily and you may have to question your thoughts on previously understood concepts and protocols. This is what effective learning demands ... change, in the way we behave and the way we think.
The software for the virtual learning environment runs on our server and you log in on a regular basis to download lessons, videos, join the interactive activities and the class forums. If you would like to find out more about Moodle please go the their home site: http://moodle.org/ .
Previous students have made videos to see your through the first steps and give you a good idea of getting the best from this resource. These are updated regularly, so please browse to get a feel for the format on our channel at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ladstwo
Structure
The courses are usually run over 12 weeks and will be structured around 6 lessons, or one lesson every 2 weeks. This is published 2 days before the scheduled ClassRoom. The ClassRoom is a four hour slot where the course Teacher is in full attendance to take you through activities, answer any questions about the lesson, give feedback on training. The ClassRoom times are specific to each course, but usually Friday or Saturday 2-8pm (GMT).
The resources are available 2 weeks before the first Lesson and ClassRoom to allow you to explore the environment. Enrolment closes after the first ClassRoom. The course resources are maintained for a month after the finish of the course.
The courses do not issue completion certificates and there are no compulsory assignments, activities or expectations. What you take from the course is reflected on your own preferences.
Activities
Between the Classrooms a Study Group forum is set up to enable all participants to work together and share their learning. The Teacher will monitor these forums and be pro-active where help is needed.
Each course has a Course Mentor who will actively keep the Study Group on topic and provide feedback and learning support.
There is a rich range of activities in the virtual learning environment with
- Glossaries and Wikis developed by the participants to build an excellent information resource.
- Questionaires, quizzes and polls to evaluate your learning and ideas.
- Assignments for individual feedback from the Teacher.
- Blogs, reading material and four types of Forums.
Lessons
Activities for each lesson will vary from course to course. But the rich benefits of learning in the virtual environment will be fully exploited.
Samples activities:
- Watching a video:
learning to observe body language
anticipating when to click
counting movements
record keeping rate of reinforcement
observing the placement of the teaching aids
- Making plans
identifying the aims for your learning
the aims for the dog’s learning
how you are going to structure the learning
what resources you will need
what skills and experience both you and the dog already have
the learning gap
measuring progress
- Discussing your training
giving feedback on what you are teaching
turning observation into analysis
learning to recognise progress
- Breaking down your learning
following the lesson exercises & training plans
testing your understanding of the plan
brainstorming new ideas
- Working with other trainers
gaining experience through the learning of others
exploring different learning styles with different breeds
give feedback
Resources
You will need to access the internet on a regular basis, broadband will lessen the level of frustration, but it is not essential. Depending on the course requirements you will need to keep a folder of the lessons and training exercises, course material, personal journals etc.
Lessons are published in Word documents (.doc), videos lesson can be downloaded to your own computer. There are no larger than 8mb, and in Apple QuickTime which can be downloaded free. Videos from other participants are published on a range of video sharing programmes such as YouTube, Flip etc.
You will need a suitable dog for the course, plus access to a training environment. This may be your own house, garden or local facility depending on the course. The details for each course will give you any specific resources or previous experience you may need.
You may find it useful to be able to video your own training. This helps with observation, analysis and may be posted for other viewers. But a video facility is certainly not essential.
Joining
When you enrol for a class, you will be sent details to join the COLLAR Community: “Learn More Wag More”. This is a complete virtual campus containing a resources to share with learners on all the courses, forums for your own course, access to the course resources, documents and activities.
Your account will remain open until you have not been active for more than 90 days when you will automatically be un-enrolled from COLLAR.
Support
Each course has a Course Mentor who can help you with the subject matter, exercises and activities. If this is your first experience of COLLAR you will be assigned a Course Buddy to help you for the first 4 weeks.
Payment and Fees
Enrolment is through our online shopping facility. You will be sent confirmation of your payment. Two weeks before the course begins you will be sent a username and password to log in to COLLAR, and the key for your course.
The fee includes sales tax for residents in the UK and European Union. If you live outside that area this will be deducted.
Discount Membership
There is a one year Membership of 40 pounds (plus VAT) to COLLAR that gives you a 20% discount on all course that you enrol on during that year.
Members have their own area for activities, shared resources and open days. When the fee is paid you will be given a log in name and password for the online shop to enable the discounts for the COLLAR courses.
If you have already attended 3 courses you will automatically be eligible for Membership discounts - please apply for your name and password.
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