Students around the world preparing for English proficiency testing now have access to a new online course offered by Â鶹ÊÓƵ of Queensland.
It is one of two new free courses, with the other designed to attract people interested in “thinking about thinking”.
Associate Professor Deborah Brown said developed the cognitive skills and philosophical ideas needed for a thinking economy.
“It looks at how thinking and argument allow us to frame and approach some of life’s big questions, from how we can know about the world and ourselves, to what it means to be thinking in the first place,” said Dr Brown, who developed the course with fellow academic, Peter Ellerton.
Both are from Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s .
“META101x is an introductory course aimed at senior secondary school students and first-year university students, though as with courses, anyone with internet access can enrol.
“The course is short and intense (four weeks), and will transform how you think and engage with the world.”
Each of the four modules is being released weekly, with the first available this week.
The English course – – has been developed by the Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education (ICTE-Â鶹ÊÓƵ) to assist students preparing for assessment through the .
TESOL Director of Studies Iain Mathieson said the course was designed for people who did not have English as a first language.
“The self-paced course provides about 80 hours of interactive practice materials covering the four skills tested: listening, speaking, reading and writing,” he said.
“To develop the course we have leveraged the expertise of ICTE-Â鶹ÊÓƵ, which has been helping students prepare for the academic IELTS test for more than 25 years.
“The ICTE-Â鶹ÊÓƵ staff are excited to have the opportunity to share their IELTS test knowledge and expertise with not only test-takers here at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, but now with students from all around the world.
“Each section of the course includes engaging video and audio presentations that cover key test-taking skills, strategies and techniques.
“Students complete a wide variety of authentic IELTS-style exercises and activities which provide focused practice of the skills, strategies and techniques that test-takers need to perform at their best.”
The two new Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) – were part funded through edX’s High School Initiative, which produces MOOCs geared towards secondary school students from around the world.
Â鶹ÊÓƵx Director John Zornig said the new courses would suit prospective students who wanted to create change in themselves and to ensure they were university-ready.
“Well-developed English language and critical thinking skills are essential for any student about to embark on their higher education journey,” Mr Zornig said.
“Â鶹ÊÓƵx hopes these courses will benefit students wherever they may choose to study. We also hope it might lead them to enrol in a traditional program of study at Â鶹ÊÓƵ.”
Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology founded in 2012. It offers stimulating and engaging free online education.
Media: Â鶹ÊÓƵx Course Project Manager Catherine Bennett, enquiries@uqx.uq.edu.au, +61 (7) 3346 0850.
