A Smooth Start With Online Learning | HOP Crash Course 2022

by Michael Kimmig · Published 15/08/2022 · Updated 14/08/2022

HOP Crash Course 2022 is a blended online training, that combines an online course elements with a series of online live events about bringing your first course online. The course covered quality aspects of non-formal online learning and the implementation on the HOP Online Learning platform. Between May and June 2022, 9 participants went through a five-week process of exploring the learning management functionalities of the Moodle-based HOP platform while bringing their non-formal learning approach in line with online course design. The HOP Crash Course 2022 was organised by SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus Resource Centre.

The HOP Crash Course 2022 concentrated on quality aspects of non-formal online learning within the field of International Youth Work as well as possibilities of the HOP Online Learning platform. The concept of this course was based on our experience with two previous versions (ccHOP 2020, ccHOP 2021) both carried out fully online. Although this year a blended version with a residential part would have been possible, we decided to stay online.

HOP Crash Course 2022 | A short overview

Course aims

The aim of the course is twofold: to raise the understanding of what is QUALITY in online learning activities within non-formal education in the youth field as well as to DISCOVER the potential of the HOP Online Learning Platform.

The course set the following goals:

to enrich participants with understanding quality in online learning, specifically in the youth work field following principles of non-formal education;
to make participants more confident to create online courses in various formats (blended and stand-alone online courses with small and big numbers of learners, facilitated and self-paced)
to make participants well acquainted with different possibilities to deliver online learning at HOP platform in an engaging, interactive and learner-centred way.

Participants’ profile

trainers/facilitators/creators of online learning activities;
NAs/SALTOs officers willing to support online learning;
preferably already having idea of an online course they like to create;
communicating in English

All in all, 22 participants had been selected. From this group:

9 participants attended the “full” version of the HOP Crash Course 2022;
5 participants attended the 1-3 online live events and then did not show up/cancelled;
8 participants either cancelled or did not respond at all.

Course facilitators

Nerijus Kriaučiūnas, HOP Council
Michael Kimmig, HOP Council
Tomek Szopa, SALTO EECA & HOP platform

Course organisers

SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus (SALTO Resource Centre)

Course design

The “full” version of the crash course consisted of several blended elements: 10 live events (on ZOOM), the online course “Plan, create, publish your first online course on HOP” (on HOP), course development (in teams and/or individually) and One2One Mentoring Meetings. The course started on March 22nd 2021 and finished on May 11th 2021.

HOP Crash Course 2022 | Course Design

The HOP Crash Course 2022 was based on our experience with the previous editions, in 2020 and 2021

Course Format

2022, we planned the third edition also as a blended format: “blended” in an understanding that we mixed the online course “Plan, create, publish your first online course on HOP” (asynchronous learning) with online live events (synchronous learning).

The crash course started on May 23rd 2022 by first email communication to the selected participants. On the 27th May all selected participants were invited to register for Zoom sessions and enrol to the online course HOP! Plan, create and publish your first online course. On the 31st May the learning group met for the first Zoom live meeting.

Course Elements

HOP Course enrolment, 23rd May – 30th May: enrolling into the HOP Course “HOP! Plan, create and publish your first online course” and exploring the content on “Online learning and course creation”.

Onboarding Meeting, 31st May 14:00-16:00 CET: onboarding, getting to know each other, introducing to the Crash Course in general and accompanying “Plan, create and publish” in particular, getting familiar with HOP initiative, and practically with the HOP platform.

4 MeetUPs, 1st June 14:00-16:00 CET, 6th June 14:00-16:00 CET, 14th June 14:00-16:00 CET and 21st June 14:00-16:00 CET: to explore quality criteria of non-formal online learning, introduce and explore functionalities of the HOP platform, experiment with a course activities, designing and implementing a course module with interactive activities on HOP, reflect on approaches of online course design:

Evaluation Meeting, 23th June 14:00-16:00 CET: presentation of course projects, reflection of design process, celebration and evaluation of the HOP Crash Course

HOP Crash Course Documentation

Presentations, discussion results and many methods and tools used can be found on our HOP Crash Course Padlet.

Course reviews

“It’s worth to participate in the course . You will learn a lot about designing online courses”

“The course is a good first step into the HOP platform. It contains practical tips and saves you time that you would spend exploring all the possibilities by yourself.”

“The Hop Platform is really amazing, as you can organize and implement your course on it by using different useful digital tools! The experience was really unique!”