Proximity Course Development is a new start-up enterprise drawing on the proven talents and expertise of a small team of highly experienced writers and designers. All of us have worked on contract to universities, colleges and NGOs over the past two decades, developing a wide range of courses up to post-graduate level since the 1990s. We have also kept abreast of new developments in educational technology and online course design approaches. We understand:
– the different level descriptors associated with the various academic levels on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), including the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF)
– the critical importance of teaching/learning texts being accessible (epistemological access) and engaging, especially where the subject matter is necessarily complex or involves fine distinctions
– that there are academically legitimate ways (always keeping higher order cognitive engagement in view) to ensure that students do not have to struggle to learn a discourse that is new to them, especially if they are studying remotely. And that some, but not all, of these means depend on the skilful and appropriate use of digital learning technologies
– the centrality of pedagogic content knowledge – employing the active learning approaches and technologies appropriate to each subject or content domain that will challenge students and help them to achieve understanding, insight, and the ability to apply, evaluate and transfer knowledge.