Instructions for participants

1. General information about the e-course

This e-course focuses on designing communication in teaching and on selecting digital tools for collaboration. In addition to introducing these tools, it provides an overview of microlearning activities. Participants will learn the fundamentals of using online collaborative events in educational contexts and how to address common pedagogical challenges through available digital technologies. The course also covers the planning and implementation of online collaborative events, as well as the use of analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of online tools. Ultimately, participants will learn how to increase the visibility and dissemination of scientific and educational content while adhering to security and ethical standards.

This e-course, intended for teachers at HEIs, covers the following topics:

• T1 Communication in teaching
  T2 Selection and application of digital tools for communication and collaboration
  T3 Online collaborative events in an educational context
  T4 Using digital technologies to solve pedagogical problems
  T5 Security and ethical aspects of the application of digital communication technologies
  T6 Evaluation and monitoring of the impact of digital technologies
  T7 Using digital technology for visibility and popularization of one's own academic work

Number of ECTS credits: 3
Attendees: teachers at higher education institutions

The objectives of the e-course are:

• to introduce participants to available digital technologies (DT) for communication
• to teach participants how to choose digital technologies appropriate for their own educational context
• to train participants in the creation of collaborative educational online events in teaching
• to enable participants to conduct an evaluation of applied digital tools in the online educational process
• to teach participants how to improve their own visibility and presence in relation to scientific and teaching (academic) work.

Learning outcomes:

• LO1 Apply three different digital tools for designing and conducting interactive online lectures
• LO2 Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of selected platforms for collaboration in group projects
• LO3 Plan collaborative activities using digital technologies to present academic work
• LO4 Evaluate the security and ethical aspects of the application of digital communication technologies in higher education
• LO5 Organize and moderate an online collaborative event (e.g., virtual conference, workshop) using planning, invitation, and evaluation tools
• LO6 Design a comprehensive protocol for conducting advanced virtual meetings and webinars, justifying pedagogical and technical decisions.

2. Method of work

3. Structure of the e-course

The e-course consists of seven thematic units. The following table shows the percentage by which each of the seven topics contributes to a particular learning outcome at the e-course level.

E-course structure and learning outcomes at the level of topics:

1. Communication in teaching
   This section will cover the following topics: Communication approaches to teaching supported by technology; Recording and analysis of interactive microlectures; Planning and conducting a microworkshop.
   The objectives of this unit are to introduce students to forms of communication in teaching with a special focus on microlearning and synchronous communication and the tools that support it; to explain to students the importance of microactivities (microlessons, microlectures) in the educational environment of higher education; to teach students how to create their own microlearning activities such as microworkshops.
2. Selecting and applying digital tools for communication and collaboration
   This section will cover the following topics: Videoconferencing tools; Digital technology for teamwork; Protocols for webinars and meetings.
   The objectives of this unit are: to give students an overview of available digital tools for communication and collaboration; using the example of a SWOT analysis of these tools, explain their advantages and disadvantages in the higher education environment; teach participants how to evaluate digital educational technologies from the aspect of group/teamwork; teach participants how to develop a webinar protocol.
3. Online collaborative events in the educational context
   This section will cover the following topics: Collaboration in an online environment; Videoconferencing in the educational environment.
   The objectives of this unit are: to introduce participants to the basic concepts and tools for collaboration in an online environment; to teach participants how to apply three different digital tools for interactive online educational events; to teach participants how to successfully organize and conduct online meetings using a systematic approach.
4. Using digital technology for visibility and popularization
   This section will cover the topic of Using digital tools to solve pedagogical problems.
   The objective of this unit is: to introduce participants to digital tools and solutions that can help them solve pedagogical situations in an online educational environment.
5. Security and ethical aspects of the application of digital communication technologies 
   This section will cover the following topics: Security and ethical aspects; Ethical dilemmas.
   The objectives of this unit are: to familiarize participants with the basic legal framework related to the security and ethical aspects of the use of digital technologies; to teach participants how to recognize possible security and ethical challenges when choosing digital tools and how to approach them systematically; to give participants the opportunity to discuss ethical dilemmas related to the use of digital tools in education.
6. Evaluation and monitoring of the impact of digital technologies
   This section will cover the following topics: Evaluation and monitoring of the impact of digital technologies; User satisfaction. The objectives of this unit are: to instruct participants on how to evaluate the use of individual digital tools and technologies in their own e-course; to teach participants how to conduct a user satisfaction survey in their own e-course.
7. Using digital technology for the visibility and popularization of one's own academic work
   In this section, the following topics will be covered: Visibility of scientists and institutions; Multimedia in the service of science popularization; Podcast in education and science.
   The goals of this unit are: to familiarize participants with the concepts of visibility of scientists and higher education institution in a digital environment; to teach participants how to actively work on raising their own and higher education institution's visibility; explain to participants how to use multimedia for popularization activities (with special reference to interactive content); teach participants how to record an episode of their own podcast on the topic of education and science.

4. Technical information about the system in which the e-course is held

5. Minimum technical requirements for attending the e-course

• Types of content in the e-course:

  • Educational multimedia (mostly textual) materials (e.g. lessons and pages) are available in the Loomen system by opening them directly in a web browser, and it is also possible to download all materials in PDF format. Therefore, the user needs to have a PDF reader installed. If, for example, Firefox or Chrome is used, a PDF reader is not required because PDF can also be opened in a web browser.
  • The video lessons are originally on CARNET's Meduza multimedia portal, and are integrated into Loomen pages, so they can be accessed without leaving the Loomen system. To watch video lessons, an internet connection of at least 2 Mbit/s is required. In addition, it is necessary to use headphones or a speaker.
  • The practical part of the task is done in a spreadsheet calculator and it is necessary that the participant has the appropriate tool installed, MS Excel is recommended.
  • The assessment activities in the e-course are supported by the appropriate functionalities of the Loomen system and no other technical prerequisites are required. The tests open entirely in a web browser and no other technical prerequisites are required.
  • Synchronous activities on the course take place using the BigBlueButton platform, which is integrated into the Loomen system, and the technical prerequisites for participating in synchronous activities include a microphone, headphones, and internet speed (preferably 5Mbit/s or higher).

6. Student obligations

It is recommended that participants participate in as many activities as possible: reviewing and analyzing video lessons and educational materials, practical activities, and more. During the implementation of the e-course, it is possible to collect points, up to 87. The following table provides a list of mandatory activities in the e-course by topics, methods of implementation, and the possible number of points achieved. The course is considered passed if at least 44 points are achieved in total, with at least a third of the points achieved in all activities that are scored. Also, participants earn the "Digital Technologies for Communication, Collaboration, and Professional Development" badge, which is automatically awarded when the following criteria are met: all test-type knowledge tests are completed and all task-type activities are completed.

7. Contact information

8. Rules of conduct during the course

In order to collaborate better, we have defined certain rules of conduct during the e-course.

1. Respect other participants as if they were in the same room with you. In communication, cultivate a culture of respect and constructive dialogue. Behind every username is a real person - kindness and empathy are the key to a positive learning environment.
2. Use professional and clear language. Try to write grammatically correct, avoid using capital letters (which can be interpreted as shouting), and try to express your thoughts clearly. Inappropriate or offensive messages are not acceptable.
3. Focus on the topic and be concise. Your comments, replies and messages should be related to the topic and structured so that they are understandable to others. You help yourself and your colleagues when you express yourself clearly and focused.
4. Participate actively and in a timely manner. Your activity contributes to the quality of shared learning. Try to check notifications regularly, respond to assignments by the given deadlines, and participate in discussions.
5.  Maintain privacy and confidentiality of information. Do not share personal information about other participants without their express consent. Also, be careful when sharing your own information in public areas of the e-course.
6. Do not post promotional content or spam. The e-course is not a place for advertising, sending chain letters, or political messages. The focus should be on the e-course content and mutual learning.
7. Express disagreement in a constructive way. Direct the criticism towards the content or the idea, not towards the person. If you disagree, argue your opinion while respecting different points of view.
8. Communicate through appropriate channels. For technical and organizational issues, use the designated forums or contact  the course mentors through official channels. Informal communication is welcome in designated areas, while respecting basic rules of etiquette.
9. Prepare to participate in virtual meetings. If the e-course includes video meetings, it is recommended to use a camera (when possible), stay in a quiet environment, and only join in when you have a comment or question. Be respectful of others' time and do not disrupt the flow of work.
10. Act in accordance with ethical and legal standards. Respect copyright, institutional policies, and applicable laws. Unauthorized use of content, plagiarism, or sharing of confidential information is not permitted.

This e-course is available for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. When using the work, we suggest attributing the work as follows:
Klindžić J. (2025) Digitalne tehnologije za komunikaciju, suradnju i profesionalni razvoj. First edition of CARNET's e-course. Retrieved from https://usavrsavanje.loomen.carnet.hr/course/view.php?id=3592

Why these rules? The goal is to ensure a quality, inclusive, and professional learning environment in which everyone feels comfortable.

What if the rules are broken? In case of non-compliance, the e-course managers can warn you, and in more serious situations, take further steps in accordance with the institution's regulations.

Who is responsible? All e-course participants share responsibility for maintaining a positive and professional atmosphere.

9. Bibliography

A list of references used in the preparation of the e-course can be found on the front page of this e-course on this link. If you are particularly interested in a topic, we recommend that you further study the listed bibliography.