Online education provides opportunities for flexible learning as part of busy lives in Northern Norway. It allows farmers to learn while working on their tractors, taxi drivers to study while waiting for customers, and reindeer herders to earn a degree while caring for their herds in the mountains. Examples are given of courses in economics for farmers delivered through podcasts and online assignments, and a licensing course for taxi drivers delivered in small "nano" portions for study on the go. Flexible online education can accommodate various urban and rural lifestyles and locations.

1. Online education
as part of
busy life
in the North
Norwegian Association for
Distance and Flexible Education
Torhild Slåtto

2. hundred years ago …

3. Ernst G. Mortensen went to
America to learn…
First course: Accounting

4. Technology: Online tools – many platforms
Students: Urban – rural, young – adults, on
travel – living abroad, Norwegian children
abroad etc. etc.
3 examples
on the tractor seat (iPod)
while waiting for customers (smart phone)
in the mountain cabin (mini computers)

5. Being a
farmer
- a financial
challenge

6. Course in economics for
farmers:
Online, modulized
Podcasts
Assignments
Contact with online teacher
Opportunity:
Listen to podcasts while
plowing, harrowing or fertilizing

7. The taxi driver who wants to
start her/his own taxi company
need a license

8. Provided by NKI
The course is chopped up in small pieces
The taxi driver receives small «nano» portions
every week
Studies while waiting for customers (– or at
home – cafe – library)
Reading, assignments, questions, communicati
on with teacher, testing
Getting prepared for exam – passing exam
Result: License for taxi business
«Nano learning»

9. Climate change
is
a big issue

10. Work in the
mountains
+
part time
education

11. Theory and practice for the Nordic
Sami people

12. BA in reindeer husbandry – opportunity to
study their own profession
Study while looking after the reindeer
herd in the mountains
Making tacit knowledge visible (project
assignments)
Learning from science
(ecology, meteorology, biology, geology
etc.)
Sami University, Kautokeino

13. What will happen
in the next
100
years?