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The aim of the NCS Online College - the online courses arm of The New Curiosity Shop - is to provide high quality online courses in a wide range of topics. At the New Curiosity Shop we encourage learning for the pleasure of learning, and our short courses are designed to stimulate thinking, provoke questions and provide opportunities for our students to explore ideas. Each course is written for the NCS Online College by the tutor, who is not only an experienced teacher but also an expert in the subject. We encourage Internet users from all over the world to become active learners at the NCS Online College, working with the tutors and their fellow students.

Why the NCS Online College?

The current drive in education is for: lower costs; increased productivity; the clamour for qualifications and of jumping through hoops to improve job prospects. In industry and commerce the ugly phrase 'just-in-time training' has taken hold.

Learning for the sake of learning is becoming an endangered species. The NCS Online College is attempting to address that, and our courses are designed to encourage a sense of curiosity, generate a sense of discovery, and provide an enjoyable and supportive learning experience. We think there is a need to nurture the ability to ask "why?".

What does a course in the NCS Online College look like?

Each course is written in a partnership between the NCS Online College and the tutor. Materials are a mixture of text, graphics, audio, video and some interactive multimedia, but most importantly the course encourages the students to interact with the tutor and their fellow students, recognising that learning is a social process. Further, activities relate strongly to the 'real' world, and students often have to bring their findings back to the group to share.

A course will typically last for six weeks, and we would expect students to work for two to four hours a week over that period. Each course runs at set times through the year to encourage group activities and moral support.

Who are the courses aimed at?

Anyone who is mentally active, inquisitive, and enjoys learning. Students can be from anywhere in the world and from any background: just bring a brain with an itch that needs scratching.

Who is behind the New Curiosity Shop?

No conglomerates, corporates or multi-million dollar industry backing here. The New Curiosity Shop is the brain child of two Edinburgh educationalists, both of whom have a passion for learning, an appreciation of the technology and a desire to change attitudes in a world moving far too quickly for its own good.

They are:

Noel Chidwick and Dr W Arthur Chapman

Noel has many years experience in developing online learning in many guises. Before setting up the New Curiosity Shop with Arthur he was a senior lecturer in an Edinburgh College, in ICT in the Curriculum.

He created Scotland's Virtual College, the first virtual learning environment (before the phrase was invented!) in Scottish Further Education. He was seconded to Learning and Teaching Scotland where he ran many workshops and conferences on online learning at all levels: school, FE and HE. He has also been a consultant to the Scottish Further Education Unit where he researched and developed models for online learning.

Noel has written a number of papers and made many presentations on the theme of online learning. He is also editor of ScotFEICT, an online journal on issues related to online learning.

Arthur has been teaching computing since 1984. Before setting up the New Curiosity Shop with Noel he was a senior lecturer at the same Edinburgh College where he was Course Team Leader for the HNC and HND Computing courses. He has had many years experience as an online tutor and online course developer. He has written two popular books on Programming in C and C++.

Prior to taking up FE lecturing he carried out research in atmospheric physics at Heriot Watt University. Whilst studying physics for his first degree he was introduced to the Two Cultures by C P Snow which encouraged him to develop his intertest in the arts and, in particular, question the widening gap between science and the humanities. After completing his PhD he studied with the Open University, taking courses in the humanities where he continued to develop his interest in philosophy. His experience as an open learning student has provided valuable insights into this aspect of learning and how it extends to online learning.

How do I contact the New Curiosity Shop?

There are many ways - the contact page wil tell you how.