3.1.2. Course description development for open access
One of the main documents used to plan the MicroCredential fields is the course description. The course description is prepared by the lecturers who teach the course. The course teachers shall fill in a form for the description of the course, which must be agreed with the administration of the institution. The course description shall also be coordinated with the organisation's administration.
The course description shall contain the necessary data for the issue of the microcredential, which shall then be entered into the virtual learning environment Moodle. The description shall contain all the basic information about the subject, its assessment and the lecturers teaching it.
The data required for the MicroCredential course description are shown in the table.
No of line | Title of the course description | Example of information included | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1. | Education field in which course belong | i.e. science, art, humanities, education, technology… | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. | Education institution/ department, faculty | Name of Education institution/ department, faculty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3. | Author/ Teacher/ Trainer | The name, title, field of expertise and affiliation of author | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4. | Information about the teacher/ trainer | Introduce yourselves briefly (your areas of interests, courses taught, membership in other organisations, link to your blog or website) – 100 words maximum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5. | Photo (attached by separate file) | Course picture. Picture size 300x400 pixels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6. | The scope of the learning programme by academic hours and ECTS | Duration of learning and scope e.g. 1 ECTS or 26,67 academic hours, which includes 10 ac. hours group learning and rest 16,67 is independent learning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7. | The aim of the learning programme | Based on need analyses and competences (e.g. defined in formal learning program). This is the business card of your course! Present the key question(s) that are addressed in the course, relate the questions and topics with the latest news, society discussions, media and other. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8. | Target group | Identify main target group | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9. | Course language | Language of tuition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10. | Course level | Beginner, intermediate, advanced, if applicable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11. | Formal entry requirements | Describe entry requirements, if applicable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12. | Course delivery | Mentored and/ or self-learning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13. | Course duration | In weeks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14. | Competences/ learning outcomes | Choose appropriate learning outcomes (e.g. from formal curriculum in relation with competences), having in mind target group need analyses and expected scope of non formal learning program. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15. | Main topics (content) | Shortly present topics, course/program. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16. | Pedagogical approach and interactivity | Describe main learning activities, learning methods, and the level and form of interactivity used in the course. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17. | Distribution of learning hours |
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18. | Assessment strategy | How you assess student performance (knowledge, skills, competences). What are the requirements? Describe a formative and summative approach during learning. Decide on number and type of assignments. Choose appropriate criteria for different types of assignments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19. | Certification/ MicroCredential | Requirements for general certification in case of completion of a learning programme. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20. | Credentialisation | Describe if recognition of intermediate achievements is implemented in the course (e.g. by digital badges). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21. | Link of the course with the formal curricular | Describe the links with existing formal curricula in VET (or links with vocational standards) or HE (or links with EQF or NQF). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22. | Type of Creative Commons licence for the course |
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23. | Course Description | add a short description of the course | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24. | Form of study | Part time or full time | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25. | Learning opportunity type | Learning opportunity Type Suggested standard vocabulary to use: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/concept-scheme/-/resource?uri=http://data.europa.eu/snb/learning-opportunity/25831c2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
26. | Mode of study | Online, face to face, blended, etc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27. | Assessment method |
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28. | Format of assessment | automatic grading, manual grading, both, no grading | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
29. | Procedural requirements for learner authentification and ID verification | no verification of a learner, online assessment without ID verification of a learner with secure login into LMS, etc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30. | Related ESCO Skill(s) | Using corresponding ESCO URI e.g. ‘provide training on e-learning’ http://data.europa.eu/esco/skill/93a2f730-d5f6-4604-a25e-a2ee206ea468 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
31. | Industry Support | The assurance that microcredentials meet an industry need and reflect skills sought by employers. For example, a statement of support from industry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
32. | Any other microcredentials that a microcredential combines with (stacking) that lead to an overall certification being awarded upon completion, or entry into a further course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Table 1. Course description for MicroCredential