and the award of credit will increase the entitlement and opportunities available to learndirect learners.
“Learners taking part in this project will be able to achieve credit by completing a learndirect course, and seek progression within the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales. On completion of the pilot we will look to evaluate the potential for assigning credit to a wider range of learndirect courses.”
There is a parallel project running in England which will look at how attracting and retaining learners, and the achievement and progression of learners are affected by credit-based learndirect courses.
on e-learning
and more effective for teaching staff when incorporated as part of a blended approach.
“learndirect has almost 600 courses available in a wide variety of subjects and many of these are provided with online tutor support. These workshops have given us the opportunity to promote the versatility of our online courses and the opportunities they offer.”
A selection of learndirect courses in Wales will be assigned credit value in line with the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) as part of a pilot project.
It is hoped the project will demonstrate that credit can be successfully assigned to selected learndirect courses using units of assessment. Credit enables small steps of achievement to be recognised within the CQFW and learners will be able to accumulate and transfer credit achieved through learndirect courses towards other learning, including recognised qualifications.
The CQFW gives individuals the opportunity to develop skills, demonstrate achievements and fulfil their potential. Assigning credit to recognised learning programmes, which could include learndirect courses, will ensure that progression is recognised and measured wherever, whenever and however it is achieved. The pilot project in Wales is
one of a series of CQFW projects exploring how non-formal and informal learning can be brought into the national framework. The project is running in Coleg Llandrillo, where activity will focus mainly on college-based learners between the ages of 16 and 19, and in Deeside College, focusing on a diverse group of adults, including some older learners.
Ufi Cymru are working with the Open College Network for Wales to develop learning units and to explore e-assessment and moderation. Credit will be awarded by the OCN.
The project is developing credit-bearing units for learndirect’s introductory IT courses; Switch On & Surf Direct, and literacy courses from the A Way with Words series at Entry level 3.
Development Officer for Ufi Cymru, Angela Fomison said: “The needs of the learner have always driven Ufi’s development agenda
Workshop team spread the word
Ufi Cymru is working with RSC Wales to provide a series of information workshops, highlighting the resources available for e-learning across Wales.
The organisations have teamed up to deliver training and awareness-raising days in locations across Wales. Each workshop focuses on a specific theme and provides information on courses and support available from e-learning providers to complement and enhance the college curriculum.
Events have taken place in Swansea College, Barry College, Yale College and Merthyr Tydfil College, focusing on Travel & Tourism, Hair & Beauty and Business and Economics and Building & Construction respectively.
Peter Scott, ILT Advisor for RSC Wales said: “The
events have been a great success so far and have provided an excellent opportunity for college staff to find out about available e-learning resources relevant to their specific disciplines. They have been attended by a wide range of college staff including curriculum managers, teaching staff, ILT staff and Vice Principals.
“We aim to highlight the availability of ready made, easy to use, high quality e-learning resources which can be utilised and embedded into the college curriculum.”
Partnership Manager for Ufi Cymru, Nici Jones, has attended and presented at each event so far. She said: “E-learning aims to make learning more accessible to individuals and can make curriculum study both more interesting for the learner
