1 / 35

Re-engineering Academic Programmes Using ECTS and Learning Outcomes

Re-engineering Academic Programmes Using ECTS and Learning Outcomes. Dr Philippos Pouyioutas University of Nicosia Research Foundation ReProTool and UNILO Information Day/Workshop 2 nd March 2012. Presentation Topics. Learning Outcomes – Background Information and Definitions

santo
Download Presentation

Re-engineering Academic Programmes Using ECTS and Learning Outcomes

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Re-engineering Academic Programmes Using ECTS and Learning Outcomes Dr Philippos Pouyioutas University of Nicosia Research Foundation ReProTool and UNILO Information Day/Workshop 2nd March 2012

  2. Presentation Topics • Learning Outcomes – Background Information and Definitions • Intended Learning Outcomes of the Presentation • Re-engineering Academic Programmes Using ECTS and Learning Outcomes • A Case Study – A 2-year Project at the University of Nicosia • Conclusions

  3. 1. Learning Outcomes – Background Information and Definitions

  4. Learning Outcomes • “Learning outcomes describe what alearner is expected to know, understandand be able to do after successful completionof a process of learning.” • “Learning outcomes statements are typically characterised by the use of active verbs expressing knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation, etc.” http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc/ects/guide_en.pdf

  5. Writing Learning Outcomes - Verbs • To be Used • create, plan, revise, analyze, design, select, utilize, apply, demonstrate, prepare, use, compute, discuss, explain, predict, assess, compare, rate, calculate, etc • Not to be used • know, become aware of, appreciate, learn, understand, become familiar with, etc.

  6. Verbs to be Used

  7. Example- The Objectives of the Course are to: • make students aware of the various database models (emphasis on post-relational models) and database systems • provide students with deep knowledge for developing database applications and fundamental knowledge for developing web-based database applications • cover in detail all aspects of the SQL language (including security, authorization, optimization, embedded SQL) • thoroughly discuss the object-oriented database model, standards and languages and compare this model with the relational model • discuss Data Warehousing, OLAP, Data Mining, Web Technology and XML • introduce state-of-the art research in the area of databases.

  8. Example - After Completing the Course Students are Expected to be Able to: • critically compare and evaluate database models and database systems • design and develop database applications using commercially available database systems • enhance and fine-tune database applications with regards to security, authorization and optimization • develop web-based database applications at an intermediate level • critically assess post-relational database models and especially the object-relational database model, standards and languages • develop advanced queries using the SQL language • research in state-of-the art areas in databases systems.

  9. LOs should be SMART • Specific (clear and unambiguous, clearly communicated to and understood by students) • Measurable (objectively assessed) • Achievable (at the right level and possible to be achieved by students) • Realistic • Time Specific (possible to be achieved within the timeframe of the programme/course)

  10. LOs at Various Levels • Bologna Process • European Qualifications Framework • European Standards in Disciplines/Subject Areas • National Qualifications Framework • Institutional Level – Programme Level • Course Level • Task Level

  11. http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/educ/eqf/rec08_en.pdf European Qualifications Framework

  12. National Qualifications Frameworks Figure 1 : Mapping NQFs to EQF (adopted from EQF Newsletter April 2010 eac-eqf-newsletter@ec.europa.eu)

  13. Usefulness of LOs • Provide a common platform for Transparency, Comparability, Transferability and Recognition of Programmes • Students become aware of what they will be able to do after completion of the courses and the programme • Faculty are forced to rethink of the curriculum and make sure that each LO is assessed • Employers know what graduates are able to do • Careers Officers can match employers requirements to graduates knowledge, skills and competences (L0s) • Erasmus co-ordinators and Academic Departments are facilitated when developing exchange agreements for students and faculty • Professional Associations can map Programmes to their requirements • Quality Assurance Agencies are facilitated when conducting audits of programmes and when evaluating European awards (through the EQF-NQF mapping)

  14. Quality Assurance Agencies and LOs • QAA are in the process of modifying their accreditation/validation rules and procedures to incorporate L0s. Most probably QAA audits will be looking at evidence that • all stakeholders were involved in the formulation of a programme’s LOs • there is consistency of LOs according to their level (e.g. 1st Cycle LOs match EQF and NQF corresponding level) • there is consistency of a programme’s LOs with the LOs specified in European Standards/Sector frameworks, benchmarks, etc.) • a programme’s LOs comply with technical qualifications frameworks at National Level • there is consistency and comparability among LOs across the institution and its programmes • the institution provides all resources so that LOs are SMART, are assessed and are met by students

  15. 2. Intended Learning Outcomes of the Presentation

  16. Intended LOs of the Presentation (bearing in mind the diversity of the audience) • Compare and contrast the LO approach in re-engineering academic programmes with the one currently used at your institution • Develop a plan (with scheduled actions and tasks) to re-engineer the programmes of your institution using the LO approach • Re-engineer your courses using LOs • Work with colleagues in building a programme’s LOs and ensuring that the supporting courses provide support for the LOs • Provide supporting arguments as to how your courses achieve the programme’s LOs • Defend your programmes and courses in front of evaluation/audit/accreditation teams • Develop reports that provide evidence for the correct implementation of the LO approach • Strengthen the link between employers and students

  17. 3. Re-engineering Academic Programmes Using Learning Outcomes

  18. What is Re-engineering in terms of Business Information Systems? • Rethinking of the Business Processes • Not automating existing processes • Redesigning Business Processes • Restructuring the organization • Automating the newly designed processes • Sometimes creating a new type of organization

  19. What is Re-engineering in terms of academic programmes? • Rethinking of the academic programmes • Redesigning the academic programmes • Restructuring the academic programmes • Sometimes creating new academic programmes

  20. Academic Programme • Programme Structure (thematic areas and clusters of courses, core, elective, etc. courses, pre-requisites, co-requisites, semester breakdown, etc.) • Programme and Course Content • Aims and Objectives usually expressed from the programme/course point of view and referring to knowledge and skills to be given to /cultivated in students • Topic areas and description of material to be covered • Delivery Methods • Teaching and Learning • Resources (Labs, Books, etc.) • Assessment

  21. Bologna Process • Empowering the student • Learner (student) – centre learning • Faculty members become educators and facilitators of the learning process and not teachers • Learner feedback/input/active participation • Industry feedback • Professional Associations feedback/input

  22. ECTS and Re-engineering of Academic Programmes • ECTS forces you to re-think carefully of the programme structure (plan yearly load to 60 ECTS, semester load to 30 ECTS) • ECTS forces you to re-think carefully the content of the programme from the point of view of the student (Learning Outcomes (LOs) vs. Aims and Objectives) • ECTS forces you to re-think carefully the delivery methods of the programme (Teaching and Learning and Assessment of Learning Outcomes)

  23. Programme LOs vs Course LOs • A programme consists of many courses • A Programme has a number of programme LOs (PLOs) • A Course has a number of course LOs (CLOs) • A PLO must be supported by at least one course • A course can support many PLOs

  24. Programme LOs vs. Courses

  25. 4. A Case Study – A 2-year Project at the University of Nicosia Cyprus Bologna Conference/Workshop, 13-14 September 2010

  26. Re-engineering Academic Programmes Using ECTS and LOs • Proposal approved by the University of Nicosia Senate in September 2008 • Project Stared in October 2008 and was completed in June 2010 • Project was co-ordinated by the Vice Rector • Project was audited by the University’s Internal Quality Assurance Auditor

  27. Check List

  28. Check List

  29. Problems Encountered • Resistance to change • Initial questioning on the usefulness of the project (was considered as a bureaucratic, administrative process not leading to any real academic benefits); this changed after some time and all were very thankful that the process helped them for the re-evaluation of the programmes by ECPU • Difficulty in writing Learning Outcomes and differentiating between knowledge, skills and competences

  30. Problems Encountered • Confusing LOs at the programme and course level • Difficulty in monitoring the process for students filling the workload forms • A lot of paper work and manual processing • Use of IT packages (e.g. Excel) but not in an integrated support IT tool

  31. Lessons Learnt and Suggestions • Explain the need for using the ECTS system and Learning Outcomes and highlight the expected benefits for all stakeholders • Convince all stakeholders about the usefulness of such an exercise • Plan the process, specify who is responsible for what, set realistic deadlines, do not rush • Make sure that the project co-ordinator is somebody who understands the issues involved and will also have to do whatever the others will have to do • Expect resistance, mistakes and problems

  32. Lessons Learnt and Suggestions • Keep an open communication channel (through meetings, emails, etc.) • Provide training for writing ECTS Syllabi, for writing LOs, etc. • Hold regular meetings with Deans of Schools, Heads of Departments, Programme co-ordinators and faculty • Provide standard forms and templates • Utilize IT packages to reduce manual work and avoid errors • Need for an integrated support tool - ReProTool

  33. 5. Conclusions

  34. Conclusions • There are some different definitions in the literature with regards to LOs • There is ignorance and confusion amongst the various stakeholders with regards to LOs • LOs at are still being implemented at various levels (NQF, Universities, QAA) • Educational models and University and QAA rules/regulations/procedures are being re-engineered using LOs • Re-engineering academic programmes using LOs provides a great opportunity to improve the programme, the delivery and assessment methods and the student learning process • LOs benefit all stakeholders and contribute to the mobility of students/graduates/faculty/employees within Europe

  35. Questions? pouyioutas.p@unic.ac.cy

More Related