col & acol showcase

24/10/2002 www.schmoller.net

COL & ACOL Showcase

CIPD

Certificate in Online Learning

Advanced Certificate in Online Learning


Purpose of this showcase

“The CIPD is launching a new Advanced Certificate in Online Learning (ACOL) to complement its successful Certificate in Online Learning (COL) and suite of short courses in this topic.

This showcase will demonstrate how e-learning is used as a practical tool and will highlight the advantages of this training method as well as how major pitfalls can be avoided.”


Who we are

Karen Ver – Business Manager, e-learning, CIPD Training

Seb Schmoller – freelance consultant and member of the CIPD Advisory Board for COL and ACOL. Previously Course Director for COL.


Aims of presentation• To help you come to a view about whether

COL and/or ACOL are suitable for you or your people.

• To enable you to put questions to: – CIPD’s e-learning Business Manager, about prices,

booking arrangements etc;– me, about the thinking behind both products.

• To provide you with insights into one particular approach to online learning and professional development.(Feel free to raise points as the session progresses.)


COL - organisation• 24 week course x 5-6 hours per week• 4 start-dates per year• run under the auspices of The Sheffield

College• accredited with National Open College

Network – 6 credit units at Level 3, against submission of portfolio of evidence


COL – approach/content• team-taught online by 2 CIPD approved tutors• 1 working day response to emails • participants organised in cohorts of ~15• cohorts divided into learning sets of ~5• discussion using email and “web-board”• URL: http://www.cipd.col.ac.uk/course6/

UN: cipd-septPW: j**r**y

http://www.cipd.col.ac.uk/course6/


COL – effectivenessCompletion rates > 90%In depth review by External Moderator:

The quality of the feedback is absolutely outstanding, not least in how positive learners are about the overall quality of the programme – 93% unqualified satisfaction for questions 1, 4b and 6. This is an incredibly positive response for a new programme, which is operating near the leading edge of the application of new technology to learning, and of “training the trainers”. There was no negative feedback at all. A 97% unqualified satisfaction score for the quality of the on-line learning materials and activities is incredibly high, and this is even surpassed by a 100% unqualified satisfaction score for the quality of the dialogue with the tutor. The tutors are to be congratulated.

http://www.schmoller.net/documents/col.doc


ACOL - rationale• COL completers wanted more• CIPD perceived demand for a course with a

strong focus on e-learning intervention• thus CIPD “Advanced Certificate in Online

Learning”…… provides students with a thorough understanding of major issues affecting the planning, implementation, and management of on-line learning projects at all levels.

…… is aimed at individuals who already have some knowledge of online learning and who are actively involved in the delivery and /or development of online training and learning projects in either the public and private sector.


ACOL – organisation/content• team-taught online by 2 CIPD approved tutors• 38 weeks course x 2.5 hours per week (i.e.

longer and thinner than COL)• first run: 13 January 2003; then 9 June

2002• accredited at Level 4• unit structureUnit 1 Getting Started 2-3 weeks

Unit 2 Working Collaboratively 2-3 weeks

Unit 3 The Research and Development Phase

2-3 weeks

Unit 4 The Implementation Phase 20-22 weeks

Unit 5 The Review and Evaluation Phase 4-6 weeks


Advantages & pitfallsAdvantages Pitfalls

• Involving and stretching. • Improves practical skills and online fluency.• Deepens theoretical understanding, and capacity to reflect on own learning and development (action research in the case of ACOL).• Thorough and timely formative feedback from experienced tutors (and experienced and committed peers!) is very beneficial.

• Requires skilled and experienced tutors, and learners who are prepared to strive.• Learning methods do not suit all learners.• ACOL of limited benefit if you have no e-learning project to implement.

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/education/publications/blackbox.html


Contact details• Karen Ver

Business Manager, e-learning CIPD Training 020 8263 3217 [email protected]

• Seb [email protected] 2586899

mailto:[email protected]



col & acol showcase

Documents