new and improved qualifications: any ideas?

new and improved qualifications: any ideas?

by Lynn Scarlet Clark -
Number of replies: 3

Since the last time I looked around for instructional design/elearning/online content qualifications I've noticed that dozens have sprung up.

Has anyone recently completed any? I'm toying with the idea of doing one (more so I've got something on paper, but there's always room to learn more!), but which one?

I work full-time, have a set of twins and - as most of you in here will recognise - these jobs aren't exactly brilliantly paid, so I've not got a wad of money or vast amounts of free time to study something intensive. So things like a Masters are out sad

I know my work is my reference, but it seems everyone around me is getting a seond degree or professional qualifications in their area of expertise. It's been a long time since I did any 'proper' studying - apart from some evening courses the last thing was my BA (Hons) - and I'm not saying how long ago that was! So, nervous about what to do.

Has anybody had experience of this new breed of qualifications? Or do you have an opinion that they've been developed too quick and don't yet have the substance...

Cheers, Lynn Scarlet

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In reply to Lynn Scarlet Clark

Re: new and improved qualifications: any ideas?

by Floyd Saner -

Lynn,

Given the constraints you mentioned, I suggest you look into some certificate programs such as those offered by University of Wisconsin, Madison, Professional Development.  There are other programs, but that is the one with which I am most familiar.

~Floyd

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In reply to Lynn Scarlet Clark

Re: new and improved qualifications: any ideas?

by Stuart Mealor -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

Hi Lynn

Not sure if you have noticed the Moodle Course Creator Certificate (MCCC) ?

http://moodle.org/course/view.php?id=48

It takes around 3 months, and is focussed on the functionality of Moodle (rather than academic concepts), so might not be quite what you're looking for?

Stu

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In reply to Lynn Scarlet Clark

Re: new and improved qualifications: any ideas?

by Tim Hunt -
Picture of Core developers Picture of Documentation writers Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Peer reviewers Picture of Plugin developers

Note that qualifications from the Open University (http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/education/index.htm) and the Institiute of Education (http://www.ioe.ac.uk/study/masters/105.html) (and probably distance enducation providers) typically do things in a modular way. Therefore you don't necessarily have to commit to a whole Masters up-front. You may be able to just study one module that teaches what you most want to know now. That lessens the financial commitment somewhat.

Also note that Nottingham (the town given in your profile) is an OU regional centre (http://www3.open.ac.uk/contact/maps.aspx?contactid=5). If you contact them, you might be able to drop in some time and have a look at some of the teaching materials from the MA in online and distance education, and get a better idea whether what is taught is what you want to learn, and discuss the time and financial commitments.

Finally, note that a few bits of material from the MA are on OpenLearn: http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/category.php?id=5&perpage=20&page=2

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