Short_Course_Development_EN:
Based on the “Toolkit” Wireframe
Developing a Short Course{no sentence of text for here} / Image placeholderThe short course is a curriculum component in the new junior cycle. Short courses can be developed by teachers to suit the specific needs and interests of their students in junior cycle. Short courses may be aligned either with the indicators for Level 3 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or with those for Level 2. Short courses are designed for approximately 100 hours of student engagement and should emphasise students' active learning. Other agencies or groups can also develop short courses.
Overview / Step 1: Read and research / Step 2: Considerations / Step 3: Support Material / Step 4: The scoping document / Step 5: Develop, reflect, refine / Key Advice
The NCCA will provide guidance and advice on the development of one short course per school at three key stages of the development:
- After the scoping document has been completed
- After draft one of the short course has been written, taking into account the NCCA feedback on the scoping document
- After draft two has been written again taking account of NCCA feedback
Overview / Step 1: Read and research / Step 2: Considerations / Step 3: Support Material / Step 4: The scoping document / Step 5: Develop, reflect, refine / Key Advice
Consider the proposed short course within the context of
- your school
- the needs and interests of your students
- Staff
- Students
- Parents
- related subject departments and others
Overview / Step 1: Read and research / Step 2: Considerations / Step 3: Support Material / Step 4: The scoping document / Step 5: Develop, reflect, refine / Key Advice
Consider the proposed short course within the context of
- your school
- the needs and interests of your students
- Staff
- Students
- Parents
- related subject departments and others
Overview / Step 1: Read and research / Step 2: Considerations / Step 3: Support Material / Step 4: The scoping document / Step 5: Develop, reflect, refine / Key Advice
Look at the NCCA support materials for developing a short course:
- NCCA Guidelines for developing short courses for Level 2 {insert link to go to Short_Course_Level_2_Guidelines_EN}
- NCCA Guidelines for developing short courses for Level 3 {insert link to go to Short_Course_Level_3_Guidelines_EN }
- NCCA Level 2 template {insert link to go to L2_Short_course_Template_EN}
- NCCA Level 3 template {insert link to go to Level3_Short_Course_TemplateL3_EN }
- Review the NCCA short courses as exemplars {insert link to go to }
Overview / Step 1: Read and research / Step 2: Considerations / Step 3: Support Material / Step 4: The scoping document / Step 5: Develop, reflect, refine / Key Advice
By now you are ready to develop the short course scoping document for Level 2 and/or Level 3 where you bring together all the big ideas for this course in consultation with relevant others in your school community.
The school principal submits the short course for review and advice to the NCCA via email: {insert automatic link to generate a mailto: with the subject set as “Short Course Scoping Document”}
NOTE: Before you go any further with the process, the submission form at the front of the scoping document and the completed document itself should not be longer than seven pages / Image Placeholder
Overview / Step 1: Read and research / Step 2: Considerations / Step 3: Support Material / Step 4: The scoping document / Step 5: Develop, reflect, refine / Key Advice
The NCCA will return the document, with advice to the school who next use the advice in developing a first draft of the short course. This is submitted to via email to {insert automatic link to generate a mailto: with the subject set as “Short Course Scoping Document”} by the school principal.
The NCCA will review the draft and again the school uses this advice to develop a final draft.
The school writes the final draft and this is submitted for final review to the NCCA (at the same email address).
The NCCA will return the final document to the school when this last review is completed. / Image Placeholder
Overview / Step 1: Read and research / Step 2: Considerations / Step 3: Support Material / Step 4: The scoping document / Step 5: Develop, reflect, refine / Key Advice
It is a good idea to pilot the short course - or parts of it - with a small group of students and evaluate its success before offering it to a larger group.
Schools who have developed their own short courses report that it is a rewarding process but that it takes time. Our experience of working with schools has shown that it could take up to 12 months to develop one short course.
It is best to develop a short course in collaboration with others. This allows for discussion and sharing of the planning tasks. It also develops the capacity of the teachers involved to teach the short course when it is developed.
Schools are advised to access the support for short course development provided by the Junior Cycle Support Service for Teachers (JCT). {insert link to go to } / Image Placeholder
Non-School developed short courses
The NCCA has committed to review one short course per school for the year 2014-2015. However it is not possible at this time to provide guidance to organisations or agencies who wish to develop short courses. The same steps as those for schools should be followed but the organisation/agency is advised to work with a school(s) who may submit the short course as the one they wish to have reviewed by the NCCA.
Endorsement of short courses
It is not the NCCA’s policy to endorse educational materials or ‘packs’ relating to short courses, so we would request that you do not use the NCCA logo on published materials relating to this short course. However, you may wish to acknowledge the support of the NCCA in the development of the short course. If so, we would suggest you use the following wording:
This short course has been developed in accordance with the NCCA template and guidelines.