Early Years Professional Status

Course structure and Blackboard Provision

Historically:4 pathways:

• Validation• Short• Long• Full Training

(All to do with the student starting point)

Used to have 9 modules• Tailored modules to each person - some taking 9, other as little as 2.• About 200 students per year - 3 months to 15 months.

Qualification: EYPS - but long pathway is a 'top up' programme to EYPS in Professional Development.

Historic Blackboard Provision

Blackboard sections for:– Validation– Short– Long– Full Training

Each section containing module information and assessment information

Leading torepetition … errors … confusion

Recent Blackboard Provision

• One section for 2010-2011– For ALL students for ALL years– Around 400 students– Intakes in September, January and April– Bury, Shrewsbury, Cheshire, Manchester, Wirral

and Ormskirk.

Current situation

Current Academic situation:

• Short• Long (practice and leadership)• Full Training (all practice based)

PLUS there is a separate area for Leadership

Reason for sticking it all together:

• Reduce duplication– Historic – used to be four area for the whole

programme – now one.– Single area for modules, materials etc.– Single assessment area (materials)

• Grouping used to keep pathways blinkered• Issues / concerns– Not used for discussion / collaboration /

assessment

Could the Programme / Module model work?

• Most complex is the BA Hons route– 6 modules per route• (but note, 6 for practice and 6 for leadership)

• So … yes …

Thoughts about Bb 9.1:

• Proposed:– Four programme areas– Separate module areas

• Advantages– Less sticking together– More pedagogically sound – facilitates use of

Blackboard affordances (chat, discussion, assessment)

• Issues:– Students won’t gain access until they’re in SID

• Challenging the student experience