There are currently no clear and consistent distinctions for micros and short courses across the sector. The National Microcredential Framework provides high level parameters but covers a broad range of options. At Charles Sturt we are defining microcredentials and short courses into four key types. These types meet different learner needs and have different criteria and regulatory requirements.
A micro-subject is a smaller unit of learning than the typical eight-credit point subject. A micro-subject is a credit-bearing award offering included within a course structure and may or may not be stacked towards larger units of accreditation. A micro-subject reflects the academic standards of the specified course/s; is aligned to an AQF level; and the volume of learning is consistent with the amount of credit earned in the intended course. People will be enrolled as students in this type of subject.
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A stand-alone microcredential is an assessable, outcome-based non-award offering that is shorter than an AQF award qualification. Microcredentials are usually driven by industry needs, provide recognition of achievement and attest to specific knowledge or skill competencies with defined learning outcomes. A stand-alone micro-credential can be accepted for credit by an institution or organisation or be an attestation for industry.
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Outcome-based non-award short form learning activities or series of learning activities that have no relationship to accredited Charles Sturt award courses. Short courses are usually less in depth and not as substantial as a stand-alone microcredential, address a skills gap in industry or are undertaken to support work, career, lifelong learning and/or personal goals. A short course is not usually intended to be used as recognition of prior learning for credit into a degree, but may support professional accreditation or compliance requirements for an industry partner.
Short courses involve curated content that is packaged, promoted, and delivered with a defined set of learning goals.
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Training events, webinars, workshops or group events.
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At Charles Sturt, we are focused on providing high quality viable skills-focused micros and short courses that address industry needs and are appealing and enjoyable for participants. If you have identified an opportunity to develop a microcredential or short course that aligns to our strategic direction, the Division of Learning and Teaching can support you. As the Academic Lead you will also need to commit some workload to contribute to this and have content available to use.
To be suitable for this distinctive type of learner that has quite different needs, expectations, and motivations from our degree students, micros and short courses need to be easy to digest, very accessible to participants that are usually time poor and able to be very focussed to efficiently deliver on the practical skills the learner is looking to obtain. For example it must be at an appropriate level and volume of learning for this short form of educational product. It must also be open access and meet copyright requirements for micro-credentials and short courses. As learners enrolled in micro-credentials or short courses are not considered to be award students of Charles Sturt it is not permissible to reuse copyrighted materials or Leganto reading lists.
Ideally you have identified existing content that can be drawn from.
The preferred method of delivery for these courses is asynchronous, ensuring maximum flexibility for the learner and minimising costs to support increased viability for the university. The design will include engaging activities and resources in a variety of formats such as short, sharp videos (3-5 minutes), podcasts, interactive activities, recorded guest presentations, quizzes, practical and reflective exercises.
The number of topics and concepts covered will need to be appropriate to the total volume of learning the participant is expecting to undertake to successfully complete the micro or short course.
Once the micro has the green light to progress to design stage, you will need to commit to a minimum of around 50 hours. This includes one full week for the design sprint and time in the following four weeks of the development phase. This includes approximately six one hour meetings to work with your Educational Designer to finalise content, and a weekly sprint team stand up meeting to track progress and address blockers and issues to finalising the course and course site, enrolment and pricing information and marketing and communication strategy. Additional information and input may include communication with external stakeholders, sourcing industry partners, drafting welcome and marketing video scripts, providing content for marketing assets such as the online course brochure, providing meta data for badging and governance documentation. You will also be required for some initial consultation, and to review and QA the course and marketing material. Depending on the final course design and schedule you may also need time to deliver the course.
The micros team will lead and support the process. In addition to an academic lead you may also have industry partners co-designing or other internal stakeholders participating in some way. We consult with industry experts and prospective learners through a series of 15-30 minute interviews during the design sprint week.
A deliverable in the design sprint is undertaking viability modelling. Costs for design, development, marketing, payment to additional guest presenters and other associated activities are including in this modelling. The likely revenue able to be generated is estimated based on market analysis and learnings across the week and factored across a three-year lifecycle for the product and becomes a key performance indicator for the course. The breakeven point, margin and total profit or loss is considered as part of the business case presented to the DVC (Academic) for final approval. The general principle is that the course must cover costs and generate a profit. Revenue is allocated under the University’s approved funding model.
As part of your formal proposal, you will need to:
If you are ready to progress your idea for a new micro or short course the next step is to lodge a formal request.
For micro subjects you will need to follow the usual governance approval process as for any award course or subject. Once approved, log a Cherwell request to the Design, Development and Review team.
For a standalone microcredential or short course, complete a proposal, secure your required workload allocation, and get approval from your Head of School or equivalent unit head.
For a Professional Development event or webinar these are usually designed by the relevant academic or other product owner. If wanting to use BrightSpace micro site to facilitate registration and payment, email microcredentials@csu.edu.au. A Cherwell request can be logged to get general Design, Development and Review support for the development of learning resources if required.
For the purposes of our micros and short courses it is important to consider who your intended audience is and their specific needs.
A "student" is a person who applies to study an award course on the HESF basis of admission. The university assesses the application and makes a formal offer accepted by the applicant. In making an offer there are a range of criteria the university must apply. Students are recorded in our Student Management System and are entitled to full access to applicable university support and resources.
A "participant" is any person who chooses to register and pay for a non award micro, short course or other professional development activity such as events and webinars. In the case of our micros and short courses they register through our payment gateway in Bright Space and on this basis are granted access to their course. They have access to a range of support and resources, however will not have access to some copyrighted materials or Leganto reading lists in accordance with the university's licensing agreements.
Participants of our micros and short courses are looking for bite sized, skills focussed learning that can be easily accessed, engaged with and digested.
For more information about microcredentials and short courses, please email the team at microcredentials@csu.edu.au