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Enhance teaching practice in learning assessment and curriculum

On this microcredential, you will learn how to maximise the effectiveness of learning and assessment in your educational setting. Whether you’re involved in the education of children or adults, you’ll explore the nature and role of learning across a wide range of settings, examining how it is shaped by curriculum and assessment practices. The course introduces critical theories and research, guiding you to practically apply these concepts to enhance your teaching practice and effectively support learners.

Key features

  • Gain insights from diverse case studies that apply whether you work in a nursery, school, college, university, home education or professional/work-based training setting
  • Build practical skills and approaches to learning, curriculum and design that you can apply in your own work straight away
  • Created by leading OU academics, renowned for their expertise in teaching and research in education spanning more than 50 years

What is a microcredential?

Microcredentials are professional development short courses with academic credit designed to help you quickly build in-demand career skills and knowledge that you can immediately apply. Learn more about microcredentials.

Qualifications

EZVM804 is an optional module in our:

Module

Module code
EZVM804
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
15
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
This microcredential is studied entirely online
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

On this postgraduate microcredential, you’ll deepen your understanding of curriculum design to create effective learning and assessment in your professional setting. Over 12 weeks, you’ll cover the following topics.

  • Definitions of learning, teaching, curriculum and assessment and the relationship between them
  • Understanding learning through theories such as behaviourist, cognitivist, social constructivist and socio-cultural
  • Exploring distinctions between teaching and pedagogy and what this means for your setting
  • The role of the curriculum, its nature and character and what this means in your own context
  • The purpose and function of assessment
  • Motivation and engagement in learning – how it is affected and how it can be promoted
  • Theories and practical strategies for developing autonomous and independent learners
  • Addressing issues in digital and online learning, including pedagogy, equity and inclusion strategies
  • The role and purpose of learning communities

You will learn

By the end of your learning, you’ll be able to: 

  • explain and reflect on what is meant by learning, teaching, curriculum and assessment as they relate to a variety of contexts and settings
  • investigate and reflect on aspects of learning, teaching, curriculum and assessment within local, national and international contexts
  • justify, apply and refine the application of theories of learning, teaching, curriculum and assessment in practice within a familiar context and setting
  • find creative and sustainable solutions using evidence-based ethical research and practice
  • proactively engage with online professional communities to enable beneficial working relationships
  • evaluate your own strengths and areas for development.

Skills you will gain

  • Evaluation of key concepts and theories
  • Evaluation of practice in education
  • Construct and present a reasoned argument for your ideas
  • Application of theories and concepts related to learning, curriculum and assessment practice
  • Critical thinking skills to find sustainable solutions to problems
  • Evaluation of personal strengths and areas of development
  • Analysis and implementation of the impact of policy on learning, teaching, curriculum and assessment
  • Analysis of literature and evidence to refine practice
  • Collaboration and communication skills working within a community of learners

Vocational relevance

This microcredential has been designed to enhance educators' practice, including teachers, teaching assistants, classroom supervisors, tutors, lecturers, and home educators. While the course draws upon educational contexts, it is also relevant to education and training in professional settings, including the business sector, public sector and retail, where the focus is on leading the learning of others, from children to adults. The course content and case studies will be relevant to learners within different professional contexts across the globe.

Created by leading experts and practitioners from The Open University

  • Dr Amanda O'Shea is a lecturer at the OU and a former mathematics and science teacher. Her special interests are in educational assessment and mathematical talk.
  • Christine Bower is a lecturer at the OU. She is a former primary school teacher and is particularly interested in equitable and inclusive education for all children and young people.

Teaching and assessment

Assessment

You’ll take part in weekly tasks and discussions with co-learners to support and consolidate your learning. Towards the end of the course, you’ll submit a project or assessment demonstrating the skills you’ve acquired. This will be marked and graded by subject matter experts and make up 100% of your final mark.

Study support

  • Learn 100% online on the OU’s learning platform with a mix of video, audio and written materials
  • Engage in interactive learning through self-assessment questions, polls, tasks and reflection
  • Share ideas and experiences in discussion with other learners, building skills, confidence and knowledge
  • Receive support from mentors who guide discussions and answer questions
  • Study at a time that suits you with the flexibility to access the course from your desktop, tablet or mobile device

What you will gain

15 UK credits at postgraduate level from The Open University* and a Certificate. Academic credits are awarded on passing the final academic assessment. These will be at postgraduate level 7 of the Framework for Higher Education (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) / level 11 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.

*Academic credit may be used towards selected OU qualifications. For more details, including eligible qualifications, visit Counting microcredentials towards OU qualifications. The credit awarded may also be used at another university, subject to the agreement of the receiving institution.

Course work includes

End-of-module assessment

Future availability

Enhance teaching practice in learning, assessment and curriculum typically starts three times a year – in March, June/July and October. This page describes the microcredential that is planned to start in October 2024. 

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Entry requirements

This postgraduate-level microcredential is suitable for individuals working in or aspiring to work within an educational or home education setting, professional learning settings, or those aiming to enhance their teaching practice. You will ideally have:

  • a bachelors degree or equivalent and
  • experience in an educational setting, such as early years, primary school, special school, secondary school, further education college, EOTAS/alternative educational provision, informal education settings, higher education, or professional learning environments. 

Please note

  • Experience working in an education setting is not essential, as case studies will be presented and can be used as a basis for reflections.
  • If you do not have a degree or equivalent level qualification, you may find the postgraduate level assessment challenging.
  • All teaching is in English, and your English proficiency needs to be adequate for postgraduate study. As a guide, this corresponds to Level 7 of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). However, you won’t need to provide a formal English language score to enrol.

Course length

This 12-week course requires approximately 12.5 hours of self-paced learning per week, totalling around 150 hours for completion.

Register

Start End Fee
- - -

No current presentation - see Future availability
This module is expected to start for the last time in March 2027.

Future availability

Enhance teaching practice in learning, assessment and curriculum typically starts three times a year – in March, June/July and October. This page describes the microcredential that is planned to start in October 2024. 

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

Microcredential funding

Some of our microcredentials are available to study for free through government-funded schemes.

Find out about funding available if you are based in Wales or Scotland.

Study materials

What's included

All learning materials, exercises and activities are delivered entirely online.

While certain content can be downloaded, some content is exclusively accessible online, requiring a reliable internet connection for viewing. Please consider this if you are travelling. 

Computing requirements

You can learn from your desktop computer or laptop or take your learning with you on a phone or tablet. You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop/laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher. Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all currently supported Android and iOS versions.

If you have a disability

The course is delivered online and makes use of a variety of online resources. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet, you can contact us about the support that can be given to meet your needs.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.

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