QA4ODFL2/Course/Summary

In this unit, you learnt about the importance of developing courses that are inclusive – that meet the learning needs of a wide range of learners. In open schooling, these learners include young people who drop out of the formal schooling system before they complete the secondary school cycle, those that seek to supplement and attain grades that allow them progression to tertiary institutions, and those that seek to acquire skills and knowledge for employment purposes. These various categories of learners prefer different learning arrangements. Having a rich mix of subjects and a wide range of support mechanisms makes an open school attractive. In this unit, you have also learnt about making the curriculum relevant so learners can use what they learn in real life. You will deepen the idea of curriculum relevance in the last unit of this course by exploring authentic or realistic curriculum and learning activities. Topical issues that affect communities and society in general should be addressed through the curriculum. Examples covered in this unit are challenges that are posed by climatic changes and environmental mismanagement. The need for teachers and curriculum developers to think out of the box and be innovative in addressing such problems through the curriculum cannot be overemphasised. We hope you also appreciated the role technology plays in leveraging the convenience and quality of learning in your open schools. In the next unit, you will learn about assessment as an integral aspect of teaching and learning. Before you move on to that unit, check your understanding of Unit One concepts by doing the following assignment.

Course and Content Development Assignment

To complete this unit assignment, share your idea with colleagues in the discussion forum on Moodle for the following questions.

1. What environmental challenges are faced in your country? Think back to the idea of Blue Economies.
2. How are these challenges covered in your curriculum?
3. Choose one of the gaps in your curriculum you identified in Learning activity 5, and briefly describe a lesson you would have for your learners to address that gap.

Click here to post your ideas to Moodle

References

1. https://pix4free.org/photo/1393/papua-new-guinea.html
2. Nitschke, (2013) Capacity Building in Trainers of Technical Vocational Education and Training at the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL). https://oasis.col.org/items/9e0e9d2a-21ed-4f67-bd21-7cb069525247
3. World Bank (2017) What is the Blue Economy? https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/infographic/2017/06/06/blue-economy
4. World Bank (2017) The potential of the Blue Economy. Increasing Long-term Benefits of the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources for Small Island Developing States and Coastal Least Developed Countries.