The strength of short courses in filling both knowledge and skills gaps cannot be underestimated through either contact or online learning experiences. Knowledge gives you the understanding of what is required to do something, but later it’s the application of the skills practically practiced that indicates if a person has in fact internalised the knowledge of a subject and grown in wisdom to be able to execute what has been heard. As such, there are three major aspects in general to adult learning. Gaining knowledge (theory), having the chance to practice through peer-to-peer exchange activities, and then gaining wisdom in the implementation thereof.
We now live in a time where information is accessible across the globe at a touch of a button. Where many in Africa in particular did not engage the various technologies available for whatever reason, they are now increasingly becoming more active online than ever before. In light of this, and to conduct a thorough needs analysis, the College is in the process of developing online questionnaires based on the content of sought after subject matters that we intend to launch as Webinar sessions in the coming months. A list of all our courses and short courses is available in our prospectus, and yes, even if a specific topic is not listed in our short courses but may be listed within one of the bigger certificates as a subject matter, the College can host webinars on these too.
In order for a more impactful training session to be developed, the College will be circulating a questionnaire on specific modules or a set of modules for staff members of an organisation to complete. The training can then be focused on these priority areas in the form of webinars that would be scheduled with those that enrolled on the course. Learners would need to cover most of the theory required on their own prior to a webinar in order to participate more effectively. Assignments would need to be submitted after the webinars on specified dates.
It certainly takes bit more time to go through the process of having your whole team’s input for a focused training session, but this is by far the better option than sending staff on generic courses that may not be applicable to their immediate work environment.
The College also intends to run modular short courses, which we will made available as institutionally accredited online short courses. These will have already been piloted with the current Advanced Certificate Higher Education and Training class who will have gone through all the modules.
The skilled practitioner classes will also now go online as introductory courses. These will become available as soon as we have taken the required material online, where they can be accessed and paid for by students enrolling for these courses.
