MyKnowledgeMap

Certificate / Diploma in Management Studies

Client: Edexcel

Background: Edexcel is an international awarding body and the UK’s leading provider of academic and vocational qualifications. The BTEC Academy has been established to extend the support it gives to colleges, universities, employers and training providers through e-Learning course content, management of student portfolios and online student support. Initially, the BTEC Academy is focussing on supporting people in their delivery of IT and Management programmes.

http://www.btecacademy.co.uk

In late 2002 MyKnowledgeMap joined forces with Edexcel and AdVal KeyKnowledge to produce a complete set of e-learning support materials for two nationally recognised and popular vocational qualifications - the Certificate in Management Studies (CMS) and the Diploma in Management Studies (DMS).

Primary Aim: To produce and launch the ‘e-Learning BTEC Certificate in Management Studies’ (CMS) and the ‘e-learning BTEC Diploma in Management Studies’ (DMS) in both UK and international markets.

Key Challenges: To create high quality, diverse and interactive learning material that is attractive to both corporate users and Further and Higher Education institutions and to other authorised BTEC training centres who wish to offer online training in management subjects.

Solution: The CMS (NVQ level 4) and the DMS (NVQ level 5) were both launched in the UK corporate and education market in September 2003 and will be launched internationally in March 2004. Members of the senior faculty team at York University Centre for Management Studies provided extensive assistance in provision of content and guidance on design.

Within this range of interactive scenarios and activities to engage the students and reinforce their learning. Learners have access to streamed video case studies, and interactive information from business gurus such as John Adair. They are able to complete self-analysis questionnaires including the Myers-Briggs model, experience motivational learning content and are questioned throughout to reinforce their learning, and progression routes to universities for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) are available.

The e-Learning material provides a flexible learning environment with:

• Full colour animation, graphics and interactive exercises
• Full colour video to enhance learning (still image or low bandwidth options - so it can be reasonably viewed for those on a low bandwidth connection to the internet. i.e. a normal modem)
• Coverage of key concepts, skills and knowledge
• Voiceover
• Printable video scripts, voiceovers and text
• Progress tracking throughout the e-learning material
• Tests to check understanding
• Integration of the popular BUSINESS database in XML format as a support repository on relevant management subjects

Tutors are supported by assessment material in the form of assignments, tests and project ideas that may be used in their current format, customised or purely used as exemplification.

It is a password-protected system that can be used in college computer rooms and/ or via web based access. All BTEC Academy e-Learning material conforms to Scorm 1.2 and addresses key elements of the IMS requirements.

An example of the courses’ structure is shown in the table below:

CMS Units	Guided learning hours
Personal Development	30
Managing Activities	60
Managing Financial Resources	60
Managing Information	60
Management and Leadership Skills	60
A selected Option Unit (see below)	30
TOTAL	300

CMS Optional Units	Guided learning hours
Recruitment and Selection of Personnel	30
Managing the Marketing Process	30
Quality	30
Management Project	30

Post implementation evaluation:

• Coventry Social Services have adopted the new ‘e-Learning BTEC Certificate in Management Studies’ (CMS) as part of their approach to achieving National Care Standards qualifications targets. The programme will initially be rolled out to 20 managers and the first awards will be given in June 2004. The e-Learning BTEC Certificate in Management Studies is a way that the main qualification can be achieved quickly, at the convenience of the manager, with a modern, exciting and interactive learning experience
• The e-Learning BTEC Certificate in Management Studies is currently available to all UK Further Education Colleges and also through Edexcel's international network
• The programme is also currently being distributed to private and public sector organisations that require their training to be accredited as a nationally recognised qualification