Developing the BOC from the learning outcomes
As with modules, the starting point for the BOC should be the learning outcomes. BOCs should always have a list of learning outcomes as a whole and also for each week. Within the structure of the BOC the weekly outcomes are used as a means of identifying the intended knowledge and skills the learners will acquire, and also to create a framework for reflection on their learning.
The learning outcomes of the BOC can help you, as an author, determine the overall structure of the course whilst the learning outcomes for each week are important in helping to identify the particular focus and activities of that week. It is these weekly learning outcomes which underpin the assessment on the BOC, although the summative assessment at the mid-point and end point of the course may also reflect the broader course learning outcomes.
It is also important to consider the level of the learning outcomes, which, in the case of some of the first BOCs, were intended to be written mostly at OU Level 0. (Courses labelled as Introductory on OpenLearn are OU Level 0 or Level 1.) The following table shows the equivalence between OpenLearn levels and those of the OU and other levels frameworks:
| OpenLearn level | Open University Level | National Qualifications Framework (NQF) | Framework of Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) | Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory* (1) | 0 | 3 | * | 6 |
| Introductory* (1) | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Intermediate (2) | 2 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Advanced (3) | 3/4 | 6/7 | 6/7 | 9/10/11 |
Footnotes
* If some of the source material for your BOC has been originally produced for a Level 3 module, clearly the learning outcomes for that material may not be at an appropriate level for a Level 1 BOC. Ditto for any change of level when repurposing material. (The new Levels Framework includes Level 0, and so will be a helpful resource if you are writing learning outcomes for Level 0.) A paper, which includes the approved framework, can be found at the following link: https://openuniv.sharepoint.com/ sites/ intranet-curriculum-management-guide/ Pages/ ou-levels-framework.aspxWhen drafting the learning outcomes for the course, and for each week, consider the following questions:
- What knowledge and skills will the course develop?
- What knowledge and skills will each week of the course develop?
- How many learning outcomes are you going to have?
- How much do they need to be altered from the learning outcomes of the existing material?