Qualifications for e-Learning

As e-Learning is being used more and more, qualifications are being developed to accommodate this. Qualifications to support e-Learning can be found at every level of qualification up to degree level and beyond. More information can be found in the Trainer Readiness section of the tool where reference is made to qualifications and courses as well as non accredited routes to supporting e-Learning.

The skills, knowledge and understanding required for the development of e-Learning in the workplace covers three main areas.

• pedagogical (concerned with learning)
• technical (concerned with the computers and the networks)
• creative (concerned with the development of engaging content)

Your expertise may currently be in one of the above areas.  You may be a qualified tutor (with a Certificate in Education for example) but your IT and technical skills and knowledge may be needing to be developed.  It may be therefore that you will need to supplement one qualification with another if a career in developing e-Learning is to be followed.

Think carefully about the gaps in your own skills, knowledge and understanding and investigate the content of courses carefully to ensure they meet your need and the needs of the organisation.

Flexible Qualifications

Qualifications are not just about GCSEs, NVQs and Degrees.  The qualification landscape is changing in a major way. Qualifications are becoming more flexible and currently the Qualifications and Credit Framework is being developed which is, amongst other things, intended to be more flexible to employers.  This is a model of qualifications which will be appearing more and more.

Sourcing Qualifications

In the meantime, however you for nationwide access to details of the accredited qualifications you should look at the National Database of Accredited Qualifications.

The Health Informatics Qualifications Finder is a useful database which holds qualifications in relation to Health Informatics including e-Learning and blended learning.

NHS Connecting for Health (CfH) has developed education and training to support NHS staff using new information technology systems and services. 
E-Skills UK, the Sector Skills Agency for IT and telecomms has developed it’s own IT qualifications.

The Training Foundation is just one provider who offers a number of courses and qualifications for those in learning and development and particularly in relation to e-Learning and blended.  Details can also be found here of the TAP Learning system.

Look at the section in the Toolkit on Trainer Readiness.

Related Resources

•  
  Professional Development for Education, Training and Development Practitioners
  

  NHS Connecting for Health web page about training and development and the ETD Practitioner Development Toolkit. There are links to resources and guidance to support trainers and managers in planning their career progression and professional development within the NHS. It has identified many opportunities available to NHS staff working in the ETD community.

  http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/capability/phi/hottopics/etd
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  The Training Foundation
  

  An organisation that works with the NHS and provides the TAP learning system. It also provides several courses and qualifications for those in learnign and development.

  http://www.trainingfoundation.com
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  National Training Evaluation & Standards Project, National Evaluation Process
  

  Document outlining proposed (in 2007) evaluation process, examples of questionnaire templates and use of the NLMS in evaluation.

  http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/etd/standards/Training.pdf?searchterm=training+quality+improvement+project
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  The Register of Regulated Qualifications
  

  The Register of Regulated Qualifications contains details of qualifications that are accredited by the regulators of external qualifications in England (Ofqual), Wales (DCELLS) and Northern Ireland (CCEA). Users can search for details on current and expired accredited qualifications.

  http://register.ofqual.gov.uk/
•  
  Health Informatics Qualifications Finder
  

  This site contains a searchable database of current qualifications and courses from across England, Scotland and Wales that provide entry to and further study within the field of Health Informatics.

  http://www.hiqualificationsfinder.org.uk/
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  Qualification and Credit Framework
  

  Link to the Qualification and Credit Framework pages of the Qualification and Curriculum Development Agency (formerly QCA)

  http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_19674.aspx
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  ITQ
  

  ITQ is the National Vocational Qualification for IT Users which demonstrates staff competence in the use of IT in the workplace.  The page at e-Skills, explains the qualification.

  http://itq.e-skills.com/Introducing-ITQ/2017