Science Short Course
About this course
What is it?
The Science Short Course, developed in association with the Centre for Science Education, accredits up to 60 hours of science studies and activities. It is designed to support learners working towards science GCSEs, while maintaining their curiosity about the subject. Learners develop their personal and employability skills – as well as their science knowledge and understanding. This Short Course is supported by a free downloadable set of tutor notes.
The flexibility of ASDAN's Short Courses means they can be carried out in a variety of settings, over a time period to suit the individual or co-ordinating centre. Challenge descriptions can be interpreted and adapted according to the situation.
This Short Course can be completed using the student book or is available for learners to complete online through the ASDAN e-portfolio system. Learners log in to complete challenges, record skills development and upload evidence. Tutors can view learner progress and sign off work, leaving feedback as needed.
Join ASDAN
To teach this course you must have one of these membership types:
- Programmes Plus
- Programmes
- Qualifications
Already a member? Sign in
Who is it for?
Short Courses are widely used in formal and non-formal settings, by 13-19 year olds. Because they are multi-level, the focus is on completing challenges and skills development according to individual ability, although learners are expected to be working at Entry level 3 to Level 1.
Facts and Figures
- Flexible, multi-level programme
- Internally moderated
- Accredits 10-60 hours of activities
- Can count as up to 3 of the credits needed to achieve the Personal Development Programmes
- Can count as up to 6 of the credits needed to achieve CoPE
- Also offers progression to AoPE and Wider Key Skills
Requirements
Learners must present evidence of their activities in an organised portfolio or e-portfolio.
This will contain:
- a record of challenges completed, with supporting evidence for each challenge
- recording documents, showing how learners have planned and reviewed their activities
- summary of achievement, highlighting skills development
- personal statement
Course Content
The Short Course is split into six modules:
- Human machine
- Forces and motion
- Chemical change
- Biological challenges
- Space physics
- Performance in sport
Each learner will need their own copy of the Short Course student book or an e-portfolio login – this contains the challenge content and recording documents.
Download sample pages from the Science Short Course student book.
Supporting Resources
A free set of downloadable tutor notes to support the Science Short Course containing guidance for each challenge and suggested resources are available to centres registered for Short Courses in the members area.
A quick guide to Short Courses is also available to support the delivery of all ASDAN Short Courses. This document offers advice and guidance for tutors, including a step-by-step guide to delivery.
1. Staff training
• The members of staff with overall responsibility for delivery should attend an ASDAN introductory workshop, webinar or an INSET.
• Training to deliver Short Courses is not a mandatory requirement, however it is highly recommended to ensure that the centre and learners obtain the maximum benefit from the programme.
2. Register with ASDAN
• You will need to have ASDAN Programmes membership to deliver Short Courses. Membership allows centres to purchase materials and access support from ASDAN, including regular mailings and updates.
• Become a member at: asdan.org.uk/membership or manage your existing membership at: asdan.org.uk/membership-details
3. Create a new cohort
• Create a new cohort using the ASDAN website: asdan.org.uk/member/cohorts
• Specify a course co-ordinator, the expected completion date and the number of learners taking the course.
Either:
- Select student books for your learners.
- Or, assign tutors and generate login details for learners via the tutor portal: tutor.asdan.org.uk
4. Purchase supporting resources
• Buy optional supporting resources below.
5. Delivery
• Learners can log in to their e-portfolio at eportfolio.asdan.org.uk
• Deliver the course to your learners. Resources, such as skills sheets, can be accessed through the e-portfolio and downloaded from this page.
6. Internal moderation
• Internally moderate all e-portfolios to ensure that learners have met the full requirements of the course. Ensure learners are given time to make any necessary amendments. Internal moderation checklists are provided to support this process.
• While Short Courses are not externally moderated, ASDAN reserves the right to sample learners’ portfolios for quality assurance purposes.
7. Certification
• After successful internal moderation, confirm your learner names and details claim certificates via the tutor portal: tutor.asdan.org.uk
• Choose a free downloadable PDF certificate, or request printed and foiled certificates from ASDAN at an extra cost.
• Certificates will be posted to the Short Course co-ordinator for your centre within 20 days.
• If credits gained from a Short Course are being used towards another programme or qualification, you must ensure that both the Short Course certificate and the student’s portfolio are presented at external moderation.
ASDAN training events are delivered by experts to enable your centre to successfully run our courses. They provide an introduction to the course, along with guidance on the processes involved, course delivery and moderation.
Costs
All costs shown below are per candidate, unless otherwise stated. Each learner will need their own copy of the student book. Books or registrations purchased for Short Courses are valid for three years from the date of purchase.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Science Short Course student book | £12 |
| Science Short Course PDF certificate | Free |
| Science Short Course printed and foiled certificate (optional, per learner, per Short Course) | £3.50 |
Products can be purchased below.
Products
Course resources
Science Short Course - 1A2 Human machine: skin temperature
This worksheet is based around challenge 1A2 of the Science Short Course. It can be used to support an activity to measure the temperature of the skin on either the hands or face.
Science Short Course - 2A1 Forces and motion: float or sink?
This worksheet is based around challenge 2A1 of the Science Short Course. It supports an activity to measure the mass and volume of a range of tinned fizzy drinks to determine if they will float or sink.
Science Short Course - 3A2 Chemical change: pH of soft drinks
This worksheet is based around challenge 3A2 of the Science Short Course. It can be used to record the results of an experiment to measure the pH of a range of soft drinks.
Science Short Course - 4A1 Biological challenges: cell classification cards
This worksheet is based around challenge 4A1 of the Science Short Course. It contains a set of cards featuring images of cells (and a set of blank cards) for use in a cell classification activity.
Solar system trumps: card game
This top trumps-style card game links to challenge 5A3 of the Science Short Course. Learners can test each others' knowledge of the solar system and use them as a starting point to create their own cards.
Evaluation chart (individual)
This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week individual activity. Learners are asked to mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt; at the end of the project the learner should join up the marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Evaluation chart (group)
This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week group activity. Each member of the group should choose a different colour and mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt. At the end of the project, each group member then joins up their marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Planning a group or team task
This resource can be used when planning a group or team task. It links particularly well to ASDAN's Short Course programmes.
Self-evaluation template
This generic self-evaluation template can be used by learners to evaluate almost any group activity. Learners are asked to record how they felt about the activity and pick out the best and worst bits, before reflecting on what they could do better next time. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Teamwork health check
This generic teamwork health check template can support a wide range of group activities. Learners are asked to come up with a list of agreed ground rules for good teamwork, then rate each group member's performance against these criteria. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Short Courses summary of achievement and personal statement : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses summary of achievement and personal statement : Word version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 1 : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 1 : Word version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 2 : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 2 : Word version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 3 : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 3 : Word version (mandatory)