Manufacturing Vocational Taster

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About this course

What is it?

Vocational Tasters offer learners a concrete introduction to a range of employment sectors. Ideal for learners following an alternative progression route, these courses help learners to make progress towards their personal learning and career aims.

Increasing learners’ knowledge of different employment sectors will help them to make informed and long-lasting decisions about their post-16 destinations.

The Manufacturing Vocational Taster has been produced in collaboration with NAC Group, which engages young people in programmes to develop manufacturing and engineering skills, particularly for the automotive sector. The student book contains modules in: Understanding manufacturing, Product design, Manufacturing logistics, Making stuff, Health and safety, and Careers.

This 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.

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To teach this course you must have one of these membership types:

  • Programmes
  • Programmes Plus
  • Qualifications

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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

This vocational taster contains six modules, corresponding to different aspects of Manufacturing:

  • Understanding manufacturing
  • Product design
  • Manufacturing logistics
  • Making stuff
  • Health and safety in the manufacturing sector
  • Careers in the manufacturing sector

Each learner will need their own copy of the student book or an e-portfolio login – this contains the challenge content and recording documents.

Download sample pages from the Manufacturing Vocational Taster student book.

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.

Book training

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
Manufacturing Vocational Taster student book £12
Manufacturing Sector Vocational Taster PDF certificate Free
Manufacturing Vocational Taster printed and foiled certificate (optional, per learner, per Vocational Taster or Short Course) £3.50

Products can be purchased below.

Products

Course resources

Manufacturing Vocational Taster - 2A2 Product Design: ACCESS FM product analysis

These cards can be printed and cut out for students to use when analysing products using the ACCESS FM methodology. These cards can be used to analyse existing products as well as products made by them or their peers. This resource links to challenge 2A2 from the Manufacturing Vocational Taster.

Manufacturing Vocational Taster - 2A5 Product design: properties of materials

This worksheet asks learners to give examples of materials with particular properties and products made of those materials. This resource links to challenge 2A5 from the Manufacturing Vocational Taster.

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