In this section you’ll find information on:

• Welcome to New Program Development!
• What do all the acronyms mean?
• What are my responsibilities as a SME?
• How do I write vocational learning outcomes (VLOs)?
• How do I write a course description?
• How do I map the courses to the VLOs and EESs?
• What does the credential level mean?
• What do I need to know about my program standard or description?

Welcome to New Program Development!

As the Subject-Matter Expert (SME), you’ve been brought into the development of this new program for Fleming at an exciting time. The New Program Development Process at Fleming consists of 6 stages:

1. Concept Proposal & Scoping
2. Concept Approval Process
3. Program Outline & Business Case
4. Program Approval Process
5. Operational Implementation
6. Program Launch

You’re coming into the process at Stage 3, in which the program outline and business case are created.

Your Role

As a member of the Program Development Team, your role in this stage is to:

• work with your assigned LDS Team member (Teaching & Learning Specialist or Curriculum Development Consultant) to create a program curriculum outline for submission to the Credential Validation Service (CVS) for validation;
• participate in the Reference Group that will need to endorse the program outline;
• contribute to the business case being developed by the Program Development Lead for internal approvals; and
• participate in regular New Program Development team meetings to provide updates to the Dean.

The Program Development Team

The Program Development Team consists of the program Dean, program Academic Chair, Program Development Lead (PDL), Subject Matter Expert(s) (you!), and members of the Learning Design and Support (LDS) Team.

The Reference Group

The Reference Group consists of external, industry-related professionals that are invited to share their expertise, advice, and guidance in new program development. You may be asked by the PDL to suggest industry contacts that could be invited to participate in this Reference Group.

The Program Outline

The Program Outline that you will develop in collaboration with the assigned LDS Team member must include:

• • Vocational Learning Outcomes (VLOs);
  • Description of the program, including purpose;
  • Total number of program hours;
  • Number and length of semesters;
  • Number of courses per semester;
  • Course names and descriptions;
  • Course mapping to VLOs and Essential Employability Skills (EESs);
  • Course hours;
  • Course delivery patterns (lecture, lab, independent learning, placement, co-op, etc.); and
  • Experiential and/or Work Integrated Learning (co-op, placement, applied project, applied research).

This is a long list, but don’t worry — your assigned LDS Team member will be working with you on all aspects of the program outline.

This resource has basic information about new program development, and, as always, your assigned LDS Team member is available to help.

For more information on Fleming’s New Program Development (NPD) process, please see https://department.flemingcollege.ca/new-program-development/new-program-development-process/new-program-development-process-at-a-glance/

What do all the acronyms mean?

Acronyms

One of the initial hurdles for new Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) is becoming familiar with the new terms and acronyms that are used during the new program development process. Here is a short glossary of terms for you to review that are specific to the New Program Development process.

CVS – Credential Validation Service

EES – Essential Employability Skills

GenEd (GNED) – General Education

LDS Team – Learning Design and Support Team

MTCU – Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities

MCURES – Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security

NPD – New Program Development

OCQAS – Ontario College Quality Assurance Service

SME – Subject Matter Expert

VLO – Vocational Learning Outcome (what an employer would ask a new employee to do)

In addition to these terms, there is a general Glossary of Acronyms for Faculty members: Glossary of Acronyms

What are my responsibilities as a SME?

Your Responsibilities

As a Subject Matter Expert (SME), your responsibilities are laid out in your employment contract. The contract is given to you by your Academic Chair or Dean, and they are the person that you report to. The contract outlines your start and end dates, number of hours per week, and other responsibilities.

Here are some additional details about what your responsibilities are with your program development work with the LDS Team:

• Develop the program outline to submit to CVS for validation;
• Provide rationale for changes and updates to VLOs;
• Be available for questions about the CVS application;
• Participate in a collaborative writing process with the LDS Team to develop VLOs;
• Review and amend VLOs, course descriptions, and other aspects of the CVS application;
• Provide information about external accreditation(s) and certifications;
• Align courses to VLOs and/or EESs in a process called mapping;
• Write course descriptions, assign course hours, and sequence courses in semesters; and
• Assist with creating a title for the program (if applicable).

How do I write vocational learning outcomes (VLOs)?

Vocational Learning Outcomes (VLOs)

Watch this video from the Credential Validation Service (CVS) that explains how to write Vocational Learning Outcomes (VLOs). Knowing the components of a VLO and why VLOs matter will help you create quality VLOs for the program you are developing.

Video: Crafting effective Vocational Learning Outcomes

You may also wish to review this text resource from CVS: In Focus – Vocational Learning Outcomes

Your assigned LDS Team member is your partner when developing VLOs, and will provide resources, support, and feedback to help you create quality VLOs for the program.

How do I write a course description?

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions are an important part of program design. They help inform current and prospective students, external partners, and other college colleagues about the content of the course, and they are used by the SMEs who will develop the course-level curriculum.

Course Description Format 

A course description consists of 3-4 sentences:

WHY?  Purpose or rationale for the course/subject area covered (1st sentence)
WHAT?  Key content/principles/topics to be learned (2nd sentence and/or 3rd sentence)
HOW?  Types of major learning activities and student experiences in the course (last sentence) (case study, mock interviews, role-playing, group discussions, etc.)

For more details about how to write course descriptions and some good examples, please review this information about how to write course descriptions.

How do I map the courses to the VLOs and EESs?

Mapping to Vocational Learning Outcomes (VLOs) and Essential Employability Skills (EESs)

As part of the CVS application, you will be asked to create a “program map” which indicates in which course(s) each Vocational Learning Outcome (VLO) is taught, reinforced, and/or assessed.

• Each course in a program must “map” to at least one of the program’s Vocational Learning Outcomes (VLOs).
• Each VLO must “map” to a minimum of two (2) courses in the program.

In addition, for Ontario College Certificates, Ontario College Diplomas, Ontario College Advanced Diplomas, and Ontario College Graduate Certificates, the courses must also “map” to Ontario’s Essential Employability Skills (EES).

 Essential Employability Skills Outcomes 

Graduates of an Ontario College Certificate, Ontario College Diploma, an Ontario College Advanced Diploma, or Ontario College Graduate Certificate must be able to reliably demonstrate the following Essential Employability Skills (EES) Outcomes:

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken, and visual form that fulfills the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.
2. Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.
3. Execute mathematical operations accurately.
4. Apply a systematic approach to solve problems.
5. Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve problems.
6. Locate, select, organize, and document information using appropriate technology and information systems.
7. Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of sources.
8. Show respect for the diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.
9. Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.
10. Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.
11. Take responsibility for one’s own actions, decisions, and consequences.

For more information, please see the Essential Employability Skills website.

The LDS Team member assigned to support your work on this program will provide a template and further guidance about completing the program map.

What does the credential level mean?

The Ontario Qualifications Framework (OQF)

Watch this short video from the Credential Validation Service (CVS) that explains the Ontario Qualifications Framework (OQF). Knowing the credential level for the program you are developing will help you understand how complex the content needs to be, the number of courses in a program, and what you might expect from a potential student.

Video: Understanding the Ontario Qualifications Framework and how it guides Program Development – CVS

What do I need to know about my program standard or description?

Program Standards & Program Descriptions

In this video from the Credential Validation Service (CVS), they provide an overview of program standards and program descriptions. Your assigned LDS Team member will know if your program uses a program standard or program description. Knowing more about program standards and descriptions will help you understand what aspects of the program you can customize, and what aspects cannot be altered.

Video: Navigating Program Standards & Program Descriptions for Successful Program Development – CVS | OCQAS

For more information on Ontario College Program Standards, go to  https://www.ontario.ca/page/college-program-standards.