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WORKSHOP I BGN103

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment

 

Develop your capacity to identify, select and apply knowledge and skills to appropriate perform workplace tasks in any industry.

  • Develop your capacity to identify, select and apply knowledge and skills to appropriate perform workplace tasks in any industry.
  • Through a PBL (problem-based learning) study program this and other workshop projects will develop a "real world" relevance in your overall learning experience.
  • The workshop modules/courses provide the same outcomes as would normally be achieved by attending face to face or residential workshops. By utilising a PBL approach to learning which has been tried and proven over many years, we have been able to refine this module to create a very effective program that can relate to any discipline in a specific and very practical way. In short, it works and it can be undertaken from anywhere in the world, with the student working in one to one liaison with an academic member of our staff.

 

Learn Practical Skills by Home Study

Distance Education IS Practical - more than most people realise!

Workshops may normally be something you attend in person; with the purpose of gaining some very practical knowledge and skills, relevant to the subject which you are studying.

This course achieves much the same as what you would achieve by physically attending a  workshop in a face to face situation; but without needing to travel.

By using tried and proven educational techniques combined with modern technology; it is possible for you to be guided through a series of learning experiences by our academic staff; to achieve the same general outcomes that would normally be achieved in attended workshops.

It's easy to enrol...

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Select a learning location:
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Select a payment plan:

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Select a learning method

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OUR WORKSHOPS

Our three workshop modules were originally developed in the mid 1990's, as generic courses to provide practical learning that would compliment any discipline. Curriculum documents were written and accredited at the time. The three workshop courses which we offer today, have been developed so as to meet all of the requirements originally specified in those curriculum documents.

PBL's

PBL is an abbreviation for "Problem Based Learning".

Problem-based learning has been defined as: “A learning method based on using problems as a starting point for acquisition and integration of new knowledge.”

Problem Based Learning is a learning methodology that was originally developed in USA universities; and is now commonly used in some university courses -particularly in medicine; but also in horticulture and other disciplines. This school began using PBL in 2004, basing it's methodology on documentation from and discussions with staff from a number of universities. 

We experimented with and modified the PBL concept to create our own approach which worked successfully with distance education.

PBL projects have been developed in a way that satisfies the requirements set down by the curriculum documentation for these modules; but also in a way that can be achieved from wherever you live, without travelling to attend face to face workshops.


CONTENTS

There are 3 lessons, each involving a PBL project, as follows:

1. Workplace Tools, Equipment and Materials
This covers; identifying and describing the operation of tools and equipment used in the workplace; routine maintenance of tools and equipment; and identifying and comparing materials used in the workplace; using different materials to perform workplace tasks.

2. Workplace Skills
This covers: determining key practical skills in the workplace; identifying and comparing commonly-performed workplace tasks; determining acceptable standards for workplace tasks; implementing techniques for improving workplace efficiency.

3. Workplace Safety
This covers: identifying health and safety risks in the workplace; complying with industry  WH&S standards; developing safety guidelines for handling dangerous items.


What Does a Project Look Like (Example)

A typical project involves investigating and solving a "hypothetical" problem. The project involves working a part of a team. Commonly, this team may involve yourself, a friend or colleague (who volunteers a little time to work with you) and your  tutor or a member of our staff; who interacts with you over the internet, or perhaps by phone.

While a team may be involved, you will be the one doing most of the work. The other team members may be contributing as little as an hour or two over the course of the project.

A typical problem to be solved might be:

You have been given a three-month contract to upgrade and expand the operations of a small business. The business normally employs three staff:

  • A manager
  • An office assistant
  • A technician

The manager’s position is currently vacant as the previous manager left at short notice. You will be temporarily filling this role during your three-month contract.

After making an initial assessment of the workplace, you realise that essential equipment and tools for the businesses operation are outmoded and will hamper the planned expansion. You decide to purchase or lease the necessary items, but firstly you must justify your acquisitions to the owner of the business.

To do this, you will need to do the following:

  • Determine the range of tools, equipment and materials commonly used in the workplace in your industry.
  • Compare the tools, equipment and materials in terms of availability, cost, suitability to use in your workplace, ease of use, maintenance and storage requirements.

You will then need to prepare a proposal for the business owner that explains or justifies the items you wish to acquire for your workplace. As part of your proposal, you will need to physically demonstrate the use of one item each that the office assistant and the technician will commonly use in the workplace. For example, if you are basing your project on a nursery business, you might choose to demonstrate how to use a software package and a grafting knife.

Study as a Stand-alone Course or as Part of a Qualification

Workshop I can be taken as a standalone course, or is more commonly taken as part of one of our Qualifications.  Find out more, get in touch with us today - use our Free Course Counselling Service.

 

WHY CHOOSE US?

  • Reputation: well-known and respected in horticulture.

  • Industry focus: courses designed to suit industry needs and expectations.

  • Different focus: develop problem solving skills that make you stand out from others.

  • Hands-on: develop practical as well as theoretical skills.

  • Lots of help: dedicated and knowledgeable tutors (faculty of internationally renowned horticulturists).

  • Efficient: prompt responses to your questions.

  • A long track record: established in 1979 with a solid history.

  • Up to date: courses under constant review.

  • Resources:  huge wealth of constantly developing intellectual property.

  • Value: courses compare very favourably on a cost per study hour basis.

  • Student amenities: online student room, bookshop, ebooks, acs garden online resources.
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Dr. Gareth PearceGraduated from the University of Nottingham in 1982 with a B.Sc.(Hons) in Animal Science. Between 82 and 85 worked as Research Assistant and Demonstator in Animal Science at the University of Leeds. Over more than 30 years he has furthered his studies, obtaining eight significant university qualifications including degrees in Veterinary Science, Wildlife Conservation and Animal Behaviour. Gareth has significant teaching experience around the world as a faculty member at eight different universities including Associate Professor at Murdoch University and Director of Studies in Veterinary Science at Cambridge University. He has over 100 prestigious research papers published, and enjoys an outstanding international reputation in the fields of animal and veterinary science.
Diana Cole (Horticulturist)Horticulturist, Permaculturist, Landscaper, Environmentalist. Holds a Diploma in Horticulture, degree in geography, permaculture certificate and various other qualifications. Between 1985 and 94, Diana was a task leader with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Since 2001 she has been chairperson of the Friends of Mellor Park (with Stockport MDC). From 2005 she has worked exclusively in horticulture as proprietor of her own garden design and consultancy business in and around Derbyshire; and at the same time as part time manager of a small garden centre. Diana has been an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable tutor with ACS since 2008.
Tracey Jones (writing)Tracey has enjoyed creative writing since she was a child. She has had several short stories published and a novella. She is also a keen writer of children's stories and poetry. She has also written many academic and non-fiction books in the fields of psychology, sociology, child development, writing and marketing.


Check out our eBooks

Business OperationsA text book for business students, or a guide book for anyone operating a business. Six chapters: Daily Challenges of Running a Business, Managing People, The Law, Finance, Product Management and Risk Management.
Professional Practice for ConsultantsExplore becoming a consultant. This ebook contains chapters on how to be a consultant, packaging your services, delivering the services, building your resources, finding the work and getting the job, planning and ethics.
Professional WritingProfessional writing is any writing that you are being paid for. It can include fiction writing, a best-selling book, articles in a magazine, articles in a newspaper, blogs for companies, technical manuals or procedure manuals, copy for catalogues, newsletters, text books and other academic material and so on.
Starting a BusinessBusinesses don't need to fail! This is concise, easy to read, and alerts you to all of the things that commonly make a difference to business success or failure. Seven chapters are: “A Reality Check”, “The Product or service”, “Managing a Business”, “How to Find Customers”, “How to Make a Sale”, “Delivering the Product or Service”, “Pitfalls to Avoid”.