Expressive Arts Short Course

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About this course

ASDAN’s Expressive Arts Short Course offers exciting and rewarding activities to develop skills and knowledge through all forms of expressive arts. This programme helps learners develop practical arts skills, as well as personal, social and work-related skills.  

The Expressive Arts Short Course will enable learners to:

  • learn and demonstrate techniques in different forms of expressive arts (eg visual arts, performing arts, music, crafts, writing)
  • develop an awareness of how creative expression and enjoyment of the arts can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing
  • develop their own creative voice and produce their own original work
  • gain an understanding of the importance of arts and creativity in society and industry

Short Courses can be completed using the student book or are 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.

Log in to the e-portfolio

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.

The Expressive Arts Short Course is ideal for students who are interested in arts and enjoy learning in a creative environment. The course can be used to support learning in all types of expressive arts, including visual arts, performing arts, music, crafts and writing. This could be anything from painting to poetry, crochet to circus skills, DJ-ing to dance.

Course content

The Expressive Arts Short Course contains five modules:

  • Explore
  • Experiment
  • Develop
  • Reflect
  • Careers in the arts

The Expressive Arts Short Course accredits between 10–60 hours of activities. It is available in student book and e-portfolio format. Tutors should choose the most appropriate option for their situation. Each learner will need their own copy of the Short Course student book or an e-portfolio login – this contains the challenge content.

Download sample pages from the Expressive Arts Short Course student book.

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

Progression

Short Courses offer progression to a range of other ASDAN courses. They can count as up to nine of the credits needed to achieve the Personal Development Programmes and up to six of the credits needed to achieve Certificate of Personal Effectiveness. Short Courses also offer progression to Award of Personal Effectiveness, and also Wider Key Skills (in Northern Ireland only).

Supporting Resources

A free downloadable tutor information booklet to support the Expressive Arts Short Course is available in the members' area for centres registered for Short Courses.

A quick guide to Short Courses is 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.

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
Expressive Arts Short Course student book £12
Expressive Arts Short Course PDF certificate Free
Expressive Arts Short Course printed and foiled certificate (optional, per learner, per Short Course) £3.50

Products can be purchased below.

Products

Course resources


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.

Success stories

Expressive Arts Short Course builds self-belief through distance learning

ASDAN’s Expressive Arts Short Course has developed the confidence and wellbeing of learners at Community Film, Art and Media. We spoke to Director of Engagement, Ray Hanks, about how the course has engaged students and met their learning needs during the lockdown.
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