Gardening Short Course

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About this course

What is it?

The Gardening Short Course offers exciting and rewarding activities to develop skills and knowledge through gardening. This course helps learners develop practical gardening skills, as well as personal, social and work-related skills. Certification is available for 10–60 hours of work. 

The flexibility of ASDAN's Short Courses means that they can be carried out in a variety of settings, over a time period to suit the individual or co-ordinating centre. 

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.

Log in to the e-portfolio


Free gardening resources

Download our free Gardening Short Course resource pack, packed with useful tips, challenge links and project ideas to promote wellbeing and develop practical skills.

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

 

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 Gardening Short Course contains eight modules:

  • Planting in the garden
  • Growing food on the allotment
  • Working under cover
  • Wildlife in the garden
  • Using your produce in the kitchen
  • Construction in the garden
  • Art in the garden
  • Careers in gardening

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 Gardening Short Course student book.

Supporting Resources

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

Products can be purchased below.

Products

Course resources


Gardening Short Course - 3B2: Greenhouse conditions log

This log provides a template for learners to record greenhouse conditions (eg humidity, temperature) and any actions they have taken to optimise conditions. This resource links to challenge 3B2 from the Gardening Short Course.


Gardening Short Course - 7A1: Plant pot designs

This template can be used by learners to plan their plant pot design ideas before creating them. This resource links to challenge 7A1 from the Gardening Short Course.


Gardening Short Course - 5B5: Allotment recipe templates

These recipe templates can be used by learners to record their recipe ideas for produce they have grown. There are two template designs - one for vegetable recipes and the other for fruit recipes. This resource links to challenge 5B5 from the Gardening Short Course.


Gardening Short Course - 2A2: Planting and harvesting fruit and vegetables

This worksheet asks learners to record the planting and harvesting months for fruit and vegetables grown on the allotment. Some example fruit and vegetables are listed, with space for learners to include their own. This resource links to challenge 2A2 from the Gardening Short Course.


Gardening Short Course - 1B1: Gardening jobs log

Learners can use this log template to record different gardening jobs. This resource links to challenge 1B1 from the Gardening Short Course.


Gardening Short Course: Seasonal gardening calendar

This seasonal calendar includes tips, tasks and project ideas to keep your gardening activities flourishing all-year round! This resource contains links to challenges from the Gardening Short Course.


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.

Success stories

Students realise their potential through Gardening Short Course

ASDAN’s Gardening Short Course develops practical, social and work-related skills in young people aged 11-16. Vikki Bishop, Vocational Lead at Coal Clough Academy, shares the impact of the course on their learners.

Students develop teamwork skills through school garden project

Aberdare Community School, Rhondda Cynon Taff, south Wales, delivers ASDAN’s Gardening Short Course to a group of Year 9 learners who have expressed an interest in working in horticulture.

Free calendar of seasonal gardening activities to boost learners' wellbeing

“We wanted to ensure our students enjoyed the outdoors as much as possible and for them to gain accreditation for their learning at the same time,” says Alison. “We love the Gardening Short Course student books. They allow personalisation and choice for pupils, are easy to follow and are accessible for pupils with literacy difficulties.
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