ISA² CATEGORISATION OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Largely inspired by the 2016 Classification of Learning Activities (CLA) as introduced by Eurostat, a new categorisation for learning activities is presented in detail here below.

The new categorisation takes into account the specific characteristics and features of the actions and available materials from the ISA² programme in order to develop and allow a better and more efficient categorisation of the latter. 

The proposed categorisation of educational resources is therefore drawn up out of the six following main categories:

• Knowledge Transfer
• Level of specialisation
• Target audience
• Teaching medium
• Time of publication
• Social Inclusion

Each category is defined and further elaborated upon in the form of different options. The main idea of the framework is to apply all six categories (incl. subcategories if applicable) to any piece of learning material by choosing the option from each of the six categories that best fit the presented learning material.

Descriptions of the (Sub)Categories and Options

The descriptions of the six categories, including subcategories if applicable and corresponding options are explained in detail here below. The description is followed by an overview in the form of a table.

1. Knowledge transfer

Category 1 - Knowledge Transfer consists of the 3 following sub-categories:

1.1 Interaction

The first subcategory under category ‘knowledge transfer’ is called ‘interaction’, referring to the level and manner of engagement between the instructor and the audience. The different options to be chosen from in the subcategory ‘interaction’ are as follows:

• Face-to-face: An approach to education where the student is physically present with the instructor in the same room at the same time.
• Blended learning: An approach to education where students learn through a combination of electronic and online media on the one hand, and traditional face-to-face teaching on the other.
• Distance/Online learning: An approach to education where the student is not physically present in the classroom with the instructor. Teaching is organised via electronic and online media only, with a possibility of interaction with the instructor.
• Web learning: An approach to education where the learning activity takes place in pre-recorded online courses, with no possibility of interaction with the instructor.
• Self-learning: An approach to education where the learning activity is initiated by the student on an ad hoc basis (not organised by an instructor), with no possibility of interaction with the instructor.

1.2 ​​​​​​Learning activities

The second subcategory 1.2 under category ‘knowledge transfer’ relates to the ‘learning activity’. A learning activity can be defined as any activity organised (by the instructor, or ad hoc by the individual) to transfer knowledge, improve skills and competences, and shape one's attitude. The different options to be chosen from in the subcategory ‘learning activity’ are as follows:

• Lecture/seminar: An organised learning activity where the subject is presented in a structured manner by the instructor, with or without (limited) interaction with the student.
• Workshop: An organised learning activity where students engage in intensive discussions or practical work on a particular topic or subject.
• Webinar: An organised learning activity such as a lecture, seminar or a workshop that is conducted exclusively over the Internet and thus for an online audience only.
• Job training: An organised or ad hoc hands-on learning activity to teach skills, knowledge, and competencies to employees to perform a specific job within the workplace. This can be organised either at the immediate place of work or within the presence of a tutor.
• Coaching: An organised or ad-hoc based learning activity where the tutor provides training and guidance, aiming to achieve a specific personal or professional goal with the student.
• Group learning: An organised learning activity initiated by a group of students, without the support of an instructor.
• Reading & Practice: An ad hoc learning activity initiated by the student, without the support of an instructor, whereby  the student reads the available material, and/or it involves the implementation or repetition of knowledge, methods, rules or instructions related to a subject, to improve personal performance in a specific area.
• N/A: Not applicable.

1.3 Material type

The third subcategory 1.3 under ‘knowledge transfer’ refers to ‘material type’, meaning any collection of materials that the tutor or instructor may use and/or offers in teaching and learning situations to help achieve the desired learning outcomes. The different options to be chosen from in the subcategory ‘material type’ are as follows:

• Books: A printed work (or online available) about a specific topic consisting of a large number of pages.
• Papers/publications: A printed work (or online available) about a specific topic consisting of a large number of pages.
• Manual/tutorials: Materials that provide instructions and information about a specific learning goal. 
• Grey literature: Materials and research produced by organisations outside of the traditional commercial or academic publishing and distribution channels.
• Poster/leaflet: A printed work on a page to provide information in a summarised way about a specific topic.
• PowerPoint Presentation: A combined set of slides prepared on a graphic presentation software programme to support a learning activity.
• Online course: A class taught to students via the Internet or in a specific online learning environment.
• Video: A recording of a learning activity that can be watched after the recording was made.
• Livestream: A learning activity which can be followed live over the Internet.

2. Levels of specialisation

The second category in the proposed categorisation concerns the ‘level of specialisation’, thus referring to the degree of knowledge transfer – i.e. the scope and/or topic of the content. The different options to be chosen from in the category ‘level of specialisation’ are as follows:

• Basic: For a basic course, no previous knowledge or a basic understanding of the topic is required at the start of the learning activity.
• Intermediate: For an intermediate course, prior elementary knowledge on the key concepts of the discussed topic is required before the start of the activity.
• Advanced: For an advanced course, an in-depth understanding of the key concepts of the discussed topic is required before the start of the activity.

3. Target audience

The third category looks to the ‘target audience’, meaning the public for whom the learning activity is organised and/or developed, and as such refers to the communication that is used in the learning activity / materials.

This category is focused specifically on the audience and not on the degree of knowledge transfer. A learning activity can be organised for all civil servants or for a specific group of civil servants, whereby the level of specialisation can be basic, intermediate or advanced.

For example, learning activity X is organised for a specific group of civil servants with a basic specialisation level regarding the scope of the content.

The different options to be chosen from in the category ‘target audience’ are as follows:

• All civil servants: The learning activity is organised and/or developed for all civil servants.
• Specific civil servants: The learning activity is organised and/or developed for a group with particular characteristics and with specific knowledge in a defined sector.

4. Teaching medium

The fourth category refers to the ‘teaching medium’, meaning the medium through which the learning activity takes place. The different options to be chosen from in the category ‘teaching medium’ are as follows:

• Analogue: A teaching medium that does not function based on the binary system (0 - 1).
• Digital: A teaching medium that functions based on the binary system (0 - 1).
• Mixed: A combination of the analogue and digital mediums through which the learning activity takes place.

5. Time of publication

The fifth category in this categorisation relates to the ‘time of publication’, meaning the period in which the learning activity has been developed. Two options were created here, connected to the ISA and ISA² programme running periods:

• 2010-2015 (ISA): Funded by the ISA Programme 2010-2015.
• 2016-2020 (ISA²): Funded by the ISA² Programme 2016-2020.

6. Social Inclusion

The sixth and last category in this categorisation refers to the social inclusion, referring to the accessibility of the knowledge transfer by persons with disabilities. The different categories to be chosen from in this category are:

• Accessible to visual impairment: The knowledge transfer can also take place for students with visual disabilities.
• Accessible to hearing impairment: The knowledge transfer can also take place for students with hearing disabilities.
• Accessible to physical impairment:  The knowledge transfer can also take place for students with physical disabilities.
• N/A: The knowledge transfer is not adapted for students with disabilities.