The ASDAN Activities Short Course accredits up to 60 hours of mixed activity. It can be used in most situations, but is particularly suitable for accrediting activities taking place in youth projects that do not fit easily into set challenges.
The Peer Tutoring Short Course is a second award, which offers the opportunity of additional recognition for young people who are supporting others through the Activities Short Course (perhaps having completed it themselves), or who are taking on a leadership role for a group of young people engaged on a specific activity.
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.
Young people of all abilities, mainly aged between 13 and 19 (as well as adults and younger learners, where appropriate).
Because Short Courses are multi-level, the focus is on completing challenges and skills development according to individual ability, rather than attainment at a specific level.
Students present a portfolio of evidence of their activities. This portfolio will contain:
The Activities and Peer Tutoring Short Course contains six modules:
Download sample pages from the Activities and Peer Tutoring Short Courses student book.
A free set of downloadable tutor notes to support the Adventure and Residential Short Course containing guidance for each challenge and suggested resources are available to centres registered for Short Courses in the members area.
A Quick Guide to Short Courses is also 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.
Additional resources to support Short Courses can be downloaded from theOrb – ASDAN’s Online Resource Bank. Resources available include witness statements, activity logs, lesson plans, worksheets and examples of evidence.
If you are not yet registered with ASDAN, your first step is to complete an Application for Centre Registration Form. See the Join section for more information. Current ASDAN centres need to ensure that the programme is added to their centre's registration.
Following registration, you will be able to purchase your books and access additional resources and guidance via the members area of asdan.org.uk. ASDAN also provides introductory workshops and can arrange in-house training.
After successful internal moderation, centres submit a list of candidates' names via the members area of asdan.org.uk and certificates are then issued by ASDAN.
The portfolios are not submitted for external moderation. ASDAN reserves the right to request samples of candidates' portfolios for quality assurance purposes.
Our online platform offers an alternative way to access Short Courses without needing to purchase student books. Learners can upload evidence to their personal e-portfolio to demonstrate what they have done and the skills they have developed. Tutors moderate e-portfolios on screen and then request certification.