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HTC Policies and Procedures

Curriculum and Instruction
Instructional Delivery: Learning Paks

Policy 01.04

POLICY STATEMENT

One method of delivering learning materials to students is through the use of learning paks which are performance instructional guides to learning. They contain the learning activities that lead the student to the performance objectives required of the course. A learning pak can be developed for each course or for each unit of a course.

IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURE

Learning paks can be either self-contained or directional. A self-contained pak includes all of the learning activity material required to acquire mastery of the performance objectives in the course. A directional pak’s learning activities refer the learner to references (text, instructor demonstration, etc.) for the information necessary to acquire mastery of the performance objectives in the course. Hennepin Technical College is not a correspondence school. Students expect and deserve considerable student-instructor interaction. Therefore, it is important to include student-instructor interactions such as demonstrations, lectures, and discussions as a part of the activities in learning paks. Students must receive the scheduled hours of instruction as stated in the course scheduling section of the syllabus.

A well written pak includes: detailed step-by-step instructions, high quality figures and diagrams, thought provoking questions, testing standards, performance standards, and project evaluation criteria. A schedule of learning activity due dates and test dates should be included with the learning pak. The pak shifts more of the responsibility for learning to the student and postures the instructor as the manager of the instructional process.

Learning Pak Development Prerequisites

The items listed below shall be completed prior to the development of a learning pak.

The syllabus for the course must be approved for use.
The performance objectives for the course must be completed.
Instructional references such as textbooks, video tapes, etc., should be obtained and reviewed. All references employed should be gender free. Copyright laws must be adhered to. Refer to the uniform procedure, “Use of Copyrighted Materials.”

Learning Pak Cover Page

Select the appropriate cover page (attached).
Copy the course title, number, and description from the current course syllabus to the cover page.

Learning Activity/Resource Sheet Page

The learning activity/resource sheet page should be used for all other learning pak information.
The standard information listed on the perimeter of this sheet is listed below (see example).

"Hennepin Technical College” is listed on the upper left hand corner of the page.

The course goal or subject is listed on the upper right hand corner of the page. This information is optional.

The course number is listed on the lower left hand corner of the page.

The page number is listed on the lower center of the page.

The program name is listed on the lower right hand corner of the page.

Learning Pak Content Standards

The course goals from each respective syllabus must be addressed through one or more of the mediums below:

Learning materials included in the learning pak
Lectures (referenced in the learning pak)
Instructor demonstrations (referenced in the learning pak)
Texts/video tapes, etc. (referenced in the learning pak)

Figures and diagrams must be of high quality.
Instructions should be written in complete, clear, and concise language.
All pak material and references shall be bias-free.

Learning Pak Performance/Grading Standards

Written tests.

Identify the content for each written test.
State whether or not references are allowed.
State time limit.
State whether or not students can retest.
Describe achievement levels (i.e., what constitutes an A, B, C, D).

Performance tests.

Identify the content for each performance test.
List the tools and references permitted during testing.
State the conditions (accuracy/tolerance requirements, time limits/efficiency, procedure, safety practices, etc.).
State whether or not students can retest.
Describe achievement levels.

Project and assignment evaluations.

List the specific criteria to be used in grading each project.

Learning Pak Format
Learning pak format may vary. Historically, each pak had a learning activity sheet that directed the pak user to varied resource sheets and references. This format may be used. In recent years, many programs have eliminated the learning activity page and let the content flow in a textbook style. Examples of both types are available for review.

Learning Pak Approval
Learning paks shall be reviewed and approved for use at a program meeting. Approved learning paks shall meet the requirements as stated herein. The program meeting minutes shall specifically refer to each approved course. Any learning pack revisions made subsequent to the initial approval must be re-approved at a program meeting.

Assistance in Modification of Materials for Special Needs Students
HTC has staff members dedicated to helping faculty modify their learning materials to meet the needs of the special needs student. Faculty members should consult with these staff before final publication of their learning materials.

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Contact HTC at 952-995-1300 or info@hennepintech.edu