Learning Hours
NZQA defines Learning Hours as
All planned learning activities leading toward the achievement of programme or qualification learning outcomes
<https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/consultations-and-reviews/notional-learning-hours/>
Learning hours are important because:
· They are the total time allocated for directed learning
· They are the basis of our contract with students
· NZQA approval of our programmes is based on the delivery of 10 notional* hours of learning per credit
· TEC funding is based on the delivery of 10 notional hours of learning per credit (i.e., not just face to face time)
*notional = the expected amount of time the ‘average’ student would take to complete the learning activity
Learning hours signify directed learning. All learning in a course must be directed, though we often classify it as “directed” and “self-directed”. Even if we classify learning as “self-directed” (i.e., not in the classroom) we must still be able to provide, if requested, a breakdown of how the learning occurs in all parts of the course. The following table can be useful for this purpose:
Learning hours description | Notional learning hours |
Teaching
Including face-to-face classroom time, online, field trip, simulation time, tutorials, onsite assignments, assessments and examinations. |
|
Work experience
Including time the student spends practicing or learning skills relevant to their study programme in a workplace. This includes a teaching workplace, which may be onsite, as long as it operates as a commercial enterprise. |
|
Student preparation for, or follow up from, teaching or work experience. | |
Student preparation for/of Assessment 1
(the total amount of time you expect a student to spend on this assessment) |
|
Student preparation for/of Assessment 2
(the total amount of time you expect a student to spend on this assessment) |
|
Student preparation for/of Assessment 3
(the total amount of time you expect a student to spend on this assessment) |
|
Student preparation for/of Assessment 4
(the total amount of time you expect a student to spend on this assessment) |
|
Student preparation for/of Assessment 5
(the total amount of time you expect a student to spend on this assessment) |
|
Other: (state) |
If you have more than 5 assessments, please engage with Te Puna Ako to review the assessments for the course.
If you have queries about any of the above contact tkk@unitec.ac.nz.