Wk 07: Syllabi
Reflection
This week's task of creating the syllabus was a deeply satisfying way to almost be concluding this course Since the syllabus is often seen as a contract between the instructor and the learner, I wanted to keep it simple and straightforward. My goal was to ensure that expectations, activities, topics, and assessments were all presented clearly. I also included a general assessment rubric to provide an overview and further reinforce those expectations. In a nutshell, this syllabus covers the vision I had for this course development when I first started this program with LDT100x back in January. More importantly, it covers enough to act as a valuable guide for both instructors and learners alike, bringing all the elements of my instructional design journey to a cohesive and purposeful close.
Instructions for Reviewers:
To access the course please follow the following steps 1 - 3
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When prompted to log in, please use the following credentials:
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User Email: oaii@oala.app
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Password: LDT400xO@la
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Below please find the Syllabi or download the pdf from the link
Minicourse Syllabus: 'Early Skills' (ފަށާ ހުނަރު)
Welcome to 'Early Skills'!
We're so happy to have you join us. This minicourse is an exciting adventure where we will discover emotions, play with words, and get creative with our hands. We've designed this course to be fun and supportive, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things you create!
1. Course Title & Description
Course Title: Early Skills (ފަށާ ހުނަރު) Course Description: Welcome to 'Early Skills,' a hybrid minicourse designed to introduce K-5 Maldivian children to foundational literacy, phonological awareness, and expressive confidence in the Dhivehi language. Through engaging videos, hands-on crafting, and interactive discussions, learners will explore emotions and culture while developing key skills that build a foundation for lifelong learning.
2. Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
Upon successful completion of this minicourse, learners will be able to:
01. Early Reading 'ކިޔަން ފަށާ (ki-yan fa-sha)'
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CLO 1: Phonological Awareness
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Description: Develop awareness of sounds in language through segmentation and blending.
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Assessed through the following Learning Objectives (LOs):
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LO1: Syllable Awareness
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LO2: Rhyme Awareness
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LO3: Phoneme Awareness
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CLO 2: Phonics and Letter Knowledge
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Description: Link sounds to letters and form basic words.
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Assessed through the following Learning Objectives (LOs):
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LO4: Grapheme Awareness
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LO5: Letter and Word Formation
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CLO 3: Vocabulary and Comprehension
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Description: Build word knowledge and understand text meaning.
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Assessed through the following Learning Objectives (LOs):
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LO6: Vocabulary Knowledge
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LO7: Comprehension
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02. Early Writing 'ލިޔަން ފަށާ (li-yan fa-sha)'
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CLO 4: Writing and Expression
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Description: Produce written and verbal output with structure and clarity.
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Assessed through the following Learning Objectives (LOs):
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LO8: Spelling and Grammar Basics
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LO9: Sentence and Paragraph Construction
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LO10: Verbal Expression
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CLO 5: Expressive Confidence
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Description: (Affective focus) Build ability to articulate thoughts and feelings through guided writing/journaling.
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Assessed through the following Learning Objectives (LOs):
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LO11: Expression Skill Confidence (Affective, focused on journaling expression)
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03. Early Crafts 'ކުރަން ފަށާ (ku-ran fa-sha)'
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CLO 6: Motor Skills
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Description: Develop physical coordination for crafting tasks like Make-Do activities or Strawbees.
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Assessed through the following Learning Objectives (LOs):
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LO12: Fine Motor Precision
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LO13: Gross Motor Coordination
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CLO 7: Skill Confidence
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Description: (Affective focus): Develop confidence in executing motor tasks and expressing creativity through crafts.
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Assessed through the following Learning Objectives (LOs):
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LO14: Motor Task Confidence
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3. Instructor Contact
Instructor: Ahmed Fahud
Email: faudii@oala.app
Availability: I check email once a day and will respond within 24 hours.
4. Course Prerequisites
This course is designed for children ages 3-11. No prior formal knowledge of the Dhivehi language is required. General understanding of the Dhivehi language will be an advantage. A parent or facilitator is encouraged to assist younger learners with technical tasks and hands-on activities.
5. Technology Requirements
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A desktop computer or tablet with a stable internet connection.
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Access to the Oala.app via the LearnWorlds platform.
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A microphone and camera for video-based assignments.
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Basic materials for hands-on activities (e.g., paper, cardboard, markers, glue).
6. Grading Policy & Weights
This is a pass/fail course. To pass, learners must earn a total of 70% or more. The final grade is calculated based on the following:
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Discussion Posts: 40% (Graded on the rubric below)
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Assignments: 60% (Graded with on the rubric below)
All discussions and assignments will be graded using a simple rubric. This rubric outlines how you will be evaluated based on the specific learning objectives of the minicourse.
Criteria | Excellent (3 points) | Good (2 points) | Developing (1 point) |
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Expressive & Skill Confidence
(CLO 5, CLO 7) | You have a thoughtful and detailed explanation for your choices. Your ideas are expressed with confidence and enthusiasm. | You have a basic explanation for your choices, and your ideas are expressed with some confidence. | You did not explain your choices, or the explanation is difficult to understand. |
Motor Skills & Craftsmanship
(CLO 6) | Your craftwork is neat, precise, and shows careful physical coordination. | Your craftwork is mostly neat, but some parts may be less precise or require minor adjustments. | Your craftwork is messy, incomplete, or shows a lack of physical coordination with the materials. |
Vocabulary & Comprehension
(CLO 3) | Your work is clear, uses Dhivehi words correctly, and demonstrates a deep understanding of their meaning. | Your work uses Dhivehi words, but there may be small errors in how you use them. | Your work does not clearly use Dhivehi words, or it is difficult to understand their meaning. |
Phonological Awareness & Verbal Expression
(CLO 1, CLO 4) | You use correct pronunciation and clear verbal output to express your ideas. | Your pronunciation and verbal output are mostly clear, but there may be minor errors. | It is difficult to understand your pronunciation or verbal expression. |
7. Late Policies
To help you succeed and stay on track with your learning, please submit assignments by the due date. We understand that sometimes things happen, so late submissions will be accepted with a penalty of 10% per day, for up to two days. After that, the assignment will no longer be accepted.
8. Schedule of Instructional Events
This is a self-paced minicourse designed to be completed over 4 weeks.
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Module 1.1: Decorating Dhivehi Emotion Words
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Topics: Dhivehi emotion words, their pronunciations, and visual representations.
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Activities: Watch a video with Hamii, decorate a word with recycled materials, and present the finished work.
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Assessment Type: Summative MCQ's ( 15 mins)
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Module 1.2: Dhivehi Mask Creation
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Topics: Maldivian cultural elements (Maali masks), string-based measurement, and creative crafting.
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Activities: Watch a video on Maali masks, learn to measure with string, and craft a mask with recycled materials.
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Assessment Type: Formative, Simple Oral Answers (5 mins)
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Module 2.3: Dhivehi Puppet Play Scriptwriting
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Topics: Local habitats (ocean and reef), Dhivehi phrases for dialogue, and collaborative writing.
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Activities: Watch a video about habitats, work in groups to write a short puppet play script, and practice phrases.
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Assessment Type: Formative Checklist (15 mins)
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Module 2.4: Dhivehi Puppet Play Performance
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Topics: Recalling script phrases and puppet manipulation.
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Activities: Practice puppet play phrases and perform a 2-minute play in a group.
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Assessment Type: Summative MCQ's ( 15 mins)
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9. Academic Honesty Policy
Our community is built on trust. This policy is simple: always do your own work and be kind to your classmates. We are all here to learn and grow together.
10. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning experience for all. To ensure this, all of our videos include closed captions and alt text for all images and diagrams, and the course is designed to accommodate multiple methods of resource input and assessment. If you or your child needs further assistance, please contact me at the email address above so that we can work together to ensure a successful journey through the course.
11. PDF Version on Course Site
A downloadable PDF version of this syllabus is available here: