Description
Learning Paths are structured pathways that guide learners through a series of courses and training materials, enabling them to progressively develop the knowledge and skills required in a particular subject area. By providing a clear and coherent sequence of learning activities, Learning Paths support learners in achieving their professional development and career goals.
Within ELIXIR, the primary objective of the Learning Paths project is to foster the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences with the aim of identifying needs, devising solutions, and advocating the widespread adoption of learning paths across ELIXIR, its Nodes, Communities, and beyond. This effort will address the current lack of guidance in developing curricula or structured training programs, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the learning experience for end users.
The Learning Paths project has collaborated with different stakeholders from across the ELIXIR ecosystem to establish a process for developing Learning Paths (the Learning Paths Protocol). The project has also worked closely with the TeSS development team to design and implement the Learning Paths functionality within TeSS, enabling the creation and dissemination of learning paths.
What can you do with Learning Paths
The main aims of the ELIXIR Learning Paths project are:
- Develop guidelines and best practices on how to create Learning Paths
- Implement Learning Paths across different communities
- Raise awareness on the pedagogical aspects and promote their adoption
- Establish a community of practice to share knowledge, experiences, and ideas
Resources
- Developing Learning Paths guidelines: The Learning Paths Protocol
- Learning Paths in TeSS
- ELIXIR Learning Paths Standard Operating Procedure: this describes the operational procedure to create an new ELIXIR Learning Path in TeSS.
Collaborations and use cases
- The EOSC4Cancer project adopted the ELIXIR Learning Paths protocol to develop learning paths (see details here).
- Collaboration with the Plant Sciences Community to establish a Plant Data Management Learning Path (see poster for details).
- The ELIXIR Learning Paths protocol was also used outside of the life sciences domain, such as this example in astrophysics: Towards a FAIR path for the Einstein Telescope which was presented at the XV Einstein Telescope Symposium. The poster describes a strategy to build a FAIR Learning Path for astrophysics of gravitational waves(see poster here).
- The ELIXIR Learning Paths group has inspired other projects and groups via the ELIXIR Learning Paths Protocol who engaged with the group via the monthly ELIXIR Learning Path Focus Group meetings. Some examples are: the Galaxy Training Network Learning Paths, SIB Learning Paths, VIB Learning Paths.
- More examples of ELIXIR Learning Paths can be found here
Events
The ELIXIR Learning Paths group delivers a range of workshops in collaboration with different organisations and communities to raise awareness of the educational aspects and to support those interested in developing learning paths. These workshops provide guidance on the Learning Paths Protocol, the Learning Paths Standard Operating Procedure, the development process, and support the implementation of learning paths. Examples of these workshops include:
- Developing Learning Paths for the ELIXIR RDM Community
- Developing learning Paths for the ELIXIR Toxicology Community
- Biohackathon Europe 2022 - Project 32: Training booster: developing FAIR Training materials & Learning Paths.
- Biohackathon Europe 2021 - Project 9: Defining a step-by-step protocol to create learning paths
- Biohacakthon Europe 2020 - Project 29: Design of a modular learning path in Data Stewardship, Management and Analysis (DSMA) for the Life Sciences
Contacts for ELIXIR Learning Paths in TeSS
Each ELIXIR Learning Path in TeSS has designated key contacts who serve as the authors and maintainers of the respective learning path. If you have any questions or feedback about a specific learning path, you are encouraged to contact the relevant key contacts directly. Details of the key contacts for each ELIXIR Learning Path can be found here. For any other queries about the ELIXIR Learning Paths project and other general queries on learning paths, please contact the ELIXIR Learning Paths Group Leads shown in the Contacts section below.
Contacts
Funding
