An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing mins.
The International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the worl s largest volunteer-base humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through our 187 member National Societies. Together, we act before, uring an after isasters an health emergencies to meet the nees an improve the lives of vulnerable people. We o so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gener, religious beliefs, class an political opinions. Guie by Strategy 2020 our collective plan of action to tackle the major humanitarian an evelopment challenges of this ecae we are committe to saving lives an changing mins. Our strength lies in our volunteer network, our communitybase expertise an our inepenence an neutrality. We work to improve humanitarian stanars, as partners in evelopment an in response to isasters. We persuae ecision-makers to act at all times in the interests of vulnerable people. The result: we enable healthy an safe communities, reuce vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience an foster a culture of peace aroun the worl. The Re Cross Re Crescent Learning platform in brief The Re Cross Re Crescent Learning platform is an online learning community for Re Cross Re Crescent National Society volunteers an staff as well as partners an the general public. It elivers free, high-quality, self-irecte, multilingual Re Cross Re Crescent an other learning opportunities to support the personal an professional evelopment of volunteers an staff. Alongsie the learning materials, the Learning platform has various social learning tools incluing communities, forums an wikis through which to learn from an collaborate with peers. The Learning platform s rapily growing global community of many tens of thousans of learners from all National Societies consistently achieves inustry topping completion rates of above 50 per cent across its courses. The Learning platform is a core part of the Re Cross Re Crescent Learning Eucation an Training (LET) Hub (www.ifrc.org/ learning) which provies a winow to a variety of appropriate, high quality online training an learning opportunities incluing those foun on the Learning platform. All National Society volunteers an staff are encourage to explore, use an share these as wiely as possible among friens an colleagues. The Course Catalogue for the Learning platform is available online. Registration, access to an use of the Learning platform is free. International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies, Geneva, 2013 Any part of this publication may be cite, copie, translate into other languages or aapte to meet local nees without prior permission from the International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies, provie that the source is clearly state. Requests for commercial reprouction shoul be irecte to the IFRC Secretariat at secretariat@ifrc.org Cover photos, clockwise: Masaki Kamei/Japanese Re Cross; Conor Ashleigh/IFRC; Albanian Re Cross; Benoit Matsha-Carpentier/IFRC P.O. Box 303 CH-1211 Geneva 19 Switzerlan Telephone: +41 22 730 4222 Telefax: +41 22 733 0395 E-mail: secretariat@ifrc.org Web site: www.ifrc.org An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it 1231800 10/2013 E Follow us:
International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it Strategy 2020 an the Learning platform A National Society that is self-aware of its strengths an limitations also strives to o better by lifting up the thinking an practice that unerpins the relevance, quality, magnitue, an impact of its services. That is why Strategy 2020 gives strong encouragement to the evelopment of a culture of learning an knowlege sharing. The Re Cross Re Crescent Learning Eucation an Training (LET) Hub intens to stimulate new thinking, set stanars, an establish curricula of relevance to our core business areas, an then to signpost volunteers an staff towars accreite proviers who offer structure an professionalize learning opportunities. This journey of life-long learning starts with the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform. The platform is an online, clou-base service eicate to expaning access to learning opportunities for all volunteers, staff an members of the the Re Cross Re Crescent Movement an beyon. In aition to the Learning Platform, the Re Cross Re Crescent LET Hub coorinates, evelops or elivers other key Re Cross Re Crescent online Learning programmes an opportunities incluing the following. More etail can be foun in the out-boxes below an on the LET Hub website at www. ifrc.org/learning: Certifie Professional an Vocational Development courses Reference Centre Learning outcomes A learning community A research function Project-base Humanitarian Eucation for Youth 3
International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it Certifie Professional Development courses The Certifie Professional Development courses are a set of key certifie professional an vocational evelopment programmes offere by the Re Cross Re Crescent LET Hub in partnership with various acaemic an other renowne training institutions worl-wie. The current set of courses offere inclue Online Certificates in the following subject areas: Social an Voluntary Sector Leaership Global Health Humanitarian Diplomacy Disaster Management Registrations are taken for these courses at regular intervals throughout the year. For more etails an to register for all these opportunities, please visit the LET Hub website. www.ifrc.org/learning Learning Community The LET Hub has tools that enable the creation of local as well as global Learning Communities. These tools inclue the Learning Blog, forums, wikis etc. Through these tools, which are available on the Learning platform, learning experiences an expertise are share between colleagues an peers throughout the Re Cross Re Crescent Movement an beyon. Project Base Humanitarian Eucation for Youth www.ifrc.org/learning-platform Humanitarian Eucation for Youth enables young people an other target groups Follow us to on analyse events from a humanitarian perspective through project base learning across geographies an cultures. Reference Centres Learning Outcomes The Reference Centres are elegate functions of the IFRC an in some cases are hoste in various Re Cross Re Crescent National Societies. Their primary function as Centres of Excellence are to evelop strategically important knowlege an best practice which will inform future operations of the Feeration an National Societies in their key areas of interest an influence. These centres inclue: Global Disaster Prepareness Centre American Re Cross Re Cross / Re Crescent Climate Centre Netherlans Re Cross The Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support Danish Re Cross The European Reference Centre for First Ai Eucation French Re Cross Livelihoos Resource Centre Spanish Re Cross Reference Centre on Volunteering British an Spanish Re Cross
International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it The Learning platform backgroun In 2009, following an IFRC Governing Boar resolution, the IFRC implemente a Learning platform to: host an istribute multi-lingual online courses for Re Cross Re Crescent volunteers an staff (an others) worlwie. allow virtual Re Cross Re Crescent communities an beyon to exchange ieas, ocumentation an knowlege. track progress an keep an online training recor for all Re Cross Re Crescent volunteers an staff (an others) worlwie. manage classroom training registrations. By proviing free, easy to access, high quality learning opportunities base on ecaes of Re Cross Re Crescent knowlege, insight an experience, the Learning platform, as with all the other learning opportunities an programmes mae available through the LET Hub, aims to provie increasingly efficient an effective support to the evelopment of basic competencies of Re Cross Re Crescent volunteers an staff worlwie. The technical Learning Management System (LMS) solution that was chosen as the software platform behin the Learning platform is provie by Cornerstone, an follows the Software as a Service (SaaS) moel. It is a flexible, reliable an complete solution, capable of meeting the present an future nees of all National Societies. The Learning platform, which currently has 100 s of Re Cross Re Crescent an other courses (an growing quickly) is fully navigable in 5 languages (English, French, Russian, Spanish, an Sweish). Further languages are expecte to be available shortly see box for further etails. Aoption of the Learning platform: an important opportunity for all National Societies All Re Cross Re Crescent National Societies are encourage to make use of the Re Cross Re Crescent Learning platform as extensively as possible to support their own (online) Learning Eucation an Training (LET) nees an requirements. There are a multitue of ways in which National Societies can o this these are escribe below an can be implemente separately or together. We refer to this embracing of the the Learning platform by National Societies as Aoption of the Learning platform, an positively welcome the opportunity to iscuss the benefits, process an roll-out with all National Societies many ozens of National Societies are alreay in iscussion. Languages soon to be fully release in the Learning platform are liste below. Please contact the Learning an Research team for further information: Bahasa Inonesian Bahasa Malaysian Bulgarian Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch English Estonian Finnish Flemish French German Greek Hebrew Hungarian Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Slovakian Slovenia Spanish Sweish Thai Turkish Ukrainian 5
International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it 1. Registering your National Society Staff an Volunteers The Learning platform is free an easy to access for all Re Cross Re Crescent volunteers an staff (an others) worlwie. Anyone can iniviually create an account from the welcome page of the Learning platform an chose to view the system in ifferent languages. Beyon this, National Societies are choosing to work with the IFRC s Learning an Research team to embrace the Learning platform more fully an among other activities, register certain groups of (sometimes all) volunteers an / or staff onto the system in one go. Why embrace e-learning? E-learning implies the use of computer, tablet or mobile technologies to eliver learning materials. It confers many benefits incluing the following: Volunteers an staff can theoretically learn from anywhere on earth, as long as there is an internet connection an a suitable evice. Volunteers an staff can learn at anytime, there is no nee to wait for a session to be organize in a few months, or take leave from work. One can also stuy at one s own pace, inepenently of other stuents. E-learning offers unpreceente possibilities of economies of scale: once a course is evelope, it costs virtually nothing to istribute it to one, a hunre or one million people, thus making learning accessible to all. E-learning oes not replace face to face learning but instea complements it; it offers the ability to eliver key generic training an learning elements enabling face to face training to evolve into more customise, eeper training opportunities 2. Free online courses www.ifrc.org/learning www.ifrc.org/learning-platform Follow us on A selection of high quality online Re Cross Re Crescent an other thir party courses are currently provie for free. More will be ae to the catalogue of courses once evelope an share by subject matter experts in both the IFRC as well as in National Societies. All National Societies are actively encourage to promote the opportunities available on the Learning platform to their volunteers an staff. Below is a small sample of courses currently available in various languages; the complete, up-to-ate Learning platform course catalogue is available on the Learning Network website. Global Re Cross Re Crescent courses currently inclue the following: 6
International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it à The Worl of Re Cross an Re Crescent (WORC) This 20-hour orientation moule (10 moules covering history, Funamental Principles, components, cooperation, emblem, ) is the first tool available to present all the core imensions of the Re Cross Re Crescent Movement to National Societies. It is often the first element of international staff training in National Societies an some have alreay mae it compulsory for all staff, e.g. the Irish Re Cross, the Australian Re Cross an the Monaco Re Cross. à Strategy 2020 An introuctory moule, explaining the IFRC s strategic aims for 2020 an enabling actions, an guiing Re Cross Re Crescent National Societies in tackling the major challenges that will confront humanity in the next ecae. à Stay Safe personal security / volunteer security / security management These two interactive courses introuce all the essential principles of security in the fiel for volunteers, staff an managers. The completion of each course is valiate by a test. These courses are use by many National Societies, as well as some UN agencies an NGOs (WFP, UNHCR, Worl Vision). à Influenza Panemic Prepareness A very ynamic an interactive course introucing what the panemic is, how to take care of infecte persons, an how to prevent the isease. The course is complete by a simulation an a quiz. à Project / Programme Planning (PPP) This course provies a thorough introuction to key skills an methos in project management focuse on resultsbase project planning. à Gener equality in programme planning An online course on Gener equality in programme planning, evelope by the IASC. à Introuction to International Disaster Response Laws, Rules an Principles (IDRL) International isaster relief an recovery operations can raise a number of thorny legal issues, both for foreign responers an for omestic authorities. This no-jargon introuctory moule is for anyone who wants to gain a better unerstaning of the regulatory issues in international operations, the key international instruments, an the steps that governments can take to prepare. à Volunteering Basic Course This course provies basic information to new an actual volunteers/pai staff, on what a volunteer is an what their motivations are, the Re Cross Re Crescent environment in general an how to become a volunteer in a local branch. It supports the implementation of the Volunteering evelopment programmes, introucing stanar proceures to attract an retain active volunteers in the branches. This course is roote in the Funamental Principles, the Volunteering Policy an the Youth Policy approve in November 2011 in orer to facilitate engagement an training for new volunteers an pai staff. à Community-Base Health an First Ai (CBHFA) This CBHFA course has 4 moules; these inclue an introuction to the approach to CBHFA, volunteer action aroun CBHFA, information aroun training volunteers in CBHFA an explaining the steps for the implementation of CBHFA programmes at national an community levels. à Introuction to cash transfer programming The aim of the training is to raise awareness of the issues associate with cash transfer programmes an buil knowlege of emergency managers an others who will be responsible for running cash transfer programmes in emergencies. It targets those who nee to take ecisions on the appropriateness of cash programmes after an emergency an those who nee to plan an esign a cash programme. 7
International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it 3. Connect Linking communities of learning together Linking communities of learning together is an important imension of the Learning platform. The tools available within the Learning platform will allow learners from National Societies all over the worl to gather in virtual communities to Exchange ieas, ebate (forum, blog,) Share information (vieos, ocuments, websites ) Submit ieas to a vote Collaborate on projects (through wikis) Fin people sharing similar interests Exchange contact etails 4. Communication material / brochures A range of brochures an other presentation materials are available to National Societies who want to communicate about the Learning platform to their staff an volunteers. Please feel free to contact the Learning an Research Department in Geneva for further iscussion an support: support.learning@ifrc.org 5. Aitional courses: course catalog The IFRC Secretariat has contracte some of the leaing proviers of online courses worl-wie, to make available hunres of courses in ifferent languages in the Learning platform. National Societies can also benefit from offering these online courses by making these available to their own staff an volunteers. These courses inclue: www.ifrc.org/learning www.ifrc.org/learning-platform Languages skills: the most moern online learning tool, provie by Auralog (Tell-Me-More Corporate). A 12 month license fee to have full access to the most comprehensive online language learning package. Personal Development, by Cegos: a selection of more than 50 courses on many subjects covering Communication, management, aministration, coaching, facilitation skills, They are available in English, French, Spanish (an for some also in Chinese, German, Portuguese an Russian). Computer skills: over 50 courses on Wor, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet Explorer, for all levels. Theses courses are aligne to ICDL curriculum (International Computer Driving License) allowing stuents to prepare for an official certification (provie in most countries aroun the worl). Contact the IFRC s Learning an Research Department for further information on these courses. Follow us on 8
International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it 6. Custom page esign It is possible to highly customize the Learning platform to your nees. We can a your logo, pictures of your choice, change the esign of your login an laning pages, a or remove functionalities, tailor the catalogue, a welcome text of your choice, a approval processes, automate emails triggere by specific actions an last but not least blog functionality to be able to message your learning community irectly. 7. Hosting of online courses If you want to host aitional courses, you can contact the IFRC s Learning an Research Department, whether you have evelope those courses or attaine them from other sources, whether you agree to share them with other National Societies or want to restrict the access. 8. Access to reports The Learning platform offers extensive reporting functionalities. You can monitor in real time how many of your volunteers an staff are taking courses, which courses are most followe in your country or region, what is the profile of users base in your country an so on. It is possible to report on all information containe in the system which allows National Societies to better unerstan the ynamics of their learning communities an have further insight into learning nees. 9. Support for translation of online courses Existing Re Cross Re Crescent courses can be translate an localize. If you are intereste in getting a course translate into your national language for instance the WORC, Volunteering, CBHFA or Stay Safe course please contact the Learning an Research Department. 10. E-learning course evelopment avice Creating quality e-learning content can be challenging an costly. But once an e-learning course is evelope, it costs virtually nothing to istribute it to one, a hunre or a million users. Therefore we have a common interest in ensuring that all the material we prouce can be share with partners. This can be achieve by making sure that: The eveloping organisation owns all copyrights an can share the content (copyrights on content an on the use of the technology) Content can be easily customise or translate into other languages (can be easily achieve with the right open source technology) Content follows technological norms an stanars which ensure a high level of compatibility, allowing istribution through most Learning Management Systems, websites or CD Roms an has an eye on future evelopments. 9
International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies An introuction to the Re Cross Re Crescent s Learning platform an how to aopt it Action To take full avantage of the Learning platform as a number of National Societies have alreay starte to o, we strongly encourage each National Society to iscuss the options an opportunities in greater epth with the IFRC s Learning an Research team incluing as soon as possible. This will inclue a a practical iscussion aroun National Society Resource allocation (both personnel an financial) Implementation process, planning an timelines We very much look forwars to hearing from you shortly, an to supporting you an your National Society as fully as possible in embracing the power of the Learning platform. www.ifrc.org/learning www.ifrc.org/learning-platform Follow us on Jakob Dall/Danish Re Cross 10
The Funamental Principles of the International Re Cross an Re Crescent Movement Humanity The International Re Cross an Re Crescent Movement, born of a esire to bring assistance without iscrimination to the woune on the battlefiel, eneavours, in its international an national capacity, to prevent an alleviate human suffering wherever it may be foun. Its purpose is to protect life an health an to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual unerstaning, frienship, cooperation an lasting peace amongst all peoples. Impartiality It makes no iscrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It eneavours to relieve the suffering of iniviuals, being guie solely by their nees, an to give priority to the most urgent cases of istress. Inepenence The Movement is inepenent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments an subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accorance with the principles of the Movement. Voluntary service It is a voluntary relief movement not prompte in any manner by esire for gain. Unity There can be only one Re Cross or Re Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory. Neutrality In orer to enjoy the confience of all, the Movement may not take sies in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ieological nature. Universality The International Re Cross an Re Crescent Movement, in which all societies have equal status an share equal responsibilities an uties in helping each other, is worlwie.
Why shoul National Societies fully embrace an aopt the Re Cross Re Crescent Learning platform? Access to 100 s of high quality multilingual Re Cross Re Crescent an personal evelopment courses for volunteers an staff all available now. A significant pipeline of further high quality courses currently in evelopment within the IFRC as well as in National Societies creating Learning opportunities reflecting both global an local contexts. Access the global Re Cross Re Crescent learning community an at the same time buil your own National Society Learning community share an use Global an local knowlege now. 3 r tier technical an customer support from IFRC Learning an Research team is available to National Society Learning platform aministrators. Benefit from economies of scale an therefore reuce costs. International Feeration of Re Cross an Re Crescent Societies Learning an Research Department P.O. Box 303 CH-1211 Geneva 19 Switzerlan Telephone: +41 22 730 42 22 Fax: +41 22 733 03 95 www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing mins.