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Instructor Guide: Micro-Courses

Guidance for instructors teaching in the Open Source Technology Management program

Overview

Welcome to the Instructor Guide for the micro-courses in the Open Source Technology Management (OSTM) program at Brandeis. Each micro-course is four weeks long with a final live meeting to wrap up during the fifth week. As a course instructor, you are responsible for the instruction and day-to-day implementation of the course. This guide will support you in that effort, providing tips and guidance for each major aspect of the course.

On this page you will find general information and resources about the program and your role within it. There are also resources for the platforms and tools you and your students will use during the course.

The navigation tabs on the left are organized by the stages of your course. Within each, you’ll find detailed support and resources to support your preparation and teaching.

Faculty Expectations

As faculty in the OSTM program, you are expected to:

  • Review the Foundations course to (a) ensure materials are relevant and current and (b) read through students’ reflection responses to make adjustments to your session plans as needed based on student background and goals. 
  • Ensure the course syllabus and LATTE course shell are up to date, reflecting accurate course dates, assignment due dates, live meeting dates and access information, and active resource links.
  • Post a welcome message via LATTE on the weekend before the course start date.
  • Update the links and visibility of the live Zoom meeting’s link, recording, and slides.
  • Monitor responses to the Entry Survey, sending calendar invitations to those who request them and making adjustments to your session plans as needed based on student background and goals.
  • Regularly monitor the course chat on Element, responding to questions and messages in a timely manner.
  • Provide meaningful feedback to the team assignments before the next week’s live meeting (if written) or during the next week’s live meeting (if verbal). If choosing verbal feedback, we recommend providing a short written summary of your feedback in the forum or in Element so students can refer back to it later. 
  • Assess and verify course completion for each eligible student at the end of each micro-course.
  • Reach out for help when you need it.

Completion Tracks

Students in the OSTM program may take just a single course, take multiple courses in any order, or pursue a formal credential. You will likely have a combination of each type of student in your courses. Click through the tabs to read more about each completion track and the requirements for each.

IMPORTANT Courses that started before April 2021 didn't use the current completion verification process. The new process does not apply retroactively to those courses; students who were considered "complete" for a course that ended on or before March 31, 2021 maintain that status. However, all courses starting on or after April 1, 2021 require the completion verification process for all students whether they are new or returning. Students may earn badges, certificates, and/or graduate credit regardless of the method of completion used for any completed course.

Each course is completely standalone and does not require any prerequisites. Students may elect to only take a single course in the program. In order to allow each student to hit the ground running, any foundational material should be located in the Foundations course for students to review on their own time before the start of the micro-course. 

Students may participate as much or as little as they like in a course. However, any student who requires a verification of completion for their employer or their own records must:

  1. Submit each weekly Knowledge Check (4 total), and
  2. Participate in the team assignments.

Students who successfully complete two micro-courses in a given topic area can earn a digital badge.

Topic Areas

  • The Business of Open Source: Open Source Business Practices & Establish an Open Source Program Office
  • Open Source Community Development: Cultivate an Open Source Community & Integrating Open Source Communities in Corporate Environments
  • Open Source Development Fundamentals: Open Source Workflow and Infrastructure & Production of Distributed Open Source Software 

Eligibility

In order to earn a badge, students must:

  • Submit each weekly Knowledge Check (4 total), and
  • Participate in the team assignments.

Students who successfully complete all six micro-courses can earn a Certificate in Open Source Technology Management. There is no additional fee to earn a certificate. 

To be eligible for a certificate, students must fulfill all completion requirements for each course in each topic area.

Students can earn three graduate-level credits per topic area by completing an Assessment for Credit at the conclusion of the two micro-courses within a given topic area. Each three-credit bundle is equal to an elective course within Brandeis GPS. There is an additional cost and assessment for graduate credit.

Students have up to one year after completing the final micro-course in a topic area to apply to take the Assessment for Credit.

Platforms and Tools

Resources

General resources for the OSTM program and Brandeis.