Search, Add and Edit Base Units

Owned by Jeannie Hagarty (Deactivated)
Last updated: Jul 27, 2022 by Diane Momongan (Unlicensed)
20 min read

Overview

Base Units in Paradigm provide the structure in creating scheduled unit enrolments, adding assessments, and all other related data in the system. This knowledge article will give you all the key fields required to successfully create a base unit in Paradigm – and at the same time meeting the government reporting requirements. This will also provide the workflows on some of the base units processes in your business or institution: search, create/add, add attachments, edit, delete, as well as adding assessments to base units.

Complexity Medium

Navigation

Workflow

Assumptions

  • You have the minimum required level to access the Units tab;

  • You understand that making changes within this section has system-wide implications;

  • You have an understanding of the Australian Tertiary Education System / VET Sector; and

  • You have an understanding of the Units and Courses within your Institution for scheduling and timetabling.

 

Key Terms and Concepts

 

what is EFTSL

EFTSL is an acronym of Equivalent Full Time Study Load. EFTSL is a measure used by the Australian Government and institutions to measure the total load consumed by a student. EFTSL is a measurement of how much a unit is worth within a normal full-time study year.

 

how to Calculate an EFTSL

To calculate a study load (EFTSL) for a single unit, take the number of credit points for one year of full time load, and divide it by the number of credit points for the unit. For example, if the one year load is worth 96 and a single unit is worth 12 credit points, the EFTSL is 0.125 which represents 12 divided by 96, or as a fraction, one-eighth.

This is based on a normal study year being comprised of two semesters, meaning the sum of EFTSL for all units within each semester is 0.5 in total. The student may study 4 units per semester, implying 8 units for the year, meaning that a single unit is now worth 0.125 EFTSL. 

If your institution works on a trimester structure, then you may end up with an EFTSL count of more than 1. Technically, trimester study mode is overloading above a normal study load. A similar overloading of EFTSL would occur in the event that a student was enrolled in units above the normal level, for example accelerated learning.

key fields for Searching Units

Field Name

Brief Overview

Field Name

Brief Overview

Unit Code

Institution allocated unique unit code to identify units of study. e.g. ARTS1101

Data Entry Note: Unit Code should NOT contain spaces, use underscore (_) instead. e.g. ARTS_1101

Unit Name

Institution allocated unique unit name to identify unit of study. e.g. Introduction to Modern History

Unit Provider

The provider / Institution the unit will be offered by.

Unit Keywords

Key words / or buzz words that relate to the unit. These can be used when trying to find a unit when you don't know the exact name.

Unit Status

  • Active (For Current Units)

  • Archived

  • Cancelled

  • Confirmed

  • Unconfirmed

Unit Type

  • Tuition Fee

  • OSHC Fee

  • Course Fee

  • Other Fee

Order by

  • Unit Codes

  • Unit Names

  • Provider Id

  • Status Id

  • Last modified Date

  • Unit Id

back to top

 

 

key fields for Adding New Units

*Denotes fields that are required to create a base unit. Fields with this symbol (*) are coloured RED.

xDenotes fields that are required for AVETMISS reporting. Fields with this symbol (x) are coloured GREEN.

 

 

Field Name

Brief Overview

Field Name

Brief Overview

Edit Unit Details Section

Unit Id* E354

Internal system allocated Id code (no data entry required).

Parent Unit Id

Internal system allocated Id code (no data entry required).

Unit Code*

Institution allocated unique Unit Id code. e.g. ARTS1101

Data Entry Note: Unit Code should NOT contain spaces, use underscore (_) instead. e.g. ARTS_1101

Provider Other Unit Id*

Institution allocated unique Unit Id code.

INFO: This code is useful when paired with a time period code for LMS (Learning Management System) systems. e.g. ARTS1101 S1 2021

Name*

Full accredited name of the unit - this will appear on the student's transcript.

e.g. Introduction to Modern History

Unit Category

  • Undergraduate

  • Postgraduate

  • Non-Award

  • Secondary

  • VET

Unit Group

  • Undergraduate

  • Postgraduate

  • Non-Award

  • Secondary

  • VET

Unit Sub-Group

  • Level 0

  • … through …

  • Level 6

Unit Provider

If the provider has multiple Institutions / Campuses within the same system, this can identify which one is running this instance of the unit.

Credit Points / Statement*

The number of credit points the student will receive towards their course of study upon successful completion of this unit of study. e.g. 6.0

Unit Type*

Academic outcome related unit type:

  • Tuition - this informs the system to treat each unit enrolment from both academic and financial perspectives

NOTE: Contact us with your requirements prior to creating base units where the unit type is not 'Tuition'.

The other unit type options are used by providers who wish to capture a recurring fee that is not directly related to academic outcomes:

  • OSHC Fee - Overseas Health cover Fee

  • Course Fee

  • Other Fee (accommodation/home-stay fees)

Unit Purpose and Aims

A description of the Unit purpose and aims. Students can be granted access to this information in order to choose whether to study this unit.

Prerequisites

A list of any units that are required to be completed PRIOR to attempting this unit of study.

Corequisites

A list of any units that are required to be completed CONCURRENTLY with this unit of study.

Learning Outcomes

A detailed list of the learning outcomes as per the TESQA accredited regulations for this unit of study.

Learning Outcomes - Able to:

A more human readable version of the field above.

Learning Outcomes - Be in a position to

What the student will able able to do upon completion of this unit of study.

Requirements

An overview of what is required of the student to be able to complete this unit.

Assessments

A list of the assessments required to be successfully completed to receive a passing grade for this unit of study.

Target Audience

Who is this unit of study aimed toward?

Bibliography

A list of required and suggested readings for this unit of study.

Unit Exclusions

If a student attempts this unit of study are there any units that they are prohibited from studying. Alternatively if a student has completed another unit of study that prohibits them from studying this unit.

Unit Content

Topics or areas covered in this unit of study.

Keywords

Buzz words or key words, used in the search section for staff to find this unit when the exact title of this unit is not known.

Method of delivery*

Online, On Campus, Intensive, Printed

Approval required

Does the Head of School or Senior Academic need to approve a students enrolment in this unit of study?

Unit Status*

Active, Archived, Cancelled, Confirmed, Unconfirmed

Nominal Hoursx

The nationally agreed minimum hours for nationally recognised training packages - for a list of units. NCVER: Nationally agreed nominal hours

Scheduled Hoursx

The number of hours the institution / provider has scheduled to deliver this units / competency.

Vet Flagx

Is the focus of this unit of Study Vocational?

VET in Schoolsx

Is this unit a part of the National VET in schools program?

Delivery Mode Identifierx

How is the content for this unit intended to be delivered i.e.. the mode of delivery?

Appear on transcript

Should this unit of study appear on the student's transcript?

GST Percentage

What is the GST charge for this unit of Study?

Do not include the percentage symbol when entering this data - e.g. 10.0

Unit Level

What level of study is the unit of study AQF levels 5 is diploma level? e.g. 5.0

AQF Level

The level of study for this unit of study as defined by the Australian Quality Framework. e.g. AQF levels 5 is diploma level 5.0

Weighting Level

 

Year Level

The minimum year level of the course of study that a student must have achieved before attempting this unit.

Exclude Sessions on Course Plan

Prevent sessions for this unit from appearing as available options on the course plan.

School

The school or department that this unit of study belongs to. e.g. Humanities

Invoice Fee Code

The department / school that the fees for this unit will be directed. e.g. HUMS

Accreditation Date

The date this unit was accredited. e.g. 01/01/2021

Accreditation Due Date

When is this unit due for reaccreditation? / When does accreditation expire?

e.g. 31/12/2025

Custom Unit Grade Calculation



SMS Entity id

 

Unit SMS Entity type

 

Remote Unit SMS Entity Id

 

Delivery Mode

  • External

  • Internal

  • Workplace

  • Combination

Read Only

When checked, it will make the record as read-only where fields are locked for editing

Edit HEIMS Details Section

TCSI Unique identifier

TCSI unique Id for this unit.

HEIMS Discipline E464

A code that uniquely identifies the discipline to which a unit of study is classified by the provider.

HEIMS Work Experience Indicator* E337

An indicator of whether a unit of study consists wholly of work experience in the industry.

Summer and Winter School Code

A code that describes whether the unit must be completed during a specified season, or within two named month boundary dates.

Unit of Study Year Long indicator

An indicator that states whether the unit runs for a full year.

EFSTL Load (Ugrad)* E339

Equivalent Full-Time Study Load - What fraction of 1 does this unit represent within the Course of study, at a full-time load for an Undergraduate Student?

EFSTL Load (PGrad)* E339

 

Equivalent Full-Time Study Load - What fraction of 1 does this unit represent within the Course of study, at a full-time load for a Postgraduate Student?

back to top

 

 

Key FIELDS Add New Assessments

 

Fields with X under the Required Fields column are the required fields when adding new assessments to a unit in Paradigm.

Field Name

Required Fields

Overview

Sample Data

Field Name

Required Fields

Overview

Sample Data

Code ID

X

 

 

Assessment Name

X

The name of the assignment or work required. You can be specific here to make entering grades easier, and that the correct marks can be entered against the correct assessment at a later time.

Assessment 1 - Interpretive Dance Essay

Assessment Type

X

What type of work is required for this assessment?

  • Assignment

  • Attendance

  • Audition

  • Class Work

  • Essay

  • Examination

  • Project

  • Test

  • Quiz

  • Book Report

  • Journal

  • Major Assessment

  • Minor Assessment

Description

 

A description of the required work.

A 1000 word Essay on the origins of interpretive dance and the concept of communication in the early 20th Century

Maximum Mark

X

What is the Maximum Mark available for this assignment?

25

Minimum Mark

X

What is the Minimum Mark required to pass this assignment?

12.5

Weighting

X

What is the weighting of this assignment within the whole unit?

25

Start Week

 

What week is the work undertaken in the unit?

 

End Week

 

What is the last week that the work can be submitted?

 

Sequence Number

 

 

 

Enforce Minimum Mark

 

 

 

Minimum Mark fail grade

 

 

 

Delivery Mode identifier

 

VET - Providers. What is the delivery method of this unit and assignment?

  • Classroom

  • Electronic

  • Employment Based

  • Not Applicable - Recognition of Prior learning

  • Other (none of the above e.g. Print based)

Scheduled Hours

 

What is the scheduled number of delivery or training hours required to complete this assessment?

25

Vet in Schools

 

Is this a VET in a school-based unit?

  • A VET in Schools Program

  • Not a  VET in Schools Program

AVET126

 

 

  • Combination of All Modes

  • Combination of External and Workplace-based

  • Combination of Internal and External

  • Combination Internal and Workplace-based

  • Do not report

  • External Delivery

  • Internal Delivery

  • Not Applicable

  • Workplace-based delivery

Assessment Status

 

What is the status of this assessment?

  • Active

  • Archived

back to top

 

 

 

system required Fields to Create a Viable Base Unit Record

Minimum Required Fields

Sample Data

Minimum Required Fields

Sample Data

Unit ID

1001(Unique ID Assigned by the System)

Unit code

ICT201

Data Entry Note: Unit Code should NOT contain spaces, use underscore (_) instead. e.g. ARTS_1101

Name

Introduction to Information Systems

Unit provider

Paradigm College

Unit type

Tuition

Method of delivery

On Campus

Unit status

Active

EFTSL Load (UGrad) &/or (PGrad)

0.125

However, more information is often required for Government reporting compliance.

Optional Fields

Overview

Optional Fields

Overview

Credit Points

For the unit result to contribute toward the student final course result total the unit will require a credit point statement. This is the number of points that the unit will contribute to the overall course total.

 

back to top

 

heims required HEIMS Reporting Fields

  • HEIMS fields are required for HEIMS courses

  • HEIMS Discipline: A code that uniquely identifies the discipline to which a unit of study is classified by the Higher Education Provider/Vet provider. These codes are taken from the HEIMS Discipline code document. This document is updated annually (normally available in September for the following year) and can be found on the HEIMS website.

  • HEIMS Work Experience Indicator: An indicator whether a unit of study consists wholly of work experience in the industry

Code

Meaning

Code

Meaning

0

Student is not undertaking work experience in industry or student is undertaking work experience in industry where learning and performance is directed by the provider

1

Student is undertaking work experience in industry where learning and performance is not directed by the provider, but support is received from the provider

2

Student is undertaking work experience in industry where learning and performance is not directed by, and support is not received from, the provider

 

back to top

 

vet required VET or AVETMISS Reporting Fields

Field

Meaning

Field

Meaning

Nominal Hours

The nationally agreed number of hours that the unit of study requires to be completed. These hours are reviewed and updated annually and are available from the NCVER website

Scheduled Hours

The number of hours the provider has allocated to teach the unit of study

VET Flag

Is the unit a part of VET Course or is the unit considered Vocational Training? Answer yes or no

VET in Schools

Is this unit a part of the National VET in Schools Program? Answer yes or no

 

back to top

 

 

Implications

 

Workflow

 

 

 

1. How to search for a Base Unit

 

1, 2 Choose Units > Search menus on the side. This will display a page where you can search for all units saved in the system.

 

3 At the top of the page, you can find the UNIT SEARCH Form section. Enter any combination of Unit Code(s), Unit Name, Unit Provider, Unit Keywords, Unit Status, Order By (Paradigm requires at least one search criteria.).

 

4 After entering the search filters of the base unit that you want to search, click the SEARCH UNIT button.

 

 

5 After clicking the SEARCH UNIT button, a list of all the units that meet your searched criteria will be displayed below the UNIT SEARCH Form section. You can filter more the returned options by typing the name of the unit into the search box. The list of returned results will reduce to match the criteria

 

6 Once you’ve found your base unit, click the blue hyperlink of the Unit Id. This will open the Edit Details screen of the base unit that you’ve selected.

 

 

back to top 

 

 

2. How to create or add a New Base Unit (Higher Education)

 

 

1, 2, 3 Choose Units > Unit Details > Add New menus on the side. This will display a page where you can add a new base unit to the system.

 

 

4 In the EDIT UNIT DETAILS Form section, start filling out all the required information needed to create a base unit. You can refer to the table above key fields for Adding New Units under the Key Terms and Concepts for a description of each field.

 

Alternatively, refer to the screenshots below with fields highlighted in RED:

RED fields are the system required fields for a base unit to be successfully added and the VET reporting required fields

 

Under the EDIT UNIT DETAILS Form, enter the following information.

Scroll down, and look for these other two required fields.

 

Below the EDIT UNIT DETAILS Form, you will find the EDIT HEIMS DETAILS Form, fill out the following required information (fields highlighted in RED).

 

5 After filling out all the minimum required information and all the other available information you have for this unit, review all the data being entered – check them against your business or institution requirements and to the government reporting mandate, and then click the SAVE UNIT button.

back to top

 

 

3. How to create or add a New Base Unit (VET)

 

1, 2, 3 Choose Units > Unit Details > Add New menus on the side. This will display a page where you can add a new base unit to the system.

 

 

4 In the EDIT UNIT DETAILS Form section, start filling out all the required information needed to create a base unit. You can refer to the table above key fields for Adding New Units under the Key Terms and Concepts for a description of each field.

 

Alternatively, refer to the screenshots below with fields highlighted in RED:

RED fields are the system required fields for a base unit to be successfully added and the VET reporting required fields

 

Under the EDIT UNIT DETAILS Form, enter the following information.

Scroll down, and look for these other required fields.

5 After filling out all the minimum required information and all the other available information you have for this unit, review all the data being entered – check them against your business or institution requirements and to the government reporting mandate, and then click the SAVE UNIT button.

back to top

 

 

Related Pages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview | Assumptions | Key Terms and Concepts | Implications | Workflow | Video | Related Pages | Further Reading

Paradigm Knowledge Base Home