Online Learning Modules

An online learning experience from USAID

These courses provide an approximately 60-minute, self-paced, online learning experience that covers foundational information in the following technical areas:

What's Covered in the Modules

Each module covers key facts and statistics about each technical area, terms and definitions, relevant excerpts from the 2018 USAID Education Policy, specific program examples and lessons learned, foundational research and guidance documents, and additional resources for further learning.

The online learning modules consist of 3-5 lessons, each with a short pop quiz at the end to check your knowledge. There is also a final quiz consisting of 5 questions, on which participants must score 80% or higher before they can complete the module.

“[The modules] gave me a big picture of all of the different fields and areas covered by USAID and what the priorities are...It’s knitting a web of understanding and frames all of the work that I do.”

Module Participant

Introduction to Cost Measurement

This one-hour e-learning module introduces principles and methods of cost measurement in education programming. It is appropriate for anyone interested in cost measurement at USAID. Participants completing this training will be able to answer the following questions: 

  1. Why is cost data a critical element of evidence-based decision-making?
  2.  What are the key terms and definitions of cost measurement?
  3.  What specific decisions can cost evidence inform?
  4.  What is the approach to cost measurement in USAID education programming?

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Introduction to Policy Linking

This e-learning module is designed for USAID staff, Ministry of Education officials, donors, and partners who are interested in learning more about the Policy Linking Workshop. It is recommended that you complete the Global Proficiency Framework (GPF) e-learning module first before taking this one.

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to answer the following questions:

  1. What is Policy Linking, and how does it relate to the Global Proficiency Framework?
  2. What are the six stages of Policy Linking?
  3. What are the three tasks in the Policy Linking Workshop?
  4. Is Policy Linking possibly a beneficial approach for me or the country I work with?

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Introduction to the Global Proficiency Framework

This e-learning module is designed for USAID staff, Ministry of Education officials, donors, and partners, including those who are interested in learning about the Global Proficiency Framework (GPF) and those who may already be implementing or managing GPF-related work. 

Upon completion of this introductory training, you will be able to answer the following questions:

  1. What is the GPF?
  2. What are the benefits of the GPF?
  3. How do I read and use the GPF?

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Book Supply Chain Training Modules 

This training series designed by Global Book Alliance comprises seven modules that cover the phases of the book supply chain for children’s books: 

  1. Planning and Forecasting
  2. Title Development
  3. Publishing
  4. Printing
  5. Procurement and Purchasing
  6. Distribution
  7. Active Use

Each module provides the key facts for each of the relevant steps in the book supply chain, describes why each step is important to the smooth functioning of the book supply chain, and presents the challenges and recommended solutions and/or best practices for the challenges identified. 

This course is designed for all development partners (USAID, Ministry of Education, and other implementing partner staff, and their private sector partners) interested in improving the book supply chains for children’s books in low and middle income countries (LMICs). The training can be accessed via Training Modules in PDF format with accompanying PowerPoints to be used for live trainings, or via E-learning modules. 

The E-learning modules consist of 5-7 lessons, each with a short self-check and reflection opportunity at the end of each lesson. To complete the module, participants must complete each self-check within each lesson.

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Soft Skills Development in Youth Programming

This course is designed for USAID staff from all development sectors that are engaged in the design and implementation of youth programming. 

Upon completion of this introductory e-course, you will be able to answer the following questions:

  1. What rationale supports key soft skills in youth programming?
  2. What are behavior change strategies for soft skill development?
  3. What are key indicators and strategies for measuring the presence of necessary soft skill activities, soft skill attainment, and progress across different contexts?
  4. Which activities employ critical evidence-based soft skills?

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LGBTQI+ Considerations in Education

This learning module introduces USAID staff and partners to principles and methods of integrating LGBTQI+ considerations into education programming.

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to answer the following questions:

  1. How does integrating LGBTQI+ considerations into education programming fit into the context of inclusive development?
  2. What are key concepts and terminology related to LGBTQI+ people?
  3. What do the guiding principles “do no harm” and “nothing about them without them” mean when working on LGBTQI+ issues in the education sector?
  4. What kinds of best practices and strategies can I employ to incorporate LGBTQI+ considerations into education programming?

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Pre-primary Education

This learning module covers research highlights in pre-primary education, the features of and challenges to high-quality, pre-primary education programming, where USAID is currently involved in pre-primary programming, program examples from Bangladesh and Rwanda, and pre-primary reporting indicators.

Upon completion of this online learning module, you will be able to answer the following five questions:

  1. What is pre-primary education and why is it important?
  2. What are the features of high-quality, pre-primary programming?
  3. What challenges does pre-primary education programming face globally?
  4. How does USAID engage in pre-primary education globally?
  5. How can I learn more about pre-primary education?

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Disability Inclusive Education

This learning module covers the key milestones in USAID’s disability inclusive education programming, program examples from Kenya and Macedonia, disability inclusion across the education continuum, foundational research and evidence, and the dos and don’ts of disability inclusive education.

Upon completion of this online learning module, you will be able to answer the following five questions:

  1. Why is disability inclusive education a critical part of a country’s journey to self-reliance?
  2. What are the key terms and definitions of this technical area?
  3. What are specific program examples that highlight lessons learned in disability inclusive education?
  4. How do I apply evidence and research on disability inclusive education to program design and implementation?
  5. How can I learn more about this technical area?

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“I loved the examples from all over the world. Those are really helpful because it helped me see what other people’s thought process is and how they work on different aspects of education programming. And helped me understand that my challenges are not exclusive. They are with everyone, so that was really helpful.”

Module Participant

Youth Workforce Development

This learning module covers the key elements of youth workforce development (YWFD), YWFD funding parameters, types of youth workforce interventions, YWFD indicators, and the USAID YWFD learning agenda.

Upon completion of this online learning module, you will be able to answer the following five questions:

  1. Why is youth workforce development a critical part of a country’s journey to self-reliance?
  2. What are the key terms and definitions for youth workforce development?
  3. What are specific examples that highlight lessons learned in youth workforce development?
  4. How do I apply evidence and research in youth workforce development to program design and implementation?
  5. How can I learn more about youth workforce development?

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Reading and Literacy

This learning module covers the science of reading, major milestones in USAID’s reading programming, foundational resources and evidence documents, key considerations for reading programming across contexts, and program examples from Kenya and Morocco.

Upon completion of this online learning module, you will be able to answer the following five questions:

  1. Why are reading and literacy a critical part of a country’s journey to self-reliance?
  2. What are the key terms and definitions of reading and literacy?
  3. What are specific examples that highlight lessons learned in reading and literacy?
  4. How do I apply evidence and research in reading and literacy to program design and implementation?
  5. How can I learn more about reading and literacy?

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“It was a perfect start to my job at USAID, and I wouldn't know what to do without this information as background to my job.”

Module Participant

Social and Emotional Learning and Soft Skills

This learning module covers how social and emotional learning (SEL) skills support literacy and numeracy, key milestones in SEL, program examples from Nigeria and Honduras, key research and evidence documents, and the dos and don’ts of SEL.

Upon completion of this online learning module, you will be able to answer the following five questions:

  1. Why is social and emotional learning a critical part of a country’s journey to self-reliance?
  2. What are the key terms and definitions in the field of social and emotional learning?
  3. What are specific case examples that highlight lessons learned in social and emotional learning?
  4. How do I apply evidence and research on social and emotional learning to program design and implementation?
  5. How can I learn more about social and emotional learning?

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Higher Education

This learning module covers how investing in higher education programming can be transformational, key elements of USAID Higher Education programming, milestones and lessons, cross-cutting considerations, and higher education reporting indicators.

Upon completion of this online learning module, you will be able to answer the following five questions:

  1. Why is higher education a critical part of a country's journey to self-reliance?
  2. What are the key elements of USAID higher education programming?
  3. What are specific case studies that highlight lessons learned in USAID higher education programming?
  4. How do I apply evidence and research to higher education project and activity design and implementation?
  5. How can I incorporate cross-cutting considerations into higher education activity design and implementation?

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Education in Crisis and Conflict

This learning module covers how crisis and conflict affects the education sector, the concepts of “do no harm” and conflict sensitive education, addressing skills gaps for out-of-school youth, key elements of addressing school safety, the difference between equality and equity in education, and tools for adaptive management. Throughout this module, USAID foreign service officers and foreign service nationals share relevant stories based on their work in the field.

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to answer the following six questions:

  1. Why does USAID prioritize education in crisis and conflict?
  2. What does “do no harm” mean, and how can we be conflict sensitive in education programming?
  3. What type of skills do out-of-school youth need to be resilient in these contexts?
  4. How can we keep learners safe? Why is this critical to learning?
  5. How can we ensure equitable access for all learners in crisis and conflict settings?
  6. How can we adaptively manage and learn from programming in non-stable environments?

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