Cloud-based unit development

I've previously mentioned that we're producing a couple of new HN Units in the area of big data. These are:

• Big Data (SCQF Level 7)
• Data Science (SCQF Level 8).

The Big Data unit will be generic (but suitable for HNC Computing) and the Data Science unit will be more suited to STEM subjects (such as HND Computer Science).

I'm taking a non-standard approach to the development of these units. I plan to use the cloud (in this case, Microsoft's OneDrive) to produce them. The idea is to assemble the units in the cloud by collaboratively writing them stage by stage. The collaborators will be the writer, the vetter, and the validator.

The normal approach is to complete various forms and send versions of the units by e-mail. This works but takes time and it can be hard to monitor progress. The cloud approach promises transparency and, of course, progress is self-evident. It also permits you to see how the units are coming along, instead of the "big bang" approach whereby you don't see them until they are published.

You can see the current state of the units here. Only the Big Data unit has been started but both units will begin to take shape over the coming days and weeks.



It will be interesting to see if this approach works. Both units will be available from August.