School Courses for the Exchange of Data (SCED) User Training
Welcome to the School Courses for the Exchange of Data (SCED) User Training. This training is designed to introduce new users to SCED and provide information on the benefits of SCED, the SCED coding structure, and tools for implementing and adapting SCED for use in education agencies. The materials on this page also can help experienced users learn more about SCED and the many free SCED resources. These resources can be used by education agencies to create their own internal SCED trainings.
The training outlines six steps to guide users along the process, including reviewing the introductory materials, building their knowledge with more advanced resources, and completing an optional assessment at the end. After reviewing the listed materials, users can take the SCED knowledge assessment. Those who correctly answer 80 percent of the questions will receive a completion certificate.
Step 1: Watch two introductory videos to learn about common SCED uses and the SCED code structure.
SCED is a voluntary, common classification system for prior-to-secondary and secondary school courses. It can be used to compare course information, maintain longitudinal data about student coursework, and efficiently exchange coursetaking records. The two introductory videos provide an overview of SCED uses and how SCED coding works.
Step 2: Watch the third video in the series to learn about SCED Resources.
The Forum has developed a variety of free resources to help educators, researchers, and the general public better understand SCED structure and implementation, including SCED elements, coding conventions, and use cases. The resources range from videos, to frequently asked questions (FAQs), to publications, to interactive online tools. Each resource reflects the collective experience and expertise of a variety of education professionals. The resources are updated regularly to keep up with SCED version changes and developments in a dynamic education system. This third video showcases six of the SCED resources, which are designed to communicate information about SCED and assist SCED users.
Step 3: Review two key Forum publications to learn in depth about the SCED structure and implementation best practices, as well as real-life use case scenarios and benefits.
The Forum released comprehensive best practice guides for education agencies that wish to implement and use SCED. The two documents linked below provide a detailed overview of the SCED structure, the SCED Framework, and the SCED elements and recommended attributes. The guides also include information on the best practices for implementing and expanding the use of SCED. Finally, the guides provide real-life examples of how education agencies and research organizations use SCED and discuss the benefits of SCED use.
Step 4: Review the SCED FAQs to learn about best practices for implementing SCED and keeping SCED current.
The Forum has developed stand-alone SCED FAQs as a supplementary resource, which updates and expands upon the frequently asked questions included in the Forum Guide to School Courses for the Exchange of Data (SCED) Classification System (2014).
Step 5: Watch the fourth video in the series to learn about the free SCED Finder Tool.
The SCED Finder is an interactive online tool designed to help users identify and select SCED codes and then assign elements to courses. It allows users to create, edit, and export lists of courses. This fourth video provides a tutorial on using the SCED Finder and demonstrates how to build a 12-character SCED identifier.
Step 6: Take the optional Forum SCED Knowledge Assessment.
Click here to take the Forum SCED Knowledge Assessment. Upon completion, those who correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions will earn a certificate.