COURSE 2

Legal Metrology in Detail

LEARNING GUIDE

Project funded by the European Union

at the request of the ACP Group
Dear Participant,

Welcome to the Course “Legal Metrology in detail”.

The E-Learning Programme on Legal Metrology is set to simplify the acquisition of knowledge
by providing an accessible, comprehensive and interactive means of understanding the way
most common activities related to Legal Metrology are implemented.

We hope that this course will be helpful for your professional development.

Kind Regards,

Intra-Africa Metrology System AFRIMETS

CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standard and Quality CROSQ
Organisation Internationale de Métrologie Legale OIML
Learning Guide Course 2

Table of Contents

Presentation .................................................................................................................................... 4
General Objectives ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Specific Objectives and Learning Outcomes ................................................................................................. 4
Target Audience............................................................................................................................................. 4
Pre-Requisite Training to Course 2 ................................................................................................................ 5
Modules Available in this Course .................................................................................................................. 5
Learning Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 5
Standards of Etiquettes for Forums .............................................................................................................. 6
Learning Resources and Materials ................................................................................................................ 7
3
Assesment of the Participants ....................................................................................................................... 8
Proposed Work Plan for the Course .............................................................................................................. 8
Learning Guide Course 2

Presentation

General Objectives

The overall objective of the E-Learning Programme is to provide a significant tool to the ACP countries
to enhance knowledge on metrology as an essential element of Quality Infrastructure (QI).
This Course is set to simplify the acquisition of knowledge by providing an accessible, comprehensive
and interactive means of understanding the way most common activities related to Legal Metrology
are implemented.

Specific Objectives and Learning Outcomes

4
The following are more specific objectives and learning outcomes of the course:

 Provide an understanding of Metrology basic concepts and terminology

 Provide an understanding of Legal Metrology’s role for trade, health, medicine and environment
protection
 Provide context in understanding Legal Metrology regulations from Europe and other countries
 Provide an understanding of Legal Metrology’s role for mutual confidence in trade
 Provide an understanding of interactions between Metrology and Statistics in processing
measurement results
 Provide an understanding of OIML Certificate Systems
 Provide an understanding of calibration and verification role for several instruments.

Target Audience

The course is aimed at ACP countries’ governments and Quality Infrastructure Institutes –such as
National Standards Bodies, National Metrology Institutes, National Accreditation Bodies and
Conformity Assessment Bodies.
The course is aimed as well at ACP Metrology experts, Non-specialist decision makers, public and
private laboratories, Quality Control Laboratories, Stakeholders, Leaders, Bureaux of Standards,
relevant ministries, Private Sector and persons interested in Metrology and in Legal Metrology.
Learning Guide Course 2

Pre-Requisite Training to Course 2

There is no prior training required for this course, althought it is recommended the completion of the
first Course: the final test will cover the topics of both courses.

Limitation and Disclaimer

This E-Learning Programme provides no guarantees nor claims to be an authoritative course. It claims
no ownership of the material nor provides any guarantees of the envisioned. AFRIMETS, OIML and
CROSQ or any person or entity acting on their behalf, cannot be held liable for the content, or the
application of content of the course.

Modules Available in this Course

5
The training course is designed to provide an overall understanding of how Metrology fits into the
wider quality infrastructure and hence addresses socioeconomic objectives.
It is structured to cover the following topics:

 Module 4: Basic concepts of Legal Metrology

 Module 5: Legal Metrology in a Nutshell – What has to be regulated?
 Module 6: Examples of regulation of metrology from European and other countries –
Explanation of the Roles of Legal Metrology Stakeholders
 Module 7: Metrology and Trade - Traceability in metrology and importance of assuring
compatibility in commercial activities
 Module 8: Metrology and Statistics
 Module 9: OIML Certificate System and engagement with the OIML and RLMOs
 Module 10: Control of measurements

Learning Methodology

Introduction

This is an online course that use a self-study or self-placed learning approach to enable participants
from different places to access its content and self-assessment tests at any time.
E-learning represents a paradigm shift where learning can happen anywhere, anytime and by anyone:
technology makes learning available to people 24 hours a day, seven days a week around the globe. It
Learning Guide Course 2

provides just-in-time access to timely information because technology allows instructors to update
lessons and materials across the entire network instantly and at the same time it improves the
collaboration and interactivity.
The E-Learning Programme on Legal Metrology and its courses are based on the best practices in the
area of e-Learning where the focus is placed on the learner.
This course appears to be highly interactive, motivating and engaging to the learners.

The learning activities included in this course will demand to you to:
 Complete the interactive learning guide provided for each module under “Interactive Learning
Guide” section.
 Read the course theory and other learning guides provided for each module under “Theory and
Learning Guide”. You will have to download and read each course unit before taking the quiz
from the related module.
 Complete the quiz for each of the available modules that can be found under “Activities” section
6
in order to assess your knowledge. For the quizzes inside the course modules you have unlimited
number of attempts and you will need to obtain at least 50% of the scores to pass the module
and get a certificate for attendance for that module.
 Complete a final test at the end of the course in order to assess your knowledge for the topics
from all modules in the courses. For the final test you will have unlimited number of attempts
and you will need to obtain at least 70% of the scores to pass the course and get a certificate for
completion.
 Complete a feedback survey after the succesfull completition of the final test in order to provide
feedback about your learning process. The Certificate of completition will be available only after
the completition of this survey.
For optional readings (videos, presentations and recommended bibliography) and to download the
complete course contents see the documents provided in “Other resources” section.

Standards of Etiquettes for Forums

In this self-study approach a forum will be open to enable participants to interact with others and
exchange information, experiences and reflections. It can also be used to post questions to your peers
following this course, but bear in mind that facilitation from AFRIMETS-CROSQ-OIML trainers is not
foreseen in the forum of a self-study course.
Therefore in order to allow fluent and significant conversations all participants need to know and apply
the basic rules of etiquette described below.

Promote a cooperative environment

 The content of your contributions is solely your responsibility.

 Your peers’ contributions must be respected at all times.
Learning Guide Course 2

 Beyond the screen, there are people like you whom you must treat courteously.
 Contributions made in the forum remain in the forum and are not published outside the virtual
classroom.

Read, think and write

 Read before posting because your questions or statements may have been posted previously.
 Contributions or questions to the Forum should not be limited to repeating previous input.
When referring to standards, authors, specific documents or websites the relevant quotes
should be included along with the reference.
 It is advisable to read what you have written before sending the message, to ensure it says
what we want to express clearly and specifically.

How to write 7

 Write a subject for each message: this way we will avoid adding messages with
 The same subject and combine our contributions, helping others locate information.
 Contributions must be on topic and concise, avoiding lengthy comments. Contributions can
always be accompanied by an attached document, which you can use to provide and include
additional information.
 Do not write in capitals: it makes reading difficult and appears as though you are shouting. For
emphasis, you can use italics, bold, underlining or asterisks.
 Make messages more legible by structuring them. Use paragraphs and font sizes to help with
readability.

Learning Resources and Materials

The resources and materials that facilitate the participants’ learning process will be published in the
virtual classroom or e-Learning platform.
All resources and tools to be used throughout the course will be published in the central part of the
classroom under “Other resources” and can be downloaded.
 Learning Guide: Presentation of the course, its methodology, evaluation process and work.
 Forum: The forum will have different threads (debates and questions related to the course
units).
 Course Modules: Complete module content, presentations, learning guides, recommended
readings and bibliography.
Learning Guide Course 2

 Module Tools and Resources: Interactive Learning Guide, Theory and other Learning Guides,
Case Studies, Quizes, and other resources like: video interviews and additional video materials
for the learning subject, related presentations and reading resources.
 Grades: Access to your grades after completing the quizzes and tests.
 Certificates: Access to your digital certificate for the completed course (or specific modules)
upon successful completion and assessment of course activities.

Assesment of the Participants

In order to successfully complete a specific module in this course you will have to take the quiz
available inside the module and answer correctly at least 50% of the questions (unlimited number of
attemts).
In order to successfully complete the whole course you will have to answer correctly at least 70% of 8
the questions from the Final Test (unlimited number of attemts).

Certificate
There are two types of certificates: Certificate of Attendance that is received for each Module after
successful completition of the quiz inside that Module, and Certificate for Completition that is
received for the complete course after successful completition of the Final Test.
The certificate is only delivered in a digital format throught the e-Learning Platform, so that you can
print it out if you wish. In such case, the printed certificate will be considered the original document
that has been delivered in electronic format.
The name appearing in the certificate will be the one indicated by you when registering in the learning
platform. The name can be modified in your profile in the e-Learning Platform of any of the modules of
the Programme.

Proposed Work Plan for the Course

Content
Before starting the course
Activities
Read the Learning Guide and the User Guides to get familiar with the e-
Learning Platform
Complete your profile
Introduce yourself in the forum (optional)
Learning Guide Course 2

Complete the interactive learning guide

Download and read the module contents
Participate in the forum if you want to ask something to your peers or
Module 4 if you want to share your experience related to the subjects of module
4 (optional)
Take Quiz (optional)
Obtain your Certificate
Watch videos or read additional resources (optional)
Complete the interactive learning guide
Download and read the module contents
Participate in the forum if you want to ask something to your peers or
Module 5 if you want to share your experience related to the subjects of module
5 (optional)
9
Take Quiz (optional)
Obtain your Certificate
Watch videos or read additional resources (optional)
Complete the interactive learning guide
Download and read the module contents
Participate in the forum if you want to ask something to your peers or
Module 6 if you want to share your experience related to the subjects of module
6 (optional)
Take Quiz (optional)
Obtain your Certificate
Watch videos or read additional resources (optional)
Complete the interactive learning guide
Download and read the module contents
Participate in the forum if you want to ask something to your peers or
Module 7 if you want to share your experience related to the subjects of module
7 (optional)
Take Quiz (optional)
Obtain your Certificate
Watch videos or read additional resources (optional)
Complete the interactive learning guide
Download and read the module contents
Participate in the forum if you want to ask something to your peers or
Module 8 if you want to share your experience related to the subjects of module
8 (optional)
Learning Guide Course 2

Take Quiz (optional)

Obtain your Certificate
Watch videos or read additional resources (optional)
Complete the interactive learning guide
Download and read the module contents
Participate in the forum if you want to ask something to your peers or
Module 9 if you want to share your experience related to the subjects of module
9 (optional)
Take Quiz (optional)
Obtain your Certificate
Watch videos or read additional resources (optional)
Complete the interactive learning guide
Download and read the module contents 10
Participate in the forum if you want to ask something to your peers or
Module 10 if you want to share your experience related to the subjects of module
10 (optional)
Take Quiz (optional)
Obtain your Certificate
Watch videos or read additional resources (optional)
Complete the final test
Complete Survey
After completing the Course 2 Obtain your certificate
Participate in the forum if you want to ask something to your peers or
if you want to share your experience related to course (optional)
Learning Guide Course 2
Course: Legal Metrology in Detail
Developed by AFRIMETS, CROSQ and OIML and facilitated by the ACP-EU TBT Programme
Project funded by the European Union at the request of the ACP Group.

AFRIMETS CROSQ OIML

Intra-Africa Metrology System
Private Bag X34
Lynnwood Ridge 0040 South Africa
Tel +27 128413898
Fax +27 128413382
www.afrimets.org
CARICOM Regional Organisation
for Standards and Quality
2nd Floor Baobab Towers,
Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados
+1-246-622-7670
+1-246-622-7677
crosq.caricom@crosq.org
Organisation Internationale de
Métrologie Légale
11, rue Turgot - 75009 Paris -
France
Tel +33 1 48 78 12 82
Fax +33 1 42 82 17 27

ACP-EU TBT Programme Management Unit

Avenue de Tervuren 32, box 31
1040 Brussels - Belgium
ìTel: +32-2 739 00 00
Fax: +32-2 739 00 09
e-mail: contact@acp-eu-tbt.org The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect
Web: www.acp-eu-tb.org the views of the European Union nor those of the ACP secretariat.