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NCHH's E-Learning Option
Not everyone needs or wants a classroom to understand how and why to comply with the renovation, repair and painting rule. Some want to learn at their own pace on their own time especially when it involves a complicated topic like EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. For these students, an on-line or E-learning format may be the best choice.
On January 14, 2010, EPA approved NCHH to deliver the Certified Lead Renovator Course in an E-learning format using the Learning Management System from the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA). Click here for the EPA approval letter. NCHH was the first training provider approved by EPA to deliver the course in the E-learning format. Since then, NCHH has also been approved to deliver the course using the LMS from the Oregon Home Builders Association (OHBA).
In essence, the E-learning option allows the student to reduce the classroom/hands-on time commitment from 8-hours to 4-hours.
Quick Links: About NCHH's Approach to E-Learning Arranging for the 4-hour, In-Person Portion of Training NCHH's Assistance to Other Training Providers
NCHH's Assistance to Other Training Providers: NCHH sees the E-learning option as an important means of reaching renovators who want to cut the in-person portion of the class from 8 hours to 4 hours and who want to learn in a self-paced approach. Therefore, NCHH will help any other EPA-approved training provider who wants to deliver the course in an E-learning format. Click here for a copy of NCHH's application to EPA that can serve as a starting point. Contact NCHH's Patrick MacRoy at pmacroy@nchh.org for more assistance or a version of the application in Word.
Note that it took just over two months for NCHH to get approval. While the application was complete, it took more than four weeks for EPA's contractor to conduct the completeness review and get it to EPA regional office staff. It is unlikely that EPA can get an approval completed in less than six weeks.
About EPA's E-Learning Option On September 30, 2009, EPA provided guidance for Certified Renovator training providers seeking to offer on-line training to allow students to substitute up to 5.5 hours of class time for E-leaning that meets EPA's standards. EPA published a model E-learning curriculum and set standards for the Learning Management System (LMS) that documents and tracks student participation. Please note that EPA does not require that the LMS demonstrate the student spent 5.5 hours on-line - only that the student reviewed the entire course and passed the knowledge checks and final test.
The E-learning program provides the following benefits:
NCHH's Approach to E-Learning NCHH is approved to deliver the E-learning using the Learning Management Systems from both the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) and the Oregon Home Builders Association (OHBA).
EPA required only two-hours of hands-on training and a course test with no review of the topics for a total of 2.5 hours. NCHH determined that it needed between 2.5 and 3 hours to consistently complete the hands-on training and that it needed to include 0.5 to 1 hours of course review. Therefore, NCHH's classroom and hands-on portion of the E-learning option was four hours long.
NCHH requested approval to deliver the hands-on activities with a ratio of no more than 9 students to each instructor using the EMI model. In the EMI model, the instructor supervises three groups of three students. The instructor keeps the groups in sync by periodically signing off on their hands-on activities. This approach more fully engages all of the students in the hands-on activities than EPA's model of six to a group. It takes more supplies and equipment but allows an instructor to handle 50% more students in a group.
Under NCHH's proposal, instructors would by able to deliver:
Instructors could combine the morning and the afternoon sessions from noon to 1:00 and deliver a 30-minute course review and the 30-minute course test together. With course sizes limited to 25 people, there room would need to handle 50 people.
Here is the detailed schedule for each
Arranging for 4-hour In-Person Portion of Training: The in-person portion of the course in the E-learning option is different than the 8-hour standard course. NCHH's principal instructors will deliver the four-hour in-person portion of the training when there are sufficient people in their community to offer the course. Therefore, you will need to make arrangements with NCHH's principal instructors. Click here to contact them or check with NCHH's Chris Bloom at cbloom@nchh.org.
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