| ebc has developed online pre-course mathematics and mechanics programmes to replace existing paper-based distance learning packages for ETPS, part of the QinetiQ Group. The package provides students with the required 1st year degree level mathematics and engineering mechanics, which are seen as fundamental tools to tackle the demanding one-year course.
The original ETPS paper-based pre-course package lacked the ability to track learner progress and completion thus relying upon speedy tutor marking at the start of the course to gain an appreciation of student progress. The online programmes allow real time tracking of student progress thus enabling focused academic training upon arrival at ETPS, which helps towards releasing students from the classroom and into the air.
The online programmes have also reduced the pre-course study time to ten hours of learning as opposed to the original fifteen or more hours. Students can also use the programmes as a resource support medium throughout the course.
Pilots and engineers come from all over the world to train at the School at Boscombe Down near Salisbury. The students assimilate vast quantities of information simultaneously on a daily basis and their learning style is reflected in the design of the online programmes. Three different learning zones are projected on screen in unison, enabling the students to process several pieces of information concurrently.
This is QinetiQ's first venture into e-learning and has been approached as an initial study into the effectiveness of such a learning medium. Two thirds of the participating students said that they found the e-learning programme both more effective and enjoyable than other types of training material.
Andy Robinson, Flight Dynamics Tutor & Project Manager at ETPS said: "The ETPS on-line programme has been a successful venture by QinetiQ proving both the immense benefits of e-learning as part of a blended learning environment and reconciling towards the Defence Training Review's aim of providing 80% of all training via e-learning within 5 years."
The programmes reflect ETPS culture, style and brand and have been designed using ebc's SeRVEä technology, a patented blend of Macromedia's Flash and Microsoft Active Server Pages, which ensures interactive and enjoyable programmes and the manageability of volatile data in the future.
ebc's research shows that the use of context-led learning and familiar metaphors aids retention and ensures the learner feels immediately comfortable interacting with the programmes, as opposed to placing text online (e-books).
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