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<strong>Get</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>best</strong> <strong>out</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> BICSc Virtual Training Suite<br />
I don’t think anybody would disagree that online training has certainly grown beyond all<br />
expectations in <strong>the</strong> last couple <strong>of</strong> years through<strong>out</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> industries – not only cleaning and<br />
hygiene.<br />
Until March 2020, it was very much considered to be a niche market limited to ‘technology buffs’,<br />
but as people were forced to work from home, <strong>the</strong>y had to embrace <strong>the</strong> available technology to<br />
continue with ‘business as usual’ where possible.<br />
Distance learning has been around for a long time (think Open University!), but long gone are <strong>the</strong><br />
days <strong>of</strong> having to watch some grainy black-and-white programme being broadcast in <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> night on BBC2. For a lot <strong>of</strong> online training, and especially BICSc online <strong>of</strong>fering through <strong>the</strong><br />
Virtual Training Suite, you can do it where and when you want.<br />
But, as with any learning situation, <strong>the</strong> <strong>out</strong>come is only as good as <strong>the</strong> input <strong>the</strong> students give it. Like<br />
a conventional classroom, <strong>the</strong>re will always be students who don’t pay attention.<br />
So, how do you ensure you get <strong>the</strong> <strong>best</strong> <strong>out</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> BICSc Virtual Training Suite?<br />
• Don’t skim <strong>the</strong> lessons – The way <strong>the</strong> courses are structured in our online environment, <strong>the</strong><br />
s<strong>of</strong>tware won’t let you pick and choose which lessons you want to do, and it won’t let you<br />
do <strong>the</strong>m <strong>out</strong> <strong>of</strong> sequence.<br />
The running order <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lessons has been planned so that <strong>the</strong> information flows in a logical<br />
order. There is very <strong>of</strong>ten information you need from an earlier lesson to be able to<br />
complete a later lesson, so make sure you complete each lesson in full. If you don’t<br />
understand something in a lesson, you can always replay or review it so that it does<br />
eventually make sense. And if you still don’t understand something, remember you can<br />
pause <strong>the</strong> lesson/course, send us an email with your query, and <strong>the</strong>n continue when you<br />
have your answer.<br />
• Watch <strong>the</strong> videos – When a video forms part, or all, <strong>of</strong> a lesson, ensure you watch it in full –<br />
don’t start it playing and leave it running in <strong>the</strong> background to go and do something else. If<br />
you are taking a skills course, <strong>the</strong> video will show and explain to you exactly what you will<br />
need to demonstrate to <strong>the</strong> assessor during your live assessment.<br />
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• Listen to <strong>the</strong> narrative – Regardless <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> type <strong>of</strong> lesson (a narrated presentation, an<br />
animated presentation with narration, or a live-action video) listen closely to <strong>the</strong> narration.<br />
Whilst most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> information you need will be presented in both audio and visual formats,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re may be <strong>the</strong> odd occasion when it is one or <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
• Follow <strong>the</strong> instructions – With some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> courses, you will be required to submit an<br />
assignment to be marked before you are deemed to have passed <strong>the</strong> course and are eligible<br />
to download your certificate.<br />
With <strong>the</strong>se types <strong>of</strong> courses, <strong>the</strong>re are always detailed instructions on what we are expecting<br />
from you – what you should include in <strong>the</strong> assignment, <strong>the</strong> format you need to use, and <strong>the</strong><br />
minimum size, for example, 1,000 words.<br />
Just because you submit <strong>the</strong> assignment electronically through <strong>the</strong> Virtual Training Suite<br />
doesn’t mean that it automatically triggers a ‘course complete’ button and you can<br />
download your certificate.<br />
All assignments are reviewed internally by one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> senior members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> technical team<br />
and marked accordingly so that we are confident that you have fully understood <strong>the</strong> content<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> course – it’s no different to submitting an assignment in a face-to-face classroom<br />
environment. Until that assignment has been reviewed, you will not be deemed to have<br />
completed <strong>the</strong> course.<br />
Of course, if we feel that your assignment doesn’t quite hit <strong>the</strong> requirements, we will always<br />
give you feedback on what needs to be improved and you can have ano<strong>the</strong>r attempt. It’s not<br />
one strike and you’re <strong>out</strong>!<br />
• Complete pre-requisite training – With some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> courses, <strong>the</strong>re are separate training<br />
modules within <strong>the</strong> course that you will need to complete before applying to BICSc for <strong>the</strong><br />
next stage (be that a live assessment, training practice day, etc).<br />
For example, in <strong>the</strong> assessor course, <strong>the</strong>re is a lesson on how to use <strong>the</strong> CPSS app, and<br />
fur<strong>the</strong>r on in <strong>the</strong> course, we give you details <strong>of</strong> a training account you can use with <strong>the</strong> app<br />
to assess a candidate in <strong>the</strong> test assessment lesson. We are aware that some establishments<br />
don’t permit <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> electronic devices on-site, but if you do have access to a device you<br />
are expected to use <strong>the</strong> app to mark <strong>the</strong> assessment presented in <strong>the</strong> course.<br />
When you attend <strong>the</strong> practice day, you will be expected to be comfortable with <strong>the</strong> app and<br />
be prepared to use it through<strong>out</strong> <strong>the</strong> day.<br />
• Download and read <strong>the</strong> resource documents – At <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> each course, we have included<br />
as much back-up documentation as we can to go with <strong>the</strong> course. Sometimes <strong>the</strong><br />
information you need is contained within <strong>the</strong> documents, so it is recommended you always<br />
download and read <strong>the</strong> documents.<br />
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As tutors, we may not be in <strong>the</strong> ‘classroom’ with you, but also you can’t try it on with ‘<strong>the</strong> dog ate<br />
my homework’ type excuse if you want to progress to <strong>the</strong> next stage or download your certificate if<br />
you haven’t completed all lessons in a course, as we can tell from your account how far you have<br />
progressed through <strong>the</strong> course and whe<strong>the</strong>r you are eligible to progress to <strong>the</strong> next step.<br />
Like all good teachers should be, we are here to help you. Happy learning!<br />
Now, where did I put those gold stars – I have more assignments to mark.<br />
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