Institute's e-Learning quality standards gain industry-wide adoption
The Institute of IT Training’s e-learning Standards have been adopted by virtually all the industry’s interest groups: Government, education sector, major corporate buyers and commercial e-learning providers.
The Institute of IT Training’s published Standards in the exploding e-learning area are now the de facto standards for the sector, having been adopted in the last month by virtually all the industry’s interest groups; Government, the education sector, major corporate buyers and commercial e-learning providers.
Government: The University for Industry (UfI)has adopted the Standards for its new learndirect programme being launched in the Spring. Under the UfI programme, all content suppliers will be expected to comply with the IITT’s Standards for technology-based learning Materials.
Education: The leading awarding body in UK education, Edexcel (incorporating BTEC and London Examinations Board), formally announced its adoption of the IITT Standards and will promote these to the 400+ colleges involved with Edexcel courses and educational awards.
Corporates: The Association for Computer-based Training (TACT) has adopted the Standards and now recommends its corporate members to source e-learning materials from compliant providers.
E-learning Providers: As a result of this widespread recognition of best-practice standards in the e-learning area, many major e-learning providers are ensuring that their product design and development processes meet the standards and that learners are provided with excellent online tutor support. They may then apply to the Institute for recognition under an industry Accreditation programme. Already accredited or in the process are NETg, Skillchange, Intellexis, Harvard Business School, Fastrak, ReadyGo, Maxim, Skillsoft, Wide Interactive and Smartforce.
These significant announcements firmly position the IITT as the lead body for e-learning standards. All e-learning developers and providers, along with Web-based learning portals, should consider conforming to these Standards to ensure their own competitive advantage. Already having done so is easycando.com, a learning portal guaranteeing content that meets the Institute’s best-practice standards from content providers which are accredited by the IITT.
The standards comprise; Standards for Technology Based Learning Materials, Competencies for Developers & Designers of Technology Based Learning Materials and Competencies for Online Tutors.
Copies are available on request from the Institute of IT Training, Institute House, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry CV4 7EZ, email [email protected], website www.iitt.org.uk.