News story

NHS Information Authority registers 200 trainers on the IITT'S certified e-learning professional progamme (CeLP) to support staff undertaking online learning

Learning NewsLPI (Learning and Performance Institute)

The NHS Information Authority is offering 200 current NHS trainers places on an e-tutoring skills programme under the Institute of IT Training's Certified e-Learning Professional Programme. The programme combines a one-day classroom course with three online courses, which will teach the delegates the skills required to support learners engaged in online learning. Successful trainers will receive the Certificate in e-Tutoring Skills from the IITT.

"The NHS in England is committed to a major basic IT skills development programme for some 700,000 staff over the next 5 years," said Diane Benjamin, Programme Manager for the NHS Information Authority. "We anticipate that the majority will choose to study via e-Learning approaches, so it's vital that we put in place effective learner support to assist staff, many of whom will be studying online for the first time."

Colin Steed, Chief Executive of the Institute, welcomed the news. "The IITT's e-tutor skills programme has already successfully taken many hundreds of students through to certification and we are pleased that NHS trainers will now undertake this programme. It shows that there's a growing awareness of the vital role that skilled e-tutors play in the success of any e-Learning programme - this has been the Institute's central message over the last few years. It also reinforces the growing reputation of our unique Certified e-Learning Professional Programme, which has now received more than 1,300 registrations since its launch in January."

Julie Jamhour, e-Learning Manager for the IITT commented; "It really is excellent news when a leading employer like the NHS makes such a commitment to providing their learners with effective personal support - the single biggest factor for successful e-Learning. Although some employers feel they can ignore the need for such support, the drop-out rate for many e-Learning programmes shows they can't."

About the Certified e-Learning Professional (CeLP) programme
CeLP comprises some 300 learner hours of tutor-supported e-Learning and leads to five certified tracks; tutor, trainer, developer, manager and consultant. http://www.elearningprofessional.com