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wind turbines in bank of gravity batteries
Green Tech

Gravity Assisted Wind Turbine

eLearning WMB are carbon reducers, with a net carbon reduction of 500 times more than the company emits. The management team wants to do more where possible and as such contributed a day last year to brainstorm carbon reduction ideas. The following idea – a wind turbine which works 24/7 with no wind – is being freely made public in the hope that it may one day be built. Premise Wind power as you know has the ability to power the world (at least the UK) but the problem is that they only can run 70% of the time. If there was a way of ensuring wind turbines ran 24/7 then this could be the key factor in going carbon neutral. Solution Floating off shore wind turbines have been a reality for over 10 years. They can float in deep waters (would require 100m depth) and can be very large as noise is not a problem. Now if we modify the design to add a weight to the device (25,000 tonnes), we can achieve this by adding additional ballast to the turbine – retrofitting existing turbines would be easy. This also has the effect of anchoring the turbine allowing for the construction of larger and more stable turbines. The weight is connected to the turbine so that in cases of excess wind instead of stopping the turbine, the extra energy goes into lifting up the turbine. This is a mechanical process and as such is a highly efficient way of storing energy. When there is no wind, the weight is lowered, this rotates the blades and generates electricity when it’s calm.. With monitoring of weather patterns the load could also be used to power the turbine in low wind conditions at the maximum safe velocity. This would ensure the greatest efficiency possible from the system. Other Ideas Decommissioning Oil rigs.There are nearly 50,000 off shore rigs in the world. They are among the most productive fish habitats in the world so to scrap them would be extremely harmful to the environment. Turning such devices into wind farms will protect the environment and generate energy. Onshore The same can be applied on ground. It would involve digging 50m deep holes of 30 diameter but could be worth considering in landlocked locations. This was my first idea but was dismissed due to stability issues with turbines and the cost of excavation. Conclusion Unlike other gravity battery ideas, this involves simple gearing and software (to monitor weather conditions and adjust relative energy distribution.) There is no need for complex robot winches, deep mines or the waste of energy to convert wind power to electricity to potential energy and then back to electricity when needed. This solution is large but efficient. The building of just 1,300 mega wind turbines would supply the energy needs of all UK households, this is based on existing energy calculations – this figure would probably be reduced to around 1,000 once the increased efficiency of the system was taken into account. Looking at the cost of floating offshore wind turbines (the average floating offshore farm of 150 turbines costs £1B). Assuming higher costs for this nascent technology, the cost of this project would be around £15B or around a fifth of the cost of HS2 or a 1/22 the cost of a bridge to Ireland.

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Open eLMS Top Performer LMS Source Forge
Open eLMS

Open eLMS: SourceForge LMS Category Leader

Open eLMS has been recognised as the Learning Management System category leader, based on consistently high user reviews by this market leading user review site. Similar acclaim is also experienced from Capterra with a 4.7 out of 5 rating. The reasons for Open eLMS positive reviews are many, but these fall into two main categories which underlie the LMS’s design credo: Comprehensiveness and Ease of Use. Comprehensiveness The feature list of Open eLMS is too long for this mailing, but it is extremely rare when Open eLMS cannot meet all a client’s needs from day one. Features existent on Open eLMS which are rarely found in other LMS’s include: eForms Microlearning authoring eLearning authoring Smart classrooms Included library Integrations with multiple third party systems AI learning pathways Learner uploads mapping to programmes Ease of Use Open eLMS is ridiculously easy to use, generally minimal training is required for administrators and curriculum developers. Ease of use may seem counter intuitive for such a feature-rich system, however Open eLMS is only ever configured with features that you will need (80% of most functionality within most IT systems is never used.) Additional features can be added on at a later stage as needed. Furthermore ergonomic designers ensure the design is centred around each management role, making the use of the system is a process of reading the screen from right to left and following prompts. The learner experience is ‘Netflix-like’ – the user intuitively knows how to search for and browse learning. They can access training assigned to them, enrol on courses and even access blended learning events on line or in person in the classroom – with recordings of all lessons accessible after the event. To find out more about Open eLMS visit the website else please contact sales@elearningwmb.com to discuss your ideas further.

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Aphrodite LMS version of Open eLMS
Software Updates

New Version of Open eLMS Announced – Aphrodite

The new version of Open eLMS is out – code name Aphrodite. We could say something cheesy like “Aphrodite was the goddess of Love and you will love this LMS”, but there is no need. As usual we will let Open eLMS speak for itself. The quarterly improvements are too numerous to list in this article, but a full list of new features are available on the site. Thanks to feedback from our wonderful clients and the skills of our ergonomic designers we have produced something that truly meets the company’s credo of combining comprehensiveness and ease of use. Open eLMS Aphrodite Screenshot eLearning WMB have never thrown more resources at development to ensure that the product is as good as it can be. We are confident in predicting that Open eLMS is simply the best Learning Management System on the market. Not convinced? Then please contact us today and let us show you why.

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eForms within the LMS
e-Signatures

eForms, eSignatures and the LMS

The International Data Corporation (IDC) – the premier global provider of market intelligence – forecasts that spending on e-signature technology will grow annually by at least 20% over the next five years. e-signature solutions and form creation provide dramatic cost-effective productivity improvements, for instance one global bank has reduced the average time for circulating and approving procurements from 2-3 days to minutes. So how is this relevant to Learning Management Systems such as Open eLMS? Legal Compliance Learning is often the fundamental step in any legal compliance system. Companies need proof that learners have attested to having completed any compliance training or carried out certain tasks prior to their accreditation. Standards Conformity ISO standards require personnel to sign off on having carried out the necessary training as well as having read company policies and procedures in order to gain adherence to that standard. Personnel Management Learning Management Systems such as Open eLMS incorporate personnel management features such as 360 feedback, review meetings etc. Within these meetings it is necessary to complete forms and sign them off to all parties satisfaction. Onboarding Learners often need to supply a wealth of information prior to starting induction training or a structured learning programme etc. Apprentices for instance need to complete an Individualised Learner Record comprising of over 200 fields. A structured form filling in process which validates individuals via photo recognition and passport/driving licence ID validation is a vital component of a smooth onboarding process. Open eLMS Forms is a completely customisable solution for: Legal Compliance Standards Compliance Personnel Management And Onboarding Open eLMS Forms automatically fills in forms from data already collected – thereby saving time and money. Furthermore it ensures that the right forms are emailed to the right people at the right time, the workflow, forms and documentation are customizable to suit each company’s needs. To find out how we can tailor eForms to work for you please contact sales@elearningwmb.com to discuss your ideas further.

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Estio case study
Case Study

Estio training: A case study of the perfect blended solution

We invite you to have a look at this video made by Estio, which demonstrates how any instructor can use the system to provide an totally blended smart classroom solution, whether the session is face to face, remote or a mixture of the two. Estio Training are a large training provider based in Leeds with a UK wide client base. In 2019 Estio saw that the training landscape was changing. Whilst clients loved the personal contact that their trainers provided, the company saw huge benefits in bringing this training onilne onto the same system where their elearning and other media resided. Estio drew up a criteria of 42 different functions which a prospective system should provide and tested the market to see which providers could provide this all-encompassing system. Open eLMS now ticks all 42 boxes, the next closest supplier had just 19!https://www.e-learningwmb.com/videos/estio_casestudy.mp4

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The future of the LMS
eLearning

15 technologies which add value to learner management

Open eLMS has been providing cutting edge learning management solutions across education and industry. It has taken the best ideas from each field and brought them together into a learning management solution: Open eLMS. Drawing from these experiences it has compiled 15 technologies and approaches which have been shown to add real value to ensure highly effective student management. Open Elms e-Learning Management System from e-Learning WMB 1. LMS/VLE The best way to deliver, track and report on your learning performance and outcomes is with the use of a Learning Management System (or LMS), which is a repository for all learning. A Virtual Learning Environment (or VLE) is a method of presenting resources to learners which encourages them to drive their own learning (not just passively running courses assigned to them). Note: all VLE’s will have an LMS in the backend, but all LMS’s do not have VLE’s. 2. UX (user experience) design and features It is important to consider the learners that will be using your LMS, and how easily they will be able to navigate and interact with your chosen solution. Look for solutions that are designed to be universally accessible, using a modern interface which replicates products or online elements your learners are likely using in their own time. For instance, Open eLMS utilises a Netflix-like experience which learners instantly understand. 3. Learning Library All LMS’s will hold learning resources, but it is important to be aware of what resources are supported, and the flexibility with which they can be catalogued and reused . Libraries can hold a variety of resources such as microlearning games, YouTube videos, e-learning, websites, lesson plans etc. 4. Authoring Tool How do you procure learning content? Pre-built, bespoke or self-built? Authoring tools allow you to create your own e-learning – this can be particularly useful if you work within a niche field where you’d prefer content from your own subject matter experts. Ease-of-use can differ greatly depending on the specific authoring tool, so be sure to consider all options to best meet your needs. 5. ePortfolio An eportfolio is an online collection of electronic learning and submitted work carried out by the learner. The learning should be seamlessly mapped to a learning programmes (outcomes, criteria etc) and contain a variety of learning including reflective learning, meetings, lessons attended, projects submitted as well as track the 20% off the job elements (vital for apprenticeship programmes). The eportfolio should also be portable (accessible by mobile and computer) and be able to be taken with the learner after the course as a major component of life-long learning. 6. Individual Learner Record & ESFA Reporting functionality Where proof of learning involves government funding it is important to have this functionality to draw down UK government funds. The benefit of choosing a LMS with this optional functionality is that the data captured by the system can be used to automatically populate the relevant fields, allowing your staff to focus on their core responsibilities. 7. Smart Lessons Much more than the average video-based lesson (such as Zoom) but with the ability to add any number of varied resources for completion whilst the call is active, creating a more integrated and interactive learning experience – a much needed feature in recent times. This should be integrated seamlessly in to your LMS solutions. Many educators have enhanced existing learning platforms during the pandemic as a go to place for learning resources, with Teams and Google Classroom often used as a repository for such learning information. Specialist eportfolio systems such as Open eLMS are enhanced to enable learners to effortlessly access all these new ‘smart classroom’ learning resources from a single location. Imagine a student undertakes a lesson, during which the lesson is recorded. It involves illustrations on a smart board, various instructor-led microlearning events and elearning that has been set as project work after the event. Then imagine a scenario where all this information is as easy to access as Netflix on any device. No student needs to ever get left behind as the lesson need never be forgotten as the information is always readily available. In addition to these learning-on-demand features, the same system can also be used to schedule lessons, add the student’s own learning resources and carry out the lesson remotely via the video feed and share of the smartboard. 8. Video conferencing platform Whilst basic, video conferencing can provide valuable utility in abnormal circumstances, but when paired with supplementary solutions (linked to your LMS) for additional functionality such as automatic reminders, recording of attendance and video for use in your LMS, it should be an invaluable tool for your organisation. 9. Peer-to-peer discussion forums Your LMS should have the ability to host discussion forums or other chat functionality which allows learners to communicate with each other about their learning, or a specific subject, and to support each other. 10. Gamification Gamification functionality makes learning more fun, and can be utilised to motivate learners, both by competing against themselves or with their peers. 11. Microlearning (H5P compatibility) HTML5 Package (H5P) objects are individually deployable learning objects which are able to track and report on learner activity as you would expect from any other e-learning. By being deployable as standalone resources however, they are a great resource for any organisation looking to incorporate microlearning as homework or part of a live smart lesson. i.e. interactive videos, various question sets, hotspots, memory games, virtual 360 tours etc… 12. eForm/Digital Forms If you are pursuing a digital first approach, an editable digital form builder with e-signatures for audit, compliance and survey purposes should be added to your list of required tools and be fully integrated in to your LMS. 13. CPD Tracker Continuing Professional Development trackers allow senior managers and delivery staff to review their learning and development in one place, making it easy to understand the capabilities of a workforce and address any areas of improvement. This is vital when addressing staff skills shortages in the current climate.

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Badges in the Open eLMS LMS
Gamification

Badgr Integration expands Open eLMS Gamification Functionality

Gamification within elearning has been described as an important way to tap into your learners natural desire for socialising, competition, achievement and status. Advocates say gamification rewards players for engaging with learning resources, and can boost their performance whilst offering tangible value for both individuals and businesses. There are some who remain cautious about the true impact gamification can have on the ROI of learning and development – after all, isn’t it just a virtual pat on the back? Well, there will no doubt be employees who see it this way, but don’t underestimate the psychological power of a gamified approach, constructed around high quality, engaging resources. Competition is a strong motivator for many, and the ability to shine above and beyond colleagues, regardless of the activity, will be enough to create a shift in the attitude of your learners. This is perhaps the most valuable benefit of gamification – creating a cultural change amongst your learners which views L&D as a positive and rewarding experience that also offers them an opportunity to be recognised! Open eLMS has included numerous gamification features for some time in both our LMS and in the courses we build (and can be built with Open eLMS Creator). These include progress bars (for overall tasks completed, and for individual courses) and leaderboards, which are built into the interface itself, and what you would recognise as “gamified” resources, including quizzes, drag and drop exercises and a general level of interactivity that draws a clear distinction between our elearning and glorified powerpoint presentations. Now, we’re happy to add badges to this list through our brand new Badgr integration – Badgr is the fastest growing digital credential network globally, and offers a number of unique features and benefits. Firstly, as the fastest growing network, Badgr Badges are uniquely valuable in their ability to be interoperable between different businesses – meaning that your learners can be confident that their effort will be rewarded in the long term. It offers unlimited awards at any level of granularity, meaning you can encourage participation in small tasks as well as large. These credentials are shareable via social media and can even be stacked into pathways to incorporate professional certifications or achievements from third party organisations. If you are delivering a programme of blended learning, (as many apprenticeships do) you can even create “place-based awards” – these are QR codes that can be scanned in the real world (after completing real world activities) and automatically attribute the appropriate badge to the learner! If you’d like more information on gamification within Open eLMS, or have a question about badge specifically – book a 15 minute meeting!

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Blended learning
Blended Learning

Workshop – Blended Learning: It’s time to face the facts

After the global impact of the pandemic on education, the perception and adoption of digital learning and resources has changed – it’s viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury. The question is no longer “should” blended learning be used – it’s “how.” This workshop covers blended learning, how it is being used currently, and where it needs to go in order to reach its full potential. Andrew Howie, director of eLearning WMB, presented this insightful talk at the The 7th Annual Apprenticeship Conference (AAC). If you have any questions about blended learning, or how Open eLMS can help you to implement an effective blended strategy rapidly, book in for a demo!https://www.e-learningwmb.com/videos/ACC_presentation2

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Apprenticeship standards
Covid-19

Can apprenticeship standards recover post Covid?

Apprenticeship standard achievement rate fails to maintain growth over 2020. According to an article posted recently in FEWeek, the achievement rate for standards based apprenticeships failed to reach 60% this year, representing a slight decrease when compared to the year before. Despite the difficulties of the last year, the achievement rate still grew by 11% between 2018/19 and 2019/20 years, from 46.9% – 58.7%. Meanwhile the achievement rate of frameworks did in fact fall, if only by 1% Standards and frameworks are delivered in different ways, including differences in the way assessments of necessary knowledge and skills are conducted. Generally, (but not always) standards rely more upon related theory being taught and coached with a focus on developing knowledge, skills and behaviours over time to ensure learners are competent before an end point assessment, whereas frameworks prioritise assessments performed throughout the programme on a range of competencies. Yet, however you look at it, having more than 40% of (standards) apprentices failing to complete their qualification is a concerning statistic and is likely to raise questions. Given the context (pandemic) it would be easy to write this off as a result of obstacles created through inability to work, or by being unable to benefit from face-to-face practical skills training – and without a doubt this will have been a major factor. Furthermore, redundancies in general have been high, and the industries where apprentices are most often found have been some of the hardest hit. Could the lack of face-to-face training and coaching opportunities be partly responsible for the figures? Or is it that the online learning which did happen wasn’t engaging enough? We can’t help but wonder what these numbers could have been if EdTech, along with blended learning strategies, had been fully adopted over the past decade. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – technology can no longer be viewed as an optional element of learning and development strategies, whether that be schools, colleges, universities, training providers or employers. Solutions are available to mitigate many, if not all, of the contingency risks we have witnessed over the past year, as well as improving engagement, attainment, administration and more. As technology becomes more readily available, and more integrated with our everyday lives, it is no longer feasible to deny the need or importance of incorporating it into our everyday training. If you have been affected by the restrictions over the last year, and are looking for a solution to maintain your Apprenticeships/L&D/CPD training in all eventualities – get in touch! We’d be happy to discuss your needs and provide you with workable solutions.

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Apprenticeship management system innovation
Tech Tools

15 Top Tech Tools for Outstanding Apprenticeship Delivery in 2021

Apprenticeships remain a hot topic at the moment, particularly in the wake of the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic which has unsettled the status quo of how training and learning is approached and delivered. Apprenticeships in particular rely on effective teaching to communicate practical skills and knowledge, and so can be particularly challenging to deliver, both in “normal” circumstances where a training provider may not always be physically present, and especially during the coronavirus pandemic. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of learning technologies that are necessary to secure outstanding apprenticeship delivery in today’s world: Learning Management System/Virtual Learning Environment This is perhaps the most important element! The best way to deliver, track and report on your learning performance and outcomes is with the use of a Learning Management System (or LMS), which is a repository for all learning. A Virtual Learning Environment (or VLE) is a method of presenting resources to learners which encourages them to drive their own learning – all VLEs will have an LMS in the backend, but all LMSs do not have VLEs. Engaging UX design and features It is important to consider the learners that will be using your LMS, and how easily they will be able to navigate and interact with your chosen solution. Open eLMS, for example, which is designed to be universally accessible, uses a Netflix inspired interface which replicates products your learners are likely using in their own time. Learning Library All LMSs will hold learning resources, but it is important to be aware of what resources are supported, and the flexibility with which they can be catalogued. Generally speaking, more resource types will create a more interesting varied and engaging experience for learners, as well as allowing you to take advantage of content created by others, such as YouTube videos. Authoring Tool How do you plan to procure learning content? Pre-built, bespoke or self-built? Authoring tools allow you to create your own elearning for use by your apprentices – this can be particularly useful if you work within a niche field where you’d prefer content from your own subject matter experts. Ease-of-use can differ greatly depending on the specific authoring tool, so be sure to consider all options to best meet your needs. Smart Lessons Smart lessons made our list of top trends for 2021! But what makes them special? Imagine your average video-based lesson (such as Zoom) but with the ability to add any number of varied resources for completion whilst the call is active, creating a more integrated and interactive learning experience – a much needed feature in recent times. ePortfolio An ePortfolio tool can be invaluable for reducing the overall human resource requirements for tasks requiring information contained within a learning portfolio, as well as helping to reduce human error – allowing teachers/trainers to concentrate on their learners! Individual Learner Record & ESFA Reporting functionality For mandatory ESFA reporting processes, ILR software is often sold as a standalone solution, exclusively with this purpose in mind. The benefit of choosing an ILR tool which is built into your LMS is that the data captured by the system can be used to automatically populate the relevant fields, allowing people to focus on their core responsibilities. Video conferencing platform Whilst basic, video conferencing can provide valuable utility in abnormal circumstances where physical presence is not viable, but when paired with ancillary solutions such as Open eLMS Live for additional functionality such as automatic calendar invites and reminders, recording of attendance and cataloguing saved videos for use in your LMS as a revision tool at a later date. Peer-to-peer discussion forums An LMS may have the ability to host discussion forums or other chat functionality which allows learners to communicate with each other about their learning, a specific subject, and to support each other. Gamification Gamification functionality makes learning more fun, and can be utilised to motivate learners, by competing against themselves or with their peers. Microlearning (H5P compatibility) HTML5 Package (H5P) objects are individually deployable learning objects which are able to track and report on learner activity as you would expect from any other elearning. By being deployable as standalone resources however, they are a great resource for any organisation looking to incorporate microlearning as homework or part of a live smart lesson. eForm/Digital Form Building Tools If you are pursuing a digital first approach, an editable digital form builder with esignatures for audit, compliance and survey purposes should be added to your list of required tools. CPD Tracker Continuing Professional Development trackers allow employees and managers to review their learning and development in one place, during apprenticeships and beyond, making it easy to understand the capabilities of a workforce and address any necessary areas of improvement. Curriculum building/planning tools If an LMS has curriculum building and planning tools, you can control how resources are structured within modules and programmes, and also control when those resources are visible to students – this helps with navigation, understanding and administration! Integrations and Interoperability Systems need to talk to each other. Be sure to understand your chosen vendor’s approach to integrations with other solutions, and compatibility with open standards that are central to the interoperability of learning data and resources. An open API which is plug and play and can interface with major software vendors and adherence to open standards such as LTI and SCORM is vital to ensure interoperability, and could save you a bundle in development costs. Author Andrew Howie is Director of eLearning WMB – owners of the Open eLMS for Apprenticeships system. Andrew says “We have identified these technologies and have spent the last few years building them into our product for effective apprenticeship delivery so they are ready to go. We’ve helped all our customers through an incredibly difficult period – we’re here to listen, advise and provide all our expertise to your ongoing requirements.”

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