Introduction
This site is being developed for Northamptonshire Scouts as an interactive adult training information centre. The following information is available through the database:
- Personal Learning Plans for all adults
- Northamptonshire Training Diary
- Skills required for each module and validation requirements
- Work area for each module containing course objectives, course agenda, course documentation, list of attendees, and what to bring to the course
- Members details – address, telephone, email, district, group, role
Implementation of the database will derive the following benefits:
- High level of visibility of adults progress towards attaining the wood badge for their current role
- On line booking of training courses
- Fast lookup of members details
- Management information on training and validation progress
- Effective and efficient training administration
Member Details
The data source for details held for each adult is www.scouts.org.uk/Member Admin.
Details will be downloaded on a weekly basis. The training database will be updated for changes to existing members (address, phone number, email, name), and new records will be added for new members. Records for leavers will be marked as inactive on the training database, and archived for 3 years.
It is the responsibility of managers ( GSL, DC , CC) to ensure the member admin data is correct. Members with access to a computer can maintain their own record. Managers have access to the records of the people they manage (GSL therefore has access to adults records within their Group), and the Appointment Secretary has access to adults records within the District. Member details cannot be maintained through the adult training database, only through scouts.org.uk.
Personal Learning Plans
The purpose of the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) is to record the outcome of a discussion between a manager and/or Training Advisor (TA) and the adult member about the skills that are required to perform the role they have volunteered for, and the skills the volunteer already has.
If the volunteer thinks they can demonstrate they have the necessary skills, then validation only is required. If there are skill gaps, then training will be required to fill those gaps.
The basis of information recorded is kept simple: is training required, and if so when, plus has the module been validated, if yes on what date and how, if no when is validation planned. There is a link through to the modules table for easy access if completing the PLP on line with the volunteer.
A PLP will be automatically generated for each member, with a record for each module required for their current role. Section Leaders will not have records for the modules required by managers, and managers will not have records for those modules only required by section leaders.
All users entering the home page can view their own training and validation status, as all modules that have not been validated are displayed under PLP My Wood Badge Validation
Modules
The skill sets required for different roles in Scouting are broken down and recorded into modules. All adults involved in Scouting are required to have the skills and knowledge contained in the getting started modules. There are then modules that all adults going into a uniformed role must complete, other modules that are specific to section leader roles, others that are for managers, and some specialist modules for those involved in training and specialist roles.
The modules are colour coded to help identify the roles they support. Green is for all uniformed roles, purple for section leaders, blue for management roles, and orange for training and specialist roles.
The aims and topics are recorded for each module, together with the available methods of training if this is required. For convenience there is also a link to the methods of validation for each module, so the TA and volunteer can determine how the skill set will be validated.
Training Calendar
Displayed on the home page are the dates of all the available training courses being put on by Northamptonshire Scouts. As courses book up and become full, they drop off the list, meaning all courses displayed have spaces available. The calendar is displayed in date order, but can be sorted by module simply by clicking on the heading Title. A filter facility is also available to show for example just module 5.
If a learner wishes to book onto a specific course, then the Training Advisor or Training Manager can complete the booking on line. The learner will receive confirmation of the booking either by email or through the post within two weeks of booking. They will then be contacted 3 weeks prior to the course by the Course Director.
Training Course Work Area
Each training course has a work area, which will be maintained by the Course Director. The content of the work area includes the objectives of the training, the agenda for each date, a listing of things to bring on the day (if relevant), all documentation and slides that will either be used or referred too, and any pre-course documentation or reading.
Bookings for each course are recorded in the work area for each date as the bookings are made. Course Directors can as an option be alerted when bookings are made onto their modules.
Anybody booked onto a course will be able to access the work area from the calendar, providing they have an email address, so they can view the information in the area, and see who else is attending the course.