Can remote learning work?

Jason Holdaway – Company Director at JP Holdaway Ltd

I have coached many people through their SMSTS and was totally sceptical about the distance approach. How could this be done without the possibility of cheating? Anyone could use a search engine for the exam answers!

It just so happens that one of the team had SMSTS on his development plan. After completing a whole load of other learning material and courses to prepare him, he was ready for the SMSTS course and subsequent test.

Due to Covid-19, this motivated individual expedited his training plan and was ready months ahead of the planned date.

We decided that he would do the course at the office which meant I could listen in and assess the quality of the delivery and see what measures were being taken to alleviate any dishonesty.

Well! what I found was a carefully thought out method of delivery using Microsoft teams which was reliable and not in any way glitchy.

The teacher was obviously very experienced, he knew his stuff as you would expect. But he expertly divided the group into sub groups of similar knowledge and learning levels and proceeded to deliver the course content. The learning material was delivered electronically and there were the usual homework tasks and revision allocated. The teacher’s ability to attend to the whole group – listening and responding, was brilliant, while all the time, sitting at his screen.

The final exam was 20 multiple choice with the critical questions mixed in and 5 written answers. Each attendee was watched and recorded continuously throughout the exam by a CITB assessor with results being issued within half an hour.

Glad to say he passed!