Go Learning goes live
by Egon Wortmann
Executive Director
ASAQS
The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS), tasked with the responsibility to administer and promote the CPD system in South Africa, recognized that, especially in the more remote areas of the country, it is not always possible to attend workshops and seminars. Consequently the ASAQS Board has previously agreed to embark on a new venture to be known as “GoLearning”.
The “GoLearning” venture is a system whereby course material will be placed on the ASAQS website that will allow members to access the Program via the internet, no matter where the members are physically located.
By accessing the course material via the internet, members will be able to work through the relevant academic material, answer a few questions at the end, submit their responses to the QS EduTech Centre and gain valuable CPD points on completion. This venture hopes to address the problems of cost and accessibility to seminars and educational functions by introducing a program that can be followed by members from the comfort of their homes and in their own time. It is considered important that the “GoLearning” entity remains the full responsibility of the ASAQS, which will comprise the following three interest groups:
- The QS EduTech Centre of ASAQS will administer the process and will be responsible for all marketing, financial control and liaison with the members;
- Bert van den Heever (currently the webmaster of ASAQS) will be responsible for the setting up and ongoing maintenance of the internet/website requirements; and
- The University of Free State academic team, under the leadership of Professor Basie Verster, will be responsible for the facilitation and ongoing maintenance of the academic material in the program.
Although the initial set-up of this venture has taken a bit longer than anticipated, all systems are now ready to be up and running. The procedure to follow when someone wants to access the GoLearning modules, are as follows:
- Webmaster put modules on the Association website. These modules will either be drawn up or vetted by the University of the Free State;
- Anybody wishing to access any of these modules should visit the GoLearning website at http://www.golearning.co.za. Information about GoLearning will also be made available on the open section of the ASAQS website (www.asaqs.co.za);
- Procedure for purchasing modules and obtaining CPD points:
- Browse through the index of modules available and read the synopsis to find out more about a module;
- Register on the GoLearning website and select a user name and password for your visits there; and
- Visitors who wish to purchase modules for CPD purposes should submit their ASAQS and Council registration numbers during the registration process (may be amended later to cater for international users).
- Purchase the module online by using a credit card;
- If you do not wish to do so, then you can use the order form on the GoLearning site to order a hard-copy version of the module which will be dispatched after payment is effected by cheque or money transfer.
- Hard copy versions cost more than the online modules to cover printing and postage and also require that you send back your answer sheet for marking;
- After purchasing the module online you will be able to download it in PDF format;
- Study the material at your own convenience and pace;
- Thereafter go back to GoLearning, log in and select to do the multiple-choice questionnaire on the website;
- The question paper is marked automatically and if you succeed in getting 70% or more you are eligible to submit the results to the EduTech Centre using the submission button on the website. Should you require a higher score you can go back and redo the test, but beware, you may be faced with new questions (you will however not be required to pay again if you decide to have another go at it !!);
Once you have submitted the results to the EduTech Centre, you will receive an electronic acknowledgement of your submission and your marks achieved; and
A “Certificate of Compliance” will be made available on the GoLearning website which you can simply print out and keep for your information and records.
The Board of the ASAQS is looking forward with great anticipation to the success and development of the GoLearning venture, both on a national as well as international level.
Should you require any further information in this regard, please feel free to contact either Mr Egon Wortmann, Executive Director of ASAQS : e-mail ) or Mr Hoffie Cruywagen, Director of the EduTech Centre. We would welcome constructive input into this exciting venture.
AIQS launches its On-line Learning Program
AIQS Members have recently completed the first AIQS Online Learning certificate program, which was facilitated by Professor Craig Langston of Deakin University, with an examination on 4 December 2006. Those that pass the optional examination will receive a certificate of attainment in Life Cycle Costing and will meet AIQS' CPD requirements for the current triennium. More courses are planned in the new year.
In preparing to develop and deliver a series of professional development courses, the AIQS was keen to ensure that all national and international members would be able to participate in the Program and not be disadvantaged because of geographical location. In view of this it was decided to deliver the courses on-line and in adopting this approach, course participants benefit from the flexibility of working on the course at a time that best suits them.
It was considered essential that a reliable and proven platform be used for the delivery of the courses and that expert back up was available for the platform administration. Since this is a new approach for AIQS and the course facilitators, it was also considered necessary to engage a third party to advise on course design and delivery methodology. AIQS has therefore established a partnering arrangement with fmedge facility management training, a Registered Training Organisation with specialist expertise in flexible learning.
To ensure that participants are familiar with this new approach to professional development, an on-line orientation session will be held during the week prior to the courses. This orientation week will include a participative and interactive session in a virtual classroom that will describe all aspects of the course.
Courses are structured around twelve distinct topic areas presented progressively on a weekly basis. Each weekly sector will provide:
- Presentations on the subject area;
- Discussion forum presented by the course tutor; and
