Case study: Qualification-based learning for a professional body
17 student workbooks published using our proprietary learning content management system
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Business Challenge
A well known professional body required to publish a series of 17 Course Books for use by their students to prepare for their professional qualifications. The books had to be delivered in print-ready format.
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Echelon’s Solution
Echelon worked in partnership with Wordhouse to manage the project, including commissioning of authors. Ecehlon’s on-line publishing system was at the heart of the project. Authors were provided with an electronic template into which they structured and wrote their content. The workflow management system within Echelon’s publishing system ensured that content material posted onto the content management systemwas automatically forwarded for peer group review, copy editing and proof reading. Once complete the content was converted to html, generating both print and on-line versions from a single input. The project involved 17 authors, 17 subject matter experts, and five specialist publishing staff. Over 1 million words were published in a 10 month period.
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Key Benefits
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Echelon’s on-line publishing system ensured consistency of structure and learning.
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The content management system tracked and displayed each document throughout the publishing process, also managing version control.
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Project brought in on time and to budget.
Echelon’s approach
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Research
Desk-based research was undertaken into the structure of content that would best suit the Institute’s students. Document type definition was designed to create programming structure, enabling authors to follow consistent a format and for content to be processed electronically. The project called for the design, authoring, editing, desk top publishing, production and distribution of over 2,000 hours of text-based open learning material for the Institute.
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Buy in
The Institute bought in to this content managed approach as it would create consistency of format, an ability to review each document at any stage in the publishing project, and for the speed and efficiency in updating and editing content.
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Learning Structure
The content was designed for both text-based and web access. The materials comprise open learning study guides, revision guides, question banks and textbooks for each of the eleven examinations, plus case studies and projects, which the Institute’s students must pass to qualify for membership of their professional body. More than 5,000 A4 pages of learning materials have been developed, at the equivalent of first degree level.
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Communication
Launch of the new workbooks was promoted on the professional body’s website and in their members’ Newsletters.
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Sustaining the initiative
Revision of the Course Books was required four years after delivery of the initial versions. In 2009, 17 Course Books were updated and 2 new books published. Echelon’s content management system enabled the efficient and quick re-authoring and publishing of the revised Course Books.
The Institute’s qualifications are structured in ladder form to suit most needs and sustain learning:
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UK students who are new to the profession undertake the Level 3 Certificate in Purchasing and Supply as an ideal entry point to the Institute’s qualification. The International Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Purchasing and Supply are appropriate starting points for non UK based students.
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The Level 4 Foundation Diploma, Level 5 Advanced Diploma and Level 6 Graduate Diploma provide a suite allowing progress up to degree level. All of the qualifications are Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA) approved and appear on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ).
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Evaluating the outcome
The content management system, with its templates and automated workflow management, provided an effective framework for origination of the Course Books and for their on-going maintenance. Costs and timescales were minimised and product quality and consistency maximised.
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