In the May/June issue of The Hardware Journal we discussed the EdTech journey of Fleetwood Paints and Uppercross Enterprise Ltd. In this issue, we present how Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) are investing in Education Technology (EdTech). In this article, Susan Madden of South East College speaks with Jim Copeland about how HAI will respond to Education Technology in 2023!
Jim, how important do HAI see EdTech as a response to continuous training and development of those employed in the Hardware & Building Materials sector?
Several challenges face the sector, one of which is recruitment, retention and training of staff. Ireland is currently at 100% employment leading to difficulty filling vacancies in most counties nationwide. This has a knock-on effect on the training and development of existing employees. Employers can’t get cover for their staff to attend training to up-skill and cross-skill. There is also a difficulty for new employees, when they are found, whose only way to learn is by getting thrown in at the deep end! “Job readiness” is a critical requirement where employees can be productive immediately on employment. “Job readiness” is now more important than ever, particularly for the employer. Having an employee with basic training in Health & Safety, Selling Skills and Product Knowledge Skills brings immediate value to the organisation.
How will HAI respond to this need?
During the global pandemic, we saw education go “online” from primary school education to third level and everything in between. We at HAI saw our own courses go online. Going “online” had many benefits; However, one very important one was “access”. The use of technology meant learners from all corners of the country could access education without any barriers. So, in late 2022, we began exploring a systematic approach to utilising technology to deliver and manage education to the sector. This led us to partner with QedON (Quality Education Online) and make a significant investment in our own Learner Platform, The Hardware Education Hub.
What will the HAI response look like?
The Hardware Education Hub will have four main streams of learning. They will be Management Skills, Product Knowledge Courses, Accredited Retail Skills Courses and Health & Safety Courses. These will be in eLearning format. eLearning means the courses are “evergreen”; available 24/7/365 to the learner and can be completed on a mobile phone/ PC and outside core working hours. eLearning is very different to online courses. Online means the course is delivered at a fixed time, where learners join a virtual classroom.
Whereas with eLearning, the course is built using teaching software, with voice, images, videos and multiple learner onscreen activities. Learners interact with the various onscreen activities, complete knowledge tests and a final course assessment. Once a learner successfully completes an assessment, they will receive their HAI Digital Credentials.
Learners will register for the courses as appropriate from The Hardware Education Hub and go directly into their course. Each learner will have their own dashboard with the courses they have purchased and all their Digital Badges. Learners will also automatically receive notification of new courses available.
They will be supported to complete their course with frequent engagement from QedON.
Who will the courses be aimed at?
All courses will be designed to upskill existing employees in the sector, to provide recognition for prior learning (RPL) for experienced employees who wish to achieve Digital Credentials and wish to share them with the sector. And, for new employees to the sector who need to be “job ready” ASAP!
How will Product Knowledge courses be delivered?
Traditionally manufacturers & suppliers deliver “in-store” training on an ad-hoc basis. It is generally infrequent but very welcomed and needed by retail stores. Suppliers and Manufacturers are an integral part of this Hardware Education Hub (EdHub) initiative. Initially up to 10 Suppliers will be invited to join the EdHub in 2023 as “EdHub Partners”. The first two to join already are Fleetwood Paints and NIKO Bathrooms.
Both are experienced in the EdTech space and bring that experience to the EdHub. On the 1st of September 2023, two eLearning courses from Fleetwood Paints and two from NIKO Bathrooms will be available for learners across the country to complete. Courses will cover the technical aspects of the products and how to sell and upsell to potential customers to maximise sales in your store.
HAI will invite a further eight suppliers or manufacturers to join as “HAI EdHub Partners” for 2023. The HAI’s aim is to have 10 suppliers each contributing a minimum of two courses to the HAI EdHub, therefore we aim to have 20 courses available in 2024 for the sector!
Who are the stakeholders in this project?
This exciting initiative has three main stakeholders: HAI, Suppliers/Manufacturers and QedON. This will bring a systematic approach to training and education to all sector employees. For Suppliers/Manufacturers, this initiative will give them a platform to reach every store in the country 24/7/365 delivering quality education in an organised way.
For QedON, this initiative will provide the main sector players, manufacturers, suppliers and merchants with a one stop shop, the EdHub, using their technology, their industry knowhow and Expertise.
What is a learning partner? And how can they get involved?
A Learning Partner, officially known as a “HAI EdHub Partner” is a manufacturer or a supplier of product(s) to the Hardware, DIY, and Builders Merchants Sector. They are an organisation that recognises the connection between a sector employee understanding their specific product and the ability to present it ahead of its competitors. They are an organisation that may already provide education to the sector in some format.
A potential HAI EdHub Partner needs to make contact with ourselves at HAI or Fong Hayes of QedON. Fong has extensive experience in the Hardware, DIY and Builders Merchants Sector in Ireland with over seven years in both Chadwicks and Woodies combined.
How much work is involved on the supplier’s part?
Every manufacturer and supplier of products has various types of materials, such as safety data sheets, videos, specification sheets, websites, YouTube videos etc. This information is generally public-facing information. The first tranche of work involves gathering all these up together and handing them over to QedON. This will normally take a half day. They will then sift through them and build an outline of a course.
What content can be used and in what format?
Once the organisation is happy with the outline, QedON then moves on to building out the full course content using any internal materials such as PowerPoints, brochures, handouts, links to manufacturers, links to social media posts. Pretty much everything that talks about the specific product can be used. The information is easier to use in a digital format compared to print.
What are the benefits of using eLearning for Manufacturers and Suppliers?
- Courses will be available 24/7/365 to the entire sector.
- Courses can be completed outside working hours, thereby being time effective for all.
- Courses can be completed on a mobile phone/PC and can be downloaded where internet connectivity is a problem.
- Learners are awarded a Digital Credential, which can be displayed on all social media channels.
- Learners will get automatic emails announcing new courses available so that they can complete multiple courses.
- Courses can be used as a “selling tool” to new stockists by company sales representatives.
How can suppliers get involved and become a Learning Partner?
It’s simple, just email me, jim@hardwareassociation.ie or Fong Hayes, fong.hayes@qedon.com. Critical to this whole initiative is that we get support from our manufacturer and supplier colleagues initially to build a substantial base of courses in our EdHub that will be very easily accessible in one place for all to access in bite sized chunks at their preferred time or when opportunities allow.
