Exhibitions

We frequently hold exhibitions throughout the UK. These are invaluable to us as we are always looking for new ways to help our clients in their educational needs, as well as continuously looking for new materials and products to enhance our service.

Articles

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Horses For Courses by Sharon Coleman M.I.I.T.T.

E-learning may not suit everyone but if it does complement your lifestyle and personality it can accelerate you towards the finishing post.

Like it or not, more and more aspects of our day to day lives are being put online. Thousands of teenagers have already piloted online Sats tests with the view to them becoming compulsory in 2008, and so the e-learning age is truly upon us. As if our relationship with the PC wasn’t intense enough, with shopping, referencing, communicating and playing games common practice in many homes, can this face-less, digital medium also offer any benefits to the learner? That really depends…

Jane, 47, married, two children, part-time Classroom Assistant

Sensibly, Jane ensured the course she purchased was written by an accredited training provider and has found that e-learning suits her perfectly. She studies at home at times that fit in with her busy schedule and she works at her own pace. She can study safe in the knowledge that the information she is receiving is validated and she can constantly monitor her own progress and revisit any part of the course as often as necessary. She uses the Student Discussion Forum to share ideas with other students, where she regularly chats with George.

George, 24, single, trainee Accountant

Looking for a career change, George is in a rush! He wants to obtain his qualification as quickly as possible and therefore did not want to wait until the next College enrolment to begin. He is self-motivated and only occasionally needs the support of his e-tutor. He particularly enjoys the immediacy of the e-learning environment - he has no time to waste waiting to be told if he has passed or failed! He is living proof to back the recent research by Washington University, which found testing yourself on what you have just learnt is a much better way of embedding the facts into your brain than going over the facts again. With e-learning, George has found the ability to do both!

Monica, 21, single, two part-time jobs

Monica is a friendly, bubbly, gregarious girl who flits from one job to another. She signed up for an e-learning course when she was between jobs, thinking that studying from home would be ideal, but she didn’t progress far. Even with the support of her e-tutor she struggled to stay focused, found the experience lonely, and lacked the self-motivation required for this form of learning. She gave up the e-learning and is now enjoying her chosen subject part-time at her local College.

Ensure you select the right course at the right time for YOU

Jane, George and Monica are fictitious examples of the range of learners, each with differing needs and abilities. Each person is an individual and so no one method of learning can possibly claim to meet everyone’s needs all of the time. E-learning does, however, provide the means for you to dictate where and when you learn. When written well, the information is presented in a manner that aids learning and retention, maintains your interest and interaction, and the technical delivery of the course should be simple so as not to frustrate or distract. Even with e-tutor support and Student Discussion Forums, the social side of learning may be missed, and this lack of personal interaction coupled with the requirement for self-motivation does not suit all personalities. However, if it does suit, you can begin the course whenever you wish, take your time or fast track, and the tutorial you receive does not depend on how the tutor performs on the day. You can constantly monitor your progress, use your e-tutor as required, and feel the personal satisfaction as you progress comfortably towards your finishing post to be presented with that valuable qualification.

About the Author
Sharon Coleman M.I.I.T.T., Director of Essential Training Solutions.
ETS provides self-study revision/reference materials in anatomy & physiology, reflexology and aromatherapy and will be offering an online VTCT Level 3 Anatomy & Physiology course from 1st September.
Tel: 01604 879100 Web: www.essential-training.co.uk

Monitoring Square Eyes by Sharon Coleman M.I.I.T.T.

The swings in the playground sway only from the momentum of the wind. No cars are being cleaned and the superstores are strangely quiet. Inside the typical family is in rumpus over who gets to use the computer. Little Billy wants to e-mail his friend, his sister needs to find out about the life cycle of a mosquito, Dad is keen to continue his research to support his Open University degree and Mum is desperate to do the grocery shop so she can serve food to the family tomorrow. The power of Information Technology is changing our lives. But should we question what is presented to us on the screen? Yes, we should…

The World Wide Web undoubtedly provides a wealth of information but who provides the content? How easy is it to access and how effectively is it displayed? How can we assess its validity and accuracy and what are its true strengths?

Technology has developed so rapidly over the last decade that it now seems to be driving us rather than being used as a tool. We work around it. Much of the information presented is poorly written and badly displayed. Many procedures are over complicated and screens are presented with insufficient instructions. Despite this we continue to desire interactive materials in a huge variety of subjects, but now there are insufficient people skilled in screen delivery to keep up with the demand. Therefore, subject matter experts and computer technicians are often tasked with producing online materials for information or e-learning purposes. The subject matter experts can be so bogged down with their superior level of understanding that they may not be best placed to write down to the required level without assuming knowledge. The computer technicians, so keen to demonstrate their skills, often just can’t help themselves and tend to judge the quality of the screen by the complexity of the coding and the number of visual gimmicks that can be crammed in! The subject matter expert and the computer technician each have a role, but another facet is required for online delivery - the ability to successfully connect the content to the user via a computer. Delivering information on a screen is not the same as putting words on paper. The principle and the skills required are completely different. The monitor is not an ideal medium for reading. It is more stressful on the eyes than reading from paper, particularly if the screen is filled with scrolling text, flashing adverts, a mixture of colours and fonts, with the ‘feature presentation’ hidden somewhere in the middle! If the purpose is simply to read, then old-fashioned paper is the best medium. It is acceptable to fill paper with text from top left to bottom right but this is not effective on a screen. Of course delivering information electronically to the masses is cheaper, faster and in some ways easier but it needs to facilitate effective communication too. To compensate for the monitor not being an ideal medium to read from, it has to give more. And it can. Designed and structured correctly, electronic documents can be better than paper, with faster links to the required topics. The textual information can also be supported and livened with media, but not just for the sake of it otherwise, rather than adding value, the media will simply become a colourful distraction and the effectiveness of the communication will be diminished.

Effective communication is also vital for e-learning. There are many e-learning packages available and more and more are being used either to support or substitute conventional classroom sessions. There are many advantages to e-learning: it is available anywhere and at any time; students can work at their own pace; all learners receive the same information and assessments; feedback to assessments is immediate and audio, video and graphics can be used to enhance the content. E-learning has the potential to be a fantastic, interactive educational experience but the possibility for it to be a disaster is high. To be successful, e-learning first needs the content to be validated. The content then needs to be structured to meet the needs of the audience, and displayed using methods that have been shown to maximize learning and retention. The learning must be delivered though a user-friendly interface to ensure that the learner’s time is spent focusing on the content, not the functionality. Being able to design and conduct a classroom session does not give one the skills to ‘transfer’ it to the screen. The principles are very different. There is no face to read. No chance to re-phrase if the point isn’t adequately made the first time, indeed there is absolutely no room for ambiguity. The student is not personally known, although ensuring that the content is accurately targeted is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately some e-learning does not hit the mark and leaves the user confused, frustrated and despondent. Many other packages, whilst graphically excellent, fail to meet the learning objectives and some don’t seem to have them!

So don’t stand for it! Make Information Technology work for you. Don’t believe all you read, check out the source of the information. If the processes you have to go through are complicated, ask yourself if there is an easier way. Before you buy into e-learning, carefully consider your requirements. Do you want information to be provided just for reference or do you have a need to learn the information and demonstrate your understanding? Preview packages to ensure your needs will be met and in all cases ensure that the content is validated and the learning is professionally designed for screen delivery.

The swings in the playground sway only from the momentum of the wind. No cars are being cleaned and the superstores are strangely quiet. Inside Billy, his sister and parents all have square eyes. Dad looks up the definition of ‘square’. He discovers that as well as describing an equilateral rectangle, ‘square’ means fair and honest, properly arranged and in good order. Perhaps if the screens were, their eyes wouldn’t be.

About the Author

Sharon Coleman M.I.I.T.T. started designing and implementing Computer Based Training (CBT) in 1984. She was awarded Full Membership status of the prestigious Institute of IT Training in May 2000, in recognition of training achievements and experience over the previous 16 years. Having written CBT in a variety of market sectors including Banking and Finance, Insurance, Retail, Telecommunications, Paper and Print, Transport and Utilities, she is presently a Director of Essential Training Solutions Ltd.

C.B.T. - Computer Based Training or Completely Baffling Technology? by Sharon Coleman M.I.I.T.T.

Complementary therapies completely taught and tested via a computer. Could this ever be successfully achieved - of course not! The successful practice of complementary therapies is largely dependent on hands-on skills and personal interaction. Despite a huge leap forward in technology over the last decade, and it often being sold in the media as the answer to all our problems, it can rarely be used as the total solution. However, used in the correct manner for suitable purposes, computer based training (CBT) has much to offer us all.

You could be forgiven at this point for still being baffled and wondering, what is computer based training? Is it teaching people how to use computers? Yes, sometimes. But its capabilities extend far beyond that. It is teaching by using the computer as the medium for learning. So, rather than being in a classroom situation, the lesson is presented via the computer. Sounds rather boring doesn't it? But nothing could be further from the truth. Quality computer based training is interactive. The text, written by Training Professionals with their students' needs clearly in focus, is well written, unambiguous, validated and evaluated. The information is appropriately supported by colourful graphics, audio and video. Questions are presented to test understanding and maintain interaction, and immediate feedback is generated by the response. External tasks can even be set that require an assignment to be completed and the results reported back. Links can be made to informative web sites and, where appropriate, e-mail technology can enable students to communicate with each other and have access to an online tutor.

CBT is currently being used by Essential Training Solutions to provide interactive revision/reference packages, on CD ROM, that cover the theory of aromatherapy and reflexology. They have been written to support students of these therapies with their conventional studies and to act as comprehensive reference tools for qualified practitioners. An anatomy & physiology CD ROM is also available. All products are being received extremely well by students, tutors and practitioners, are up and running in many college libraries, and have also been purchased by many students training abroad.

So, CBT is infiltrating the world of complementary therapies! Even in this, historically, non-technical market, people are becoming aware of the advantages of this method of learning. One of the most obvious advantages is that CBT is more visually stimulating than trawling through a book. It is colourful, lively and the information is quick and simple to access. The self-testing aspect immediately identifies strengths and so boosts confidence. It also identifies any weaknesses - before the examiner does!

But what does the future hold? This is the 21st century, expectations are higher than ever before and people want "stuff"! They also demand that this "stuff" is delivered at a time that suits their individual, frantic schedules. Major stores now offer 24-hour shopping. If they do dare to close there is always the Internet and television shopping to fall back on for those emergency purchases. Convenience, convenience, convenience! Perhaps, one day, these market pressures will influence training in Complementary Therapies and students will demand more flexible, individual ways of learning. Maybe in the future CBT will be referred to fondly as Convenience Based Training! Perhaps, one day, CBT will be used to teach the theoretical aspects of the therapy, conveniently delivered to the student's home, where they can learn in their own time and at their own pace, before being brought to a Centre of Excellence for conventional tuition in the practical aspects. Should this occur, the advantages could exceed pure convenience. CBT ensures that each student receives the same, validated message. The accrediting, governing body can be assured that the level of information passed on to each student is identical. Students would also be tested and judged using unequivocal, defined criteria, so allowing for a true comparison of achievement. Precious tutor time can be spent with groups of students, proven to have a similar level of knowledge, to concentrate on the practicalities of developing a professional practitioner capable of successfully representing their chosen therapy when they leave the educational environment.

Complementary therapies completely taught and tested via a computer. Could this ever be successfully achieved - of course not! However, CBT is a tool which, used in the correct manner for suitable purposes, could successfully make formalized training more convenient, accessible and homogeneous. A combination of accurate, standardized information, fair testing and quality practical experiences could be a recipe for success. Was Confucius arguing the case for CBT, backed up with solid practical tuition, when he said; "I hear and forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."

About the Author

Sharon Coleman M.I.I.T.T. started designing and implementing Computer Based Training in 1984. She was awarded Full Membership status of the prestigious Institute of IT Training in May 2000, in recognition of training achievements and experience over the previous 16 years. Presently a Director of Essential Training Solutions Ltd., Sharon personally designs, authors and creates all the computer based training and reference material that the company produces.

Computer Technology and the Practitioner by Sharon Coleman M.I.I.T.T.

There perhaps was a time when computer technology was a million miles away from the world of complementary healthcare. However, in the 21st Century, basic computer skills are becoming as essential as the ability to use the telephone. This article examines how, love it or hate it, computer technology can benefit the Complementary Healthcare Practitioner.

The first mechanical computer, conceived by Charles Babbage in 1835, never went beyond the design stage. In 1943 Thomas Flowers build Colossus, the first electronic computer, but it took until 1971 before the first personal computer (PC) was launched. However, by 1988 18% of homes in Great Britain had a home computer.1 Suddenly, affordable PC's were being purchased with high expectations but with comparatively few home uses. They were predominantly used for word processing and desktop publishing. These fundamental uses can now be of great benefit to the Complementary Healthcare Practitioner. Letterheads, compliment slips, business cards, case history documents, appointment cards and other business stationery can be easily created. One doesn't have to be a graphic designer or a computer whiz to produce these either. Most good desktop publishing software includes clip art (a selection of ready-made graphics) and task wizards (step by step instructions) to ensure that creating artwork and stationery is a fairly painless experience. With the size of the ROM (read only memory) included in the average PC steadily increasing, massive quantities of information can be stored. Information can be held in single files or structured in a database. Databases can be regarded as flexible filing cabinets into which information can be arranged for easy access. Building a client database enables the Practitioner to quickly access all data held for a specific client, list clients with shared characteristics, or selectively use the information to compile targeted mailing lists. It is important to remember that, with few exceptions, if personal data is held on computer, registration with the Data Protection Registrar (telephone 01625 545700) is a legal requirement under the Data Protection Act 1984.

By 1998-99 the proportion of households with a home computer had almost doubled from that of 1988 to 34%.2 E-mail (electronic mail sent from one computer to another) and the Internet (a network of global computers capable of accessing each other by telephone and satellite links) were largely responsible for this revolution in home computing. By December 1998, 2.2 million households in the UK (9%) had access to the Internet.3 This rose to 5.1 million (20%) by the end of 1999 and took a further steep jump to 7.8 million (30%) by September 2000.4 With an estimated 250 million users worldwide by 2005, 5 global communication is literally a mouse click away! E-mail is rapidly becoming a favoured method of communication due to its speed, ease of use, low cost, convenience and flexibility.6 As well as being able to send and receive messages, the amount of information accessible on the World Wide Web is nothing short of extraordinary. It is, arguably, the largest and most diverse information resource in the world today. For the Practitioner, the Internet facilitates immediate access to detailed information about the full range of complementary and alternative therapies available, current research papers, training institutions and qualified therapists. Foxed by a client's rare disorder? Look it up on the web! However, don't believe all you read. Like any source of information its origin needs to be authenticated. It is also useful to be able to refer clients to self-help web sites, where they can perhaps find out more about their condition, suggested therapy or treatment.

The Internet is not simply about accessing existing information, it is also about contributing to it. With the design and hosting of simple web pages now competitively priced, Practitioners can utilize their own web space to explain and advertise their own therapies. This can create a significant corporate image and reduce time spent on the telephone explaining the services provided. Small individual sites can be linked to larger corporate developments, often for no charge. These larger sites, such as those provided by the Internet Health Library and Healthy Pages, allow the potential client to search for a qualified therapist in their local area. Being linked to such a site has obvious marketing benefits. Computers are also revolutionizing the way in which we learn. Gone are the days of blackboards and chalk, the 21st Century offers many forms of computer based learning. Using the computer as the medium allows the developer to create interactive learning experiences for the student. To the unadulterated, computer based learning may sound rather dreary - but nothing could be further from the truth. The text in good quality, interactive programs is written by Educational or Training Professionals with their students' needs clearly in focus. It is well written, unambiguous and validated. The information is appropriately supported by colourful graphics, audio, video and simulations. Questions are presented to test understanding and maintain interaction, and immediate feedback is generated by the student's response. External tasks can be set that require an assignment to be completed and the results reported back. Links can be made to informative web sites and, where appropriate, e-mail technology can enable students to communicate with each other and have access to an online tutor. Computer based learning has been shown to increase retention compared to conventional classroom training methods 7 and it can be taken at a convenient time in the comfort of one's home. So, whether the learning package is delivered via the Internet or runs from a CD ROM, the powerful multimedia aspects of computer technology can be used to great educational benefit. There are many computer-based educational opportunities available to the Complementary Healthcare Practitioner. CD ROMs can be purchased from High Street stores on subjects as diverse as business skills and anatomy and physiology. Vocational training web sites offer a wide range of occupational training. For higher education, virtual universities are being set up to offer web-enabled distance learning.

Needless to say, it's not all good news. Computer use has been associated with health problems such as stress, repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, back problems and eyestrain. The effect of over-exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted from the monitor has also been investigated with regard to conditions such as cancer, miscarriage, skin rashes and cataracts. You may believe that the Complementary Healthcare Practitioner spends sufficient time treating clients suffering from many of these conditions without adding to the problem! However, sensible preventative measures can help to minimize any risks. For example, take frequent, regular breaks from the computer, make sure the monitor is positioned in a comfortable viewing location that is conducive to good posture, use an ergonomically designed keyboard and sit on a supportive, adjustable chair. There may also be psychological pitfalls. The concept of computer technology may not fit in with many conventional views of complementary healthcare. The client's expectation of a relaxing, peaceful consultation and treatment probably does not include the vision of a computer workstation. Taking a case history at the computer, for example, may be seen to be impersonal and too rigid to adequately allow for the diversity of information required to complete the holistic picture. However computer technology is nothing more than a tool. Like any one tool, it cannot fulfill every task but is there to be used to meet your own personal requirements. Bear this in mind when shopping for a PC. Decide how you want technology to work for you and then purchase the appropriate hardware (physical components of the PC) and software (programs). It is unlikely that, unless you intend to engage in video editing or other memory intensive procedures, you will need to purchase a top of the range machine. A mid-range PC should be able to perform all of the functions mentioned above.

Computer technology is here to stay. Its existing functions are rapidly being absorbed into everyday life. With the technological advances that have been made over the last decade one can only wonder what the future will bring. Love it or hate it, can you live without it?

References

1. General Household Survey, Office for National Statistics, 2000. 2. General Household Survey, Office for National Statistics, 2000. 3. Internet Access Report (Family Expenditure Survey), Office for National Statistics, 2000. 4. Internet Access Report (Family Expenditure Survey), Office for National Statistics, 2000. 5. MORI, July 1999. 6. Naomi Langford-Wood and Brain Salter. Successful Use of E-mail in a Week. Hodder & Stoughton. London. 1999. 7. Chen-Lin Kulik, James Kulik, and Barbara Shwalb. Effectiveness of Computer-Based Adult Education: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Computing Research 2: 235-252. 1986.

Further Reading

Laurel Alexander. Education & Training on the Internet. Internet Handbooks. Plymouth. 2000. John Selby. How to Search the World Wide Web Efficiently. Bernard Babani (publishing) Ltd. London. 1998. Sarah Wilkinson. Medicine & Health on the Internet. Internet Handbooks. Plymouth. 2000. Naomi Langford-Wood and Brain Salter. Successful Use of E-mail in a Week. Hodder & Stoughton. London. 1999. Joanna Bawa. The Computer User's Health Handbook. Souvenir Press. London. 1994.

About the Author

Sharon Coleman M.I.I.T.T. started designing and implementing Computer Based Training in 1984. She was awarded Full Membership status of the prestigious Institute of IT Training in May 2000, in recognition of training achievements and experience over the previous 16 years. Presently a Director of Essential Training Solutions Ltd., Sharon personally designs, authors and creates all the computer based training and reference material that the company produces.

 

Press Releases

Client Management System Upgraded

The Client Management System (CMS) developed by Essential Training Solutions (ETS) has been upgraded to include an array of exciting new features. The hundreds of Practitioners already using CMS to store clients’ personal, medical and treatment details have contributed to this version by using ETS’s feedback system.

By Practitioners for Practitioners

Many of the suggestions put forward by enthusiastic users have been incorporated into Version 2 of this flexible software. In addition to the functionality that has always made CMS an invaluable tool for storing client records and assisting in the day to day running of the business, CMS now provides much more.

Calendar functionality

No more need for a diary, the Calendar function in CMS allows appointments and any other events to be scheduled. It will of course immediately notify of any time conflicts, and the schedule for any day or date range can be viewed and printed.

Extra screens

CMS now has additional screens to allow even more data to be stored. With many free-format input areas, CMS is sufficiently flexible to cater for virtually any therapy. External files can also be linked to the client’s record to keep all associated documentation organised and easily accessible.

Communication

A business would be nothing without communication. At the click of a button a client can be e-mailed, a letter format produced, or a consent form (that can of course be tailored) printed.

Business reports

CMS can generate reports such as a full client listing, an individual’s treatment record, a list of clients who have or have not received a treatment within a specified number of days, payments received and payments pending.

More features, same price

Despite all the extras, CMS is still just £69.95. Oh, and thanks to the Practitioner who pointed out that CMS could also be used to print postcard and Christmas card address labels – great idea!

The way forward

For full details and screen shots go to CMS or contact ETS. Be a part of the next generation.