Quarry Diploma online ahead of schedule

IN January 2008 the Institute of Quarrying started work on a project to convert the 67 quarry-specific units used for the Diploma in Quarry Technology run in partnership with the University of Derby.

During the first six months, project manager Mike Smith undertook a pilot project to develop three teaching units (individual subject booklets) into an E-learning format at three different levels of interactive complexity.

Another part of the brief was to map all of the learning resources that would be required for the project and to produce an overall planning schedule. This exercise was completed on schedule at the end of June 2008, when Mike left the Institute to join Corus Consulting.

Following a hiatus during which time some interim E-learning development work was undertaken on a sub-contract basis by staff at the University, Julian Smallshaw joined the Institute in November 2008 in the role of full-time E-learning manager.

From that point on, work on the project raced ahead and conversion of the final units was completed at the end of June this year, well ahead of the original schedule.

Commenting on the achievement, IQ president David Sharman said the Institute was ‘very appreciative’ of the help that it had received from staff at the University, who had guided the project through all the intricacies of the E-learning development process.

Julian Smallshaw also acknowledged the help and support of the many suppliers to the industry and thanked them for contributing animated graphics and video content for inclusion in the learning materials.

For more details about the University of Derby Diploma in Quarry Technolgy, contact Jeff Froggatt, course leader, on tel: (01322) 591711.