03 Jul Operam Academy pilot ISO 19650 training with WMUTC

In April 2019, Operam developed a relationship with West Midlands University Technical College.

The main aim to pilot blended learning for 15 of their students on their Level 3 BTEC in Construction and the Built Environment course.

The particular unit of study was focused on Information Management when using Building Information Modelling (BIM), in accordance with the ISO 19650 series.

A relatively new field for all in Construction and one that provided challenges for the teaching staff.

A careful mapping exercise was conducted by Vice Principal Simon Maxfield.

It went extremely well, with only a few terminology issues which were soon rectified.

The blended learning consisted of formal lectures, assessments, visitor speakers and home learning using Operam Academy.

Students were then encouraged to use the Operam material to support their research and assignment completion.

Operam Academy‘s online lessons and assessments complemented the WMUTC classroom lessons and assessments, a total blended solution.

Lecturer Taku Chirara stated that “I used it to explore ways by which to explain the different topic areas around information management and BIM”.

The students engaged with it in preparation for upcoming lessons. The students commented that it’s reliable, informative, and easy to use.”

Feedback from the students is extremely positive and they welcomed the interactive content and self-assessment features within the Operam Academy platform.

Using the content in advance of lessons allowed a deeper higher quality dialogue in lessons.

In allowing ‘non-expert’ but high-quality teachers to access and deliver the unit successfully, the Operam Academy materials have been a valuable resource and one which I am sure centres delivering the unit would welcome!

It is great that industry CPD platforms can be used with learners in a school environment and the use of the materials strengthens our success in preparing the young people we are teaching for their ongoing career.