National Center for Healthy Housing

Not everyone needs or wants a classroom to understand how and why to comply with the Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule. Some want to learn at their own pace and on their own time, especially when it involves a complicated topic like EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. For these students, an online or E-learning format may be the best choice.

On January 14, 2010, EPA approved [Click here for the EPA approval letter] NCHH to deliver the Certified Lead Renovator Course in an E-learning format using the Learning Management System from the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA). NCHH was the first training provider approved by EPA to deliver the course in the E-learning format. Since then, NCHH has also been approved to deliver the course using the LMS from the Oregon Home Builders Association (OHBA).

In essence, the E-learning option allows the student to reduce the classroom/hands-on time commitment from eight hours to four.

NCHH sees the E-learning option as an important means of reaching renovators who want to cut the in-person portion of the class from eight hours to four hours and who want to learn in a self-paced approach. Therefore, NCHH will help any other EPA-approved training provider who wants to deliver the course in an E-learning format. Click here for a copy of NCHH's application to EPA that can serve as a starting point.  Contact NCHH's Jessica Lucas for more assistance or a version of the application in Word.

It took just over two months for NCHH to receive EPA approval to deliver E-learning. Though the application was complete, it took more than four weeks for EPA's contractor to conduct the completeness review and get it to EPA regional office staff. New applicants may wait six weeks or more for EPA approval. 

About EPA's E-Learning Option

On September 30, 2009, EPA provided guidance for Certified Renovator training providers seeking to offer online training to allow students to substitute up to 5.5 hours of class time for E-leaning that meets EPA's standards.  EPA published a model E-learning curriculum and set standards for the Learning Management System (LMS) that documents and tracks student participation. Note that EPA does not require that the LMS demonstrate the student spent 5.5 hours online--only that the student reviewed the entire course and passed the knowledge checks and final test.

The E-learning program provides the following benefits:

NCHH's Approach to E-Learning

NCHH is approved to deliver the E-learning using the Learning Management Systems from both the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) and the Oregon Home Builders Association (OHBA).

EPA required only two hours of hands-on training and a course test with no review of the topics for a total of 2.5 hours. NCHH determined that it consistently needed between 2.5 and 3 hours to complete the hands-on training and that it needed to include 0.5 to 1 hours of course review. Therefore, NCHH's classroom and hands-on portion of the E-learning option was four hours long.

NCHH requested approval to deliver the hands-on activities with a ratio of no more than nine students to each instructor, using the EMI model. In the EMI model, the instructor supervises three groups of three students.  The instructor keeps the groups in sync by periodically signing off on their hands-on activities. This approach more fully engages all of the students in the hands-on activities than EPA's model of six to a group.  NCHH's approach requires more supplies and equipment but also allows an instructor to handle 50% more students in a group. 

Under NCHH's proposal, instructors would be able to deliver:

Instructors could combine the morning and the afternoon sessions from noon to 1:00 and deliver a 30-minute course review and the 30-minute course test together. With class sizes limited to 25 people, their room would need to handle 50 people.

A detailed schedule for each follows below.

Alternative A: Standard Scenario (Typically offered in the morning)

                                        
Alternative B: Optional Afternoon Scenario

Arranging for a 4-hour In-Person Portion of Training:
The in-person portion of the course in the e-learning option is different that the 8-hour standard course. NCHH's principal instructors will deliver the 4-hour in-person portion of the training when there are sufficient people in their community to offer the course. Therefore, you will need to make arrangements with NCHH's principal instructors. Contact them or check with NCHH's Chris Bloom.

About EPA's E-Learning Option
About NCHH's Approach to E-Learning
NCHH's E-Learning Approval Letter from EPA
Arranging for the Four-Hour In-Person Portion of Training
NCHH's Assistance to Other Training Providers