eLearning FAQ
About Us FAQs
What makes AdvanceOnline the best choice for online training?
- Quality course content — We are dedicated to creating high-quality courses featuring interactive graphics and solid instructional design to engage and teach our students important safety topics they can apply directly to their job.
- Integration with other systems — Our AICC-compliant courses can be delivered easily over most standard learning management systems, so a company with an LMS in place can painlessly integrate our courseware.
- Flexible pricing — Through our bundled subscription services and volume discounts, we offer flexible pricing programs to meet your needs.
Web-Based Training FAQs
What is Web-based training?
Web-based training is an affordable substitute for, or complement to, traditional CD-ROM, video or classroom-based training. Any computer with access to the Internet or a corporate intranet can access online courses delivered via a Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer. For effective learning to occur, courses must be designed specifically for online delivery. That means incorporating interactive exercises that engage students and enhance the learning process.
Why should I consider Web-based training?
Whether you are training a small group of employees at a single location or thousands of users spread worldwide, users have easy access to anywhere/anytime training, from home or work, day or night. Web-based training can be just as effective as classroom training, and take half the time to complete at a fraction of the price.
What makes Web-based training courses effective?
The material should be easy to read, current, and accurate. It should also be presented in a format specifically designed for self-paced learning on the Web, with interactive exercises, interesting graphics, and an opportunity for students to ask questions. Exams should be offered to gauge the effectiveness of a student's understanding of course material.
How are online courses updated to reflect the latest regulations?
If changes need to be made to Web-based course, this can be quickly and easily done on the server and distributed instantly to users worldwide. Updating materials online saves both time and money over reproducing classroom materials including textbooks (which must be reprinted), videos and tapes (which must be edited and remixed), and CD-ROMs (which must be burned).
What are the advantages of Web-based training?
One of the major advantages of Web-based training is the costs savings over traditional classroom training. Traditional training methods typically involve travel and time off from work, both costly components for employers. Other Web-based training advantages include:
- Examples and illustrations
- Accurate, up-to-date, and timely content
- Multimedia features such as narration and animations
- Interactivity
- Assessment with immediate feedback
- Automated recordkeeping.
How do you know the person who has logged in is not an impostor?
Each student has a unique username and password. This prevents an impostor from taking a course without the authorized user's knowledge. Most online training services require the user to accept a User Agreement, which sets forth the Terms and Conditions for taking Web-based training. This discourages the authorized user from providing an impostor the username and password. Ultimately, however, it is the responsibility of the employer to verify that the person who completed a given course was the authorized user.
Content FAQs
Do AdvanceOnline courses meet my state's OSHA training requirements?
Many states have set up state-level agencies to enforce workplace health and safety regulations and standards. OSHA allows this as long as the state regulations are at least as strict as the Federal OSHA regulations. In practice, many of the state regulations are word-for-word identical with the Federal regulations and there is no conflict. However, in some cases state regulations will be different.
Are the AdvanceOnline courses available in languages other than English?
Not currently. However, we have a schedule in place to translate our courses into other languages, starting with Spanish. Please contact us for further information.
Do students get a certificate of completion when they complete courses?
Yes. After successfully completing a course, including passing the exams and completing any mandatory exercises, a student can view and print a completion certificate.
Note: In the case of OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour courses, you can print out a course completion certificate as soon as you successfully complete the course, but please be aware that it can take up to eight weeks for your OSHA completion card to be processed and issued by OSHA!
Can I customize AdvanceOnline courses?
Not automatically. However, we can work with you to customize our course to meet your specific needs. Check out our Custom Solutions.
Can I create my own courses?
Not by yourself, but we can work with you to capture your content and convert it to high quality custom courses based on sound instructional design. If you would like your course to work in our Learning Management System (LMS), it must be AICC compliant. Please see the Custom Solutions we offer.
Does OSHA allow online training?
OSHA does not have specific regulations regarding online training, but believes computer-based training can serve as a valuable tool in the context of an overall training program.
First and foremost the training should cover topics relevant to workers' assigned duties. There should also be an opportunity to ask questions of a qualified individual in a timely manner which may be by telephone hotline or email. Lastly, employers should audit employee safety-related skills and provide hands-on training if it is necessary.
What is OSHA's view on an instructor's availability during training?
According to OSHA, the employer is ultimately responsible for providing access to a qualified trainer. When Web-based training is used a telephone hotline or email satisfies OSHA's requirement for trainer access, as long as the employee can ask and receive a response in a timely manner. AdvanceOnline provides an OSHA authorized trainer for OSHA courses with completion cards.
Technology FAQs
What are the hardware and software requirements for AdvanceOnline training?
All you need is a computer with an Internet connection and a Web browser. Many of the courses require some free plug-ins that are typically included in your browser already. In addition, you need to allow pop-ups from this site. For more details, please see our System Requirements.
Why should I consider Web-based training?My company has a firewall. Will that affect my ability to use AdvanceOnline courseware?
It might - our courses are delivered over the Internet. While most company firewalls allow at least limited access to the Internet, you should confirm with your company's IT department. Please contact us with questions or concerns.
Taking Courses FAQs
When and where are AdvanceOnline courses offered?
Students can login and take courses anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year from www.advanceonline.com.
How do students enroll in courses?
There are many ways for a student to sign up for a course.
- Click "Buy" on the Catalog page and purchase courses with a credit card.
- Log into the LMS and purchase courses with a credit card.
- Log into the LMS and sign up for courses using a sign-up code provided by an administrator.
- Contact Sales for other purchasing options, such as purchase orders, checks, etc.
- After creating an administrator account with us, a company's training administrator can enroll students directly.
How do students log in?
Students can either self-register or be registered by an Administrator. During registration, each student receives a unique username and password for logging into the system.
How are exam scores calculated and recorded?
Exams consist of objective-based, randomly-generated, multiple-choice questions. Exams are computer-graded and results are available immediately. Results are stored permanently by the Learning Management System (LMS) and available at any time.
Does each screen or function include Help?
Yes. Help is available throughout the Learning Management System (LMS) and courseware. In addition, students can contact AdvanceOnline Customer Service via phone or email. Telephone support is available 9 AM to 6 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday (excluding US holidays).
Phone: 713.952.1100
Toll-free: 866.427.2467
Email: customerservice@advanceonline.com
How much time is required to teach students how to use the system?
The learning curve is minimal, if there is one at all. Our courseware is designed to be intuitive, so first time Internet users can use the system with as much ease as Internet-savvy users. Additionally, each course includes a helpful Quick Start Tutorial that demonstrates navigation, audio functionality, and other features.
How many chances does a student have to complete a course?
Typically, a student has three chances to pass each required exam in a course. All required exams must be successfully completed in order for a student to pass a course.
What is a passing score on a required exam?
Typically, a passing score is 70%.
How long does a student have to complete a course?
In most cases, once started, you have 90 days to complete a course. One common exception is an OSHA Outreach 30-Hour course, where you have 180 days to complete it once started. Check the dates on the page where your assignments are listed to make sure you complete them in time.
What proof does a student have that a course has been completed?
Upon successful course completion, students can view and print a course completion certificate. They can also check back anytime to see their records online.
Can students leave the course and come back later?
Yes. Courses are available for a set period of time after purchase. Our courseware is designed to fit into the student's schedule, with the opportunity to leave and reenter the course as many times as necessary within the given access window. Students can also come back to review the course, even after it has been completed, making it a great reference tool.
Can students be notified of course assignment via e-mail?
Yes. Upon enrollment, students are automatically notified via e-mail.
Who do customers contact if they need help registering or navigating through a course?
Contact AdvanceOnline Customer Service:
Phone: 713.952.1100
Toll-free: 866.427.2467
Email: customerservice@advanceonline.com
What is the AdvanceOnline Privacy Policy?
For detailed information on the AdvanceOnline Privacy Policy, click here.
Learning Management System (LMS) FAQs
What is an LMS?
"LMS" stands for "learning management system." Think of eLearning as an Internet school made up of two parts. The first part is classes on subjects, for example English 1A or History. The second part is the "school administration" which keeps track of which students are in school, their "majors", what classes they are or should be enrolled in, and their report cards. We have automated these tasks with our signature Learning Management System.
In short, the LMS is the Internet school administration - except we won't stick you in detention for chewing gum in class.
Does an LMS work with my HR software (e.g., PeopleSoft, SAP, Baan, etc.)?
Human Resource software typically manages overall employee records. The records may include summary training data, but rarely detailed data. For example, HR software may store records of courses successfully completed by an employee, but not which questions were missed on an exam. Storing training data is an option which may or may not be enabled depending upon how the HR software is configured.
An LMS may work with HR software by providing the summary training data to be recorded. Each combination of an LMS with HR software must be evaluated to determine whether or not they are compatible. Even when precedents and "hookup" manuals exist, getting an LMS to work with HR software requires IT resources.
What standards should an LMS meet?
The LMS should meet emerging interoperability standards that define the structure of Web-based learning content and how it interacts with the LMS. The standards are known by their acronyms and include AICC (Aviation Industry CBT Committee), IMS (Instructional Management Systems), and ADL SCORM (Advanced Distributed Learning Sharable Content Object Reference Model). An LMS that is "standards compliant" can serve up and play courses that are also compliant. Having a standards compliant LMS means that "plug and play" courses will be available from multiple vendors. This provides the greatest flexibility and opportunity to select the appropriate courses for your organization's training program.
If we already have an LMS, can we use your courses?
AdvanceOnline courseware is AICC compliant, so it is deliverable through a third-party LMS. Please contact us for more information.
FAQ Quick Links
- About AdvanceOnline FAQs
- Web-Based Training FAQs
- Content FAQs
- Technology FAQs
- Taking Courses FAQs
- Learning Management System FAQs
AdvanceOnline User Guides
eLearning Resources
American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) - ASTD is the world's leading association of workplace learning and performance professionals.
www.astd.org
Brandon-Hall.com - Provides "independent, objective information about using technology for learning to help you make the right decisions for your organization".
www.brandonhall.com
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