What’s Happening in ASHI Edge?

May 1, 2022

ASHI Edge has been live for a few months, and it’s been inspiring to see so many ASHI members taking advantage of the new education platform. We are constantly adding new courses, so if you haven’t taken one yet, check it out today on the ASHI Edge.

In the February 2022 issue of the Reporter, I introduced the ASHI Edge, covering an overview of the platform’s new features and exploring the educational philosophy driving the education department forward. For this article, I reached out to Carrie Maddox, one of ASHI’s instructional designers who works as part of the team developing the ASHI Edge courses. We spoke about the processes that go into course creation and how they take advantage of the new platform’s features to create engaging content. Here’s what I learned:

Chris Karczewski: To start, tell me a bit about the team who creates these courses for the ASHI Edge.

Carrie Maddox: Within the education department, we have a course creation team. Angela Hall and I are the instructional designers taking the lead on developing the courses on the ASHI Edge. We call upon the other education department members and outside Subject Matter Experts (SME) as needed throughout the process.

Every course development process is different, but generally it begins with Angela taking information from previous learning material like a two-hour video or PowerPoint slide deck and distilling the content into material better suited for the adult learner. With the baseline of the course and content built out, she passes it over to me to bolster certain sections and add in additional learning activities to round out the course and highlight specific concepts within the content.

CK: What is an SME, and what’s their role in course development?

CM: Typically, the title of Subject Matter Expert (SME) refers to someone who possesses unique expertise on a particular subject and has vast experience in their field. They are often called upon to leverage and share their knowledge across various applications.

With the ASHI Edge and course development process, the SMEs are asked to do various tasks to verify the information and provide additional insight into the course. Once a course is nearly complete, the SME is asked to review the course and confirm that the content is technically correct. Sometimes they are contacted earlier in the process to provide supplemental materials such as images, diagrams, etc., to help illustrate a lesson in the course. The input they provide to the course is invaluable to ensure quality.

CK: How do these new courses differ from what we’ve seen in the past on the ASHI Online Learning Center (AOLC)?

CM: On the AOLC, most were straightforward one-to two-hour courses featuring video or presentation recordings with a brief quiz at the end. With the ASHI Edge, the goal for these new courses is to further enhance the learner’s ability to take away key elements needed in the home inspection field. The critical factor that distinguishes the ASHI Edge courses from the AOLC is the increased interactivity with learners. The increased interactivity is made possible by new features available on the ASHI Edge, like:

  • Organizational features that make the content more digestible and approachable. One example is the “Click in Pictures” feature that has pulsing dots throughout the image where the learner can click the dot to see/learn more about a characteristic of the original image. Additionally, the courses feature charts and accordions/tabs to break up information and display content effectively to help the learner avoid getting overwhelmed.
  • Activity-based features serve as knowledge checks to apply the concepts and reinforce the lessons. These come in a wide variety, including scenarios, matching exercises, sorting, and flash cards. The idea behind these activities is pretty
    self-explanatory, and we encourage members to go into the courses to experience for themselves firsthand.

CK: How do these interactive features improve the learner’s retention?

CM: Simply put, participation in a course helps learners retain the information they have learned. Strong retention is essential to pass the course quiz at the end of the module, and so the home inspectors can call upon this information later, such as during their inspection or writing their reports. In a profession like home inspection, where you rely on your expertise to conduct your inspections, retaining information is paramount. We hope to increase the retention and eventual application for all those who take courses on the ASHI Edge with these features.

CK: Are there any other tools learners can utilize that help bolster their retention?

CM: Included in each of these courses, the learner will have access to a notes guide. The idea behind this guide is to print out a paper copy to follow alongside the course. The guide includes an outline of the course with space to take notes on paper to solidify concepts and information from the lesson.

These notes allow the learner to individualize the instruction based on what they have encountered or need to remember. The notes guide also includes many diagrams seen in the course to notate any items they would like to study or use for future inspections. Notes are an excellent way for a learner to go back and recall what they learned in the course or review the information as they find they need it in a future inspection.

CK: Looking ahead, what are some things you would like to see in the courses?

CM: We would like our ASHI members to let us know what they would like to see in a course as far as topics go. Is there a specific area where you would like to see more in-depth training? Are there new items now included in home inspections that you need to know more about? We would love to get feedback to better integrate what members want to see and learn in future courses.

We would like to add interactivity in each course to help the learner engage in the learning process. This interactivity allows learners to practice what they have learned as they move through each lesson. As we’ve covered in this interview, the key to the ASHI Edge is interactivity, so it would be great to see that through all the courses. We’re already seeing a great response from the new courses that focus on these increased interactivities, and we hope to add this interactivity to all courses.

CK: What’s next for the ASHI Edge?

CM: Well, we just released a new, interactive plumbing course—Water Conditioning, Recirculation, and Movement; Fuel Storage and Piping. Home inspectors can earn three free CE while adding to their knowledge of water conditioning and recirculation, water heater types, fuel tanks, and more. There are also courses focused on the electrical system and heating system releasing shortly. Members can rest assured that there are many more courses on the way. As you know, there are always more topics to include in home inspection training!


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In this Issue

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An Inspector’s Experience with Technical Report Writing

Suppose you have the passion to excel in the profession of home inspection. In that case, the only way to express your professionalism and competence is by learning how to craft first-class inspection reports. If you cannot communicate to your clients, homeowners, builders, repair contractors, attorneys, agents, and so forth what you’ve observed, what you think, and why you think it, you can never become a competent inspector.

Subtle Ways to Impress on A Home Inspection

It’s amazing what we get complimented on during a home inspection. We go to great lengths to improve our process, and in many cases things go unnoticed. I thought it would be fun to write an article on some small steps I do that do get noticed. Anyone using a telescoping ladder can probably relate to this phenomenon, as almost every time you bring it out, people are amazed. “That’s an amazing ladder; how cool,” is a phrase I have heard many times just using my everyday ladder.

Harry Morrell on His Journey Through ASHI and the Keys to Great Business

Harry Morrell was a teenager when he got started in the building and construction industry. “My first job in construction was as a roofer. I lied about my age when I was in high school and got onto one of the biggest roofing companies in Miami, Florida at the time,” he said. “I just loved construction.”

Postcards From The Field

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