Learning-management system steers AA driving school in right direction

Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 45, Issue 5

The Automobile Association driving school has launched an online learning system to make its driving instructor training more flexible and targeted to individual needs.

Developed by the learning and talent-management provider Kallidus, the system enables driving instructor training pupils to manage their own learning through a secure website.

The modular system means pupils are able to supplement the one-to-one practical tuition they receive with an AA trainer.

Until now, the pupils would have used a workbook to study for these elements of their syllabus. Now the training is more interactive and pupils are able to take more control over how they tackle the modules.

Gill Balshaw, Head of Learning and Development at the AA driving school, said:“Many people come to driving instruction as a career-change and carry on working while they complete their training. Others need to fit the training around the demands of a family. Whatever their situation, we want to make sure that training to become a driving instructor with us is logistically possible. For that to happen we need a flexible way of teaching.

“The new system also gives us more scope to offer a blended way of learning – so we are training people to become small-business owners and not just driving instructors. We are positive that this new system will make training with us an even better experience”.

Rob Caul, Kallidus Chief Executive, said: “Our learning-management system,combined with bespoke e-learning modules, offers more flexibility to instructors and enables greater control over their learning now and in the future. Training today is all about creating an engaging learning experience and the AA driving school is leading the way in doing this with its new online system”.

By placing some of the training modules online, the AA driving school is also able to monitor better how pupils are progressing through their training. This means anyone who is struggling with a certain area is picked up sooner and given extra help.

Anyone who goes on to take out an AA driving school franchise is able to continue using the website after they have passed their examinations as a way of managing their continuing professional development.