A summary of conversation between BHE’s Program Coordinator Carla Harder (CH) and Introduction to HOT2000 Modelling instructor, Donald Fast (DF) from Capital Home Energy. You can watch or read through our conversation with Donald. CH: So, tell me a little bit about what you were doing before you actually...
What a Difference a Decade Makes!
Shawna HendersonAugust 30, 2022
Blue House Energy started out as a thought experiment: how could we deliver standardized training in building science and construction technology to as many people as possible. First, it was Shawna criss-crossing the province, the country, the continent. Ya, right. Single mom away for most of the year? Not gonna...
How to Choose Continuing Education that Works for You
Shawna HendersonSeptember 15, 2020
How to match your online continuing education/professional development to your learning style.
RaterFest! 2016
Shawna HendersonAugust 31, 2016
We're excited. Shawna's leading a session at EnergyLogic's un-conference, RaterFest, this year (Sep 15-18). She gets to talk about her favorite subject: the knowledge gap.Its been a constant thread through the last couple of decades: leaps and bounds in the understanding of building science, leading to a bunch of well-trained...
How to Say What A Job Does, Part 1
Shawna HendersonMarch 08, 2016
One of the best ways to methodically say what the job does is to use a process called Job Task Analysis (JTA). Job Task Analysis (JTA) is not only used to create a training program, but it is also used to create accurate and valid job descriptions. Because JTA defines the required knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) for job performance, it is often the basis of a checklist of mandatory demonstrated requirements for recruiting.
Competency-based Training Levels Explained
Shawna HendersonMarch 01, 2016
Competency-based training is learner‑focused, and lends itself to independent study, allowing learners to study at their own pace, reviewing or practising challenging learning outcomes as they need, and moving quickly through the competencies in which they are more adept. In an earlier post, the four levels of complexity were outlined. These levels measure the student’s depth of knowledge.
What is Competency Training?
Shawna HendersonJanuary 13, 2016
Competency-Based Training is a way to teach concrete skills. Every individual skill or learning outcome (the competency), while part of a larger educational or training goal, is a single learning unit, to be worked on one at a time. The level of competency is determined by the organization requiring the...
Building A Solid Foundation for Tarion’s Competency Requirements
Shawna HendersonJanuary 07, 2016
Meet trainingOntario: a recognized provider of training for Tarion, Ontario’s New Home Warranty administrator. trainingOntario is a collaboration between Blue House Energy, and the Professional Home Builders Institute (PHBI). We have pooled our expertise and know-how to deliver a full suite of on-demand courses for Tarion registrants. As of September...
All Quiet on the Eastern Coast
Shawna HendersonNovember 02, 2015
What have we been doing for the past six months? We've been busy. Too busy. Insanely busy. To busy to even write a blog post. Nose to the grindstone, head down, fingers to the bone. Meeting monster deadlines!!! Developing new courses!!! And we're nearly ready to let 'em loose on...
Bonus Points for Blended Learning
Shawna HendersonMarch 23, 2015
There's a lot of times when face-to-face training is the only thing that will do. Especially in the home performance industry: hands-on is the only way you can really learn to identify and diagnose energy-sucking and moisture-growing situations in a house. But to understand what you need to identify and...
OK, so who should take Building Science Basics?
Shawna HendersonMarch 10, 2015
If you work in home construction and renovation, you know about energy efficiency measures. But do you really know it? If you’re trying to figure out if you need this course or not, take a shot at answering these questions: What happens to the neutral pressure plane when you air...
Training Partners Program Takes Off
Shawna HendersonMarch 09, 2015
We’re very excited about the interest in our Training Partner program that we launched in January 2015! We’re now supplying online training in building science to two very different organizations: a non-profit green building certification organization in Michigan and a home performance training center in California. We’re also talking with...
Our Training just got more affordable
Shawna HendersonJanuary 13, 2015
Hey 2015! Here at Blue House Energy, we've a big thanks to everyone who took our Building Science Basics online course in 2014. We've been praised us to the skies <blush> for the quality of our work. We want to give more folks access to affordable, on-demand training. So, our...
Feedback is Good
Shawna HendersonNovember 27, 2014
It's always gratifying to hear that you're doing good things -- Jon Eakes did an article on web-based learning for trades in the November issue of the Canadian Home Builder Magazine that talks about the long-recognized need for more trades training in building science and energy efficiency measures that relates...
A day in the life...
Shawna HendersonSeptember 18, 2014
So I'm researching the background material for our HVAC course, which of course, includes heat pumps. Ducted, ductless, combination duct/ductless. Air-to-air, ground-to-air, ground-to-water, air-to-water. Integrated space conditioning and DHW. Heat pump water heaters. SEER, HSPF, COP. And what comes across my desk but the summary from Home Energy Pros. And...