Shawna wrote about the value of continuing education. The article was featured in Tarion's latest 'Breaking Ground newsletter. Posted here for all to read! Competency training and continuing education/professional development are the things that fulfill Blue House Energy's mission to help build industry capacity. Gaps in training and knowledge have...
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New ANSI Standard for Blower Door Testing in the US
Shawna HendersonApril 29, 2016
Mark Butler posted this article by Rick Karg (Residential Energy Dynamics) in the RESNET group on LinkedIn -- I thought it might be helpful to spread it around a little further. Here's the article:ANSI 380 -2016 Rick notes that there are some changes and improvements -- most sound positive, clarification...
New Ontario Builders: Deadlines Are Sneaking Up!
Shawna HendersonApril 21, 2016
If you are a new builder/vendor who registered with Tarion after September 2015, your registration renewal is based on proving you have completed competency training in 7 areas. If you haven't started on this educational process, your time is running out! The competencies must be achieved by their annual renewal...
7 Areas of Business All Builders Need to be Successful
Shawna HendersonMarch 24, 2016
Builders need to be good on the tools. But they also need to know about construction technology and building science, building codes, have a certain level of business savvy, know about project management, the legal issues that affect their business, and they also need to cultivate mad customer service skillz....
The Three Videos BC Builders Need to Watch!
Shawna HendersonMarch 23, 2016
As of October 2015, the HPO beefed up the licensing process for builders. New applicants must meet certain competency requirements and existing builders will have to hit a level of continuing professional development (CPD) credits to maintain their good standing. The new requirements are being phased in over a 15...
Net Zero Energy Labelling Program in Canada
Shawna HendersonMarch 22, 2016
CHBA has created a Net Zero Energy (NZE) label for builders and renovators who are stepping up their game to NZE levels. To make it happen, you need training, right? But training costs $$ to develop and deliver. So 3 of the CHBA NZE Housing Council sponsor members (Owens Corning,...
Tags: Canada, CHBA, Net Zero Energy, NZE Label
How To Say What A Job Does, Part 2
Shawna HendersonMarch 15, 2016
Job Task Analysis can be a formidable challenge. It’s about breaking down a job into tasks and then analyzing them. How do you best say what a job does? There needs to be method, or it ends up in madness. Here’s a simplified version of the process for ‘just in time’ or ‘on the job’ training
How much of a building science wonk is BHE CEO Shawna?
Shawna HendersonMarch 09, 20161 comment
When they think you don't know but you know Got to love Marisa Tomei Posted by Hardcore Italians on Wednesday, March 2, 2016
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...
Exploring the Solterre Concept Cottage
Shawna HendersonJune 10, 2015
Here's an article that was just published in Home Energy Magazine (July/August 2015). To read the whole article, you must have an online subscription. It's about a very cool project that our colleagues Jennifer Corson and Keith Robertson at Solterre Design designed and built to test drive a range...
Learning Platform Needs - what do you want?
Shawna HendersonMay 06, 2015
We're expanding our online learning services to include: Learning management system (LMS) implementation and management Integration of e-commerce Development of new content and conversion of face-to-face content for online delivery To make sure this fits with your needs, we've developed a short, anonymous online survey. Please take 5 minutes (or...