Training Materials and Resources

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Isaac Savage on February 3, 2011 at 10:14am

We purchased a HERS curriculum, but have developed our own BPI and HVAC curriculum.

Permalink Reply by Rick Hall on February 7, 2011 at 3:36pm

I developed ours for the college. If you look at the BPI  knowledge task list you can get an idea of what to teach.

Permalink Reply by Graeme Nix on February 7, 2011 at 4:14pm

Since both of you put together some of your own materials, I'd be interested to know if it was from your own knowledge, or if there are resources you consulted (it sounds like the BPI task list would cover teaching points, but not necessarily the actual content).

 

If a manufacturer (like myself) was able to make videos, Powerpoint, and other teaching material available, is that a resource you would find useful? Is it something you'd want to have access to?

Permalink Reply by Matthew Redmond on March 11, 2011 at 7:19pm

Hi Graeme, My organization, NYSWDA, has developed 90 percent of our training curriculum specific to our climate and housing stock. We train multiple BPI certifications along with many other EE disciplines from installer to advanced zonal pressure diagnostics. All my trainers are subject matter experts and have attended training in curriculum development and training skills development. We work on a 60/40 split- 60 percent classroom/40 percent hands on labs with a 6 to 1 trainer/student ratio during the lab sessions. I agree with you that there is alot of substandard training materials out there but my feeling is that those organizations producing this crap won't be around long. After ARRA ends in March 2012 there will be much less federal money available and the marginal training companies will disappear. My organization is now on our 26th year of training weatherization and building performance contractors. Please contact john Krigger at Saturn or John Tooley, Rick Karg, Anthony Cox or any of the great trainers to find curriculum, Also go to waptac.org for the FREE USDOE curriculum and check out WX TV at weatherization.org for great FREE training videos.. I hope this helps.  Matt Redmond, Director of Training NYSWDA     mredmond@nyswda.org

Permalink Reply by Silvie Votrubova on March 21, 2011 at 9:50am

Hi Matt,

The info on WAPTAC is a good start but perhaps incomplete for many trainers.  We surveyed our database of trainers and asked them what, if anything, is missing from the free training material out there.  The top 3 things were:

1.Generic Training

2.Gauge specific training, side by sides

3.Video's (3-5 minutes long)

 

We've spent the last 3 months and collaborated with crew at Saturn Resources to create free training materials with imbedded videos on both Retrotec and Minneapolis to fill those voids.  You can download a free copy at ftp side.

Duct testing:

ftp://anonymous%40retrotec.com:retrotec@ftp.retrotec.com/Training/D...

Gauge Testing

ftp://anonymous%40retrotec.com:retrotec@ftp.retrotec.com/Training/R...

 

I noticed on WAPTAC the training is specific to Minneapolis, manuals and all. With the funding being cut short in the coming months trainers will need to be able to provide generic training so as to not lose customers due to a single manufacturer focused curriculum, these free training guides will help and I'm happy to provide them to you and WAPTAC should you wish.

 

Silvie Votrubova, silvie@retrotec.com