Teacher Training Centre Opts for Vantage Technologies’ Paragon to Improve the Training Process for S

Web-based tool supports teacher training programme and cuts the burden of traditional paper-based portfolios for trainees and assessors

[UKPRwire, Thu Sep 18 2008] Leading educational consultancy and training centre EM Direct has deployed Paragon, an online Continuous Professional Development (CPD) tool, to enhance its teacher training programme and reduce the burden of traditional paper-based portfolios on its trainee teachers and their assessors.

Developed by CPD and performance management specialists Vantage Technologies, Paragon supports trainees’ development and training requirements by allowing them to record evidence of their training in an easy-to-access e-portfolio, and their mentors to access and validate the evidence and provide feedback on their progress online.

A key benefit of Paragon is its ability to save time for both trainees and staff. Being able to view evidence of training online from any location means assessors and mentors who work remotely can cut down the number of face-to-face appraisals needed with their trainees. They can validate and give feedback on the uploaded evidence from home; whereas previously they would have had to travel to the centre up to six or seven times a year to meet with their students.

The amount of paperwork is also significantly reduced for both parties as Paragon stores all CPD information electronically, in a single location securely accessible over the Internet by both trainees and mentors at anytime. This makes trainee development easier to monitor and manage and the appraisal process continuous and more effective as assessors can identify and address any issues as soon as they arise during the training process.

Paragon also enables trainees to assess themselves against the recently revised professional standards for performance development. This makes them more aware of their professional development needs and provides a basis on which they can focus their training. Furthermore Paragon’s unique Idea’s Generator feature allows trainees to access its library of resources and make use of the material to further support their development.

Tony Cook, managing director for EM Direct, said: “Using Paragon together with other pioneering training methods is a ground-breaking way of delivering training to our student teachers and the response we have had from those trialling it has been tremendous. Staff and trainees will be able to focus more on the actual training process rather than spending time on paperwork, as the traditional paper-based system - which is very burdensome on both parties – will be practically eliminated.

“At EM Direct we are committed to enhancing and developing the skills of the schools’ workforce and Paragon gives our staff and trainees everything they need to be help us to achieve this. The great thing about this product is its flexibility; we have been able to work with Vantage to tailor it to our training needs, producing a tool that can meet today’s demand for high quality training.”

Successful initial trials of Paragon mean it will go live to around 300 users at the centre including trainee teachers, senior tutors, subject mentors and senior leadership teams from the 1st of September. Schools working with EM Direct have also expressed a strong interest in adopting Paragon for their own staff.

EM Direct received funding for Paragon from the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), who is pushing for training centres and schools to adopt electronic methods to enhance teacher training.

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Issued on behalf of Vantage Technologies, contact 01142 479500
Press contact: Context, Priya Mistry
T: 01625 511966
www.contextpr.co.uk
vantage@contextpr.co.uk


Vantage Technologies Limited
Vantage Technologies Limited is an IT services and solutions company, founded in 1988, specialising in the delivery of innovative software solutions for the improvement of working practice. Vantage is active in a variety of market sectors including local authorities, healthcare, police and professional institutions. Its product portfolio of web-based solutions includes risk management, professional development and e-learning. For further information visit: www.vantage-technologies.co.uk

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