How different is attending E-tec’s Virtual classroom to a face-to-face learning experience?

How different is attending E-tec’s Virtual classroom to a face-to-face learning experience?

How different is attending E-tec’s Virtual classroom to a face-to-face learning experience?

What are the similarities to in-person classroom learning?

In E-tec’s  virtual classroom, you can interact in real time with your tutor, other students, and learning content.

All four of these courses are EWRB approved, with the necessary support framework available to you. Similar to face-to-face courses, you’ll receive support from professionals to help prepare for exams. Plus, you’ll be able to discuss topics and ask questions directly with your tutor.

Are there advantages to virtual learning with E-tec?  

There are many advantages to virtual classes. For example, the most significant is that you can fully participate in the class from anywhere in New Zealand that is most convenient for you – such as your home or your office – instead of commuting to the venue.  The sessions are recorded so you can review topics at your leisure and you can still interact with your tutor and classmates as much as you need to.

Student watching a virtual class on his laptop

What should I expect with E-tec’s online classes – what is the format? 

The courses have been designed to keep people engaged and keep learning on-track. You’ll experience a mix of live and interactive classroom presentations, video chats, slide presentations, discussion forums, online chat with screen sharing and replayable video lessons.

You’ll be able to see and hear your course tutors in real time, and ask them questions as they come up. And you’ll definitely get an opportunity to share and discuss topics with other students.

What is an additional bonus of learning online with E-tec?

During live demonstrations, sometimes you may want to have a closer look. During the virtual class, this is possible – you can get a close-up view during demos.

How does the fee compare for E-tec’s virtual or face-to-face courses? 

The costs for virtual and in-person courses is the same, and this fee includes the cost of your external EWRB exam.

What E-tec virtual classes are available now?

·    Electrical Regulations

·    Electricians Theory

·    Electrical Installer Theory​

·    Electrical Service Technician (EST) – theory component only, practical component requires face-to-face attendance for one day

How do I register for an E-tec virtual class? 

Signing up is easy. Just choose the course that you’re interested in, and make your booking clicking the enrolment button. Next, when your booking is being processed, you will be asked if you’d prefer to learn in the classroom or virtually.  

If you have any questions or would like to find out more send a message here or call us on 0800 030 500.

How E-tec is keeping you safe during alert level 3 classes

How E-tec is keeping you safe during alert level 3 classes

How E-tec is keeping you safe during Alert Level 3 classes?

What should you expect when enrolling in an E-tec course during Level 3?

We care about all of those that join us for classes – both participants and tutors – so there are some new rules that relate to health and safety which start the moment you arrive to the facility. And in accordance with guidance from the Ministry of Education, we reduced the number of class participants to a maximum of 9 per class.

What are the first rules that affect those arriving to E-tec? 

After parking at the back of the building, it’s important that you enter at the rear door and scan the Covid-19 QR code. Besides wearing your face mask at all times inside, it’s essential to keep a 2m distance from other people. After following the signs, you’ll be required to wash your hands with sanitiser before signing a Contact Tracing Register.

What is the Contact Tracing Register? 

This Register asks you to declare that you have not been in contact with anyone with Covid-19 symptoms; and that you aren’t experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms. It also requires your personal contact details, so that the Government can contact you (and your contacts) in the unlikely event of an infection.

Apprentices working in their E-tec course

What happens when you meet your tutor?

Your tutor will meet you in a designated area to take you through a site induction, provide you with appropriate PPE and explain the safe distancing and hygiene protocols. 

Are there safety requirements through an E-tec class? 

Yes, you must maintain a 1m safe distance from your classmates at all times.  In addition, all tools brought to site must be cleaned using the antiseptic wipes provided before the class commences and should be left on site until the end of your course. At that point, they will need to be thoroughly cleaned before they can be removed.  

What is one thing to remember throughout the entire day while on E-tec premises?

Other classes may also be operating in the same building at the same time as yours, so it’s essential that everyone maintain a safe 2m distance from people outside your class, at all times. 

Can you bring food onsite? 

If you wish to bring food on site, you are welcome to use the spacious E-tec cafeteria for your meals and breaks, provided you keep appropriate social distancing and hygiene standards. We have removed chairs and spaced out the seating and will ensure only one group is allowed in the cafeteria at a time.  

What additional precautions does E-tec take prior to each class? 

All of the working surfaces and test equipment are thoroughly cleaned at the start and end of each day.  

What happens to someone who is not following E-tec’s guidelines? 

We really appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping us to maintain these health and safety protocols. It is also important to point out that we will need to ask anyone not well, or not adhering to the rules, to leave the site immediately.  

If you become concerned about anyone breaching the rules, or believe a fellow classmate may be unwell, talk to your tutor immediately or contact the manager at E-tec on (027) 777 4405. 

Are you able to enter E-tec as a visitor?  

E-tec is closed to visitors during Level 3. If you’d like to speak to someone about your course or training needs, you can contact [email protected] or 0800 030 500.

From where has E-tec taken safety direction? 

Our COVID-19 Safety Plan has been developed in accordance with WorkSafe, Ministry of health and Ministry of Education guidelines. You can view it here.

E-tec is coming to the Kapiti Coast

E-tec is coming to the Kapiti Coast

E-tec is coming to the Kapiti Coast

E-tec is an EWRB approved training provider delivering specialist training to trades people who work in the electrotechnology and telecommunications industries from its East Tamaki base for over 17 years. We have a wealth of experience in delivering to a range of niche electrotechnology industries and have a proven track record of delivering and assessing EWRB programmes. Our trainers are experts in their field in fact, they pride themselves on providing a world class training experience and frequently go the extra mile to help their learners succeed.

We realise not everyone lives in Auckland (despite how it might feel when we are stuck in traffic) and have identified a need for a learning centre elsewhere in Aotearoa, and we are now opening-up shop in the Kapiti Coast.

Ōtaki, on the Kapiti Coast, is our location of choice, having delivered several one-off Associated Tradesperson courses in the area. Halfway between Palmerston North and Wellington, and close to other big towns like Levin, we realise there are a lot of people who could benefit from a learning centre in the lower North Island region.

When does the ako start?

The E-tec Ōtaki learning centre will open early next year, and will be delivering three of our core programmes for tradespeople.

Our Associated Tradesperson programme is perfect for registered plumbers and gasfitters who work with electricity as part of their main role. Any tradesperson who has to carry out electrical work as part of their job would benefit from this course. It covers the major topics you need to know for things like water heater installation, or waste disposal units, without going into detail in the areas where you will leave the mahi to qualified electricians. This course will prepare you for the EWRB examination, allowing you to apply for your practicing licence.

The Electrical Service Technician course is ideal for those servicing commercial refrigeration units and maintaining 3-phase electrical equipment. It is also suitable If you already have an EAS or EASQ certificate, and want to get involved with more complex work. The course covers topics like electric motors and starter, testing appliances up to 1000 volts and 3-phase electrical systems.

We will also be offering our Electrical Competence programme, a great refresher course for already registered sparkies looking to renew their EWRB practicing licence.

Find out more about our programmes here

What are we doing to keep you safe during COVID-19 Alert Level 3?

What are we doing to keep you safe during COVID-19 Alert Level 3?

What are we doing to keep you safe during COVID-19 Alert Level 3? 

What sort of health and safety requirements can we expect? 

Holding in-person training does mean we must have some strict rules in place – and it’s important everyone follows these.

Your arrival on site 

  • If you are coming to a pre-arranged class, you’ll need to park at the rear of the building and enter via the rear door. You must wear a face mask at all times whilst inside the building. 
  • Please maintain the 2m physical distancing as you enter the building and scan the Covid-19 QR code poster displayed at the entrance. 
  • There will be signage directing you to the appropriate area, where you’ll be required to clean your hands with hand sanitiser before signing a Contact Tracing Register. 
  • This Register asks you to declare that: 
    • you have not been in contact with anyone with Covid-19 symptoms 
    • you have no Covid-19 symptoms yourself. 
  • The Register will also require your personal contact details, so that the Government can trace you and your contacts in the event of an outbreak. 
  • Your tutor will meet you in the designated area and take you through a site induction, provide you with appropriate PPE and explain the safe distancing and hygiene protocols. 
  • You must maintain a 1m safe distance from your classmates at all times.  
  • Working surfaces and test equipment will be thoroughly cleaned at the start and end of each day. All tools brought to site must be cleaned using the antiseptic wipes provided before the class commences and should be left on site until the end of your course – at that point, they will need to be thoroughly cleaned before they can be removed. 

Additional information 

  • Our COVID-19 Safety Plan has been developed in accordance with WorkSafe guidelines. You can view it here
  • E-tec will remain closed to visitors. If you’d like to speak to someone about your course or training needs, you can contact [email protected]  or 0800 030 500. 
  • If you wish to bring food on site, you are welcome to use the spacious E-tec cafeteria for your meals and breaks, provided you keep appropriate social distancing and hygiene standards. 
  • Please be aware that other classes may also be operating in the same building at the same time – so you must maintain a safe 2m distance from everyone outside your class as well during the time you are on E-tec premises. 

We really appreciate your cooperation in helping us to maintain these health and safety protocols – but it is also important to point out that we will need to ask anyone not well, or not adhering to the rules, to leave the site immediately. 

 

If you become concerned about anyone breaching the rules, or believe a fellow classmate may be unwell, talk to your tutor immediately or contact the manager at E-tec on (027) 777 4405. 

Virtual Training Now Available

Virtual Training Now Available

Virtual Training Now Available

E-tec is happy to announce that we’re now offering a range of electrical courses in an innovative, new virtual format. This will make training more convenient and accessible for people throughout the country and ensure people can still meet the EWRB’s requirements, even if they can’t get into a classroom.

 

Courses available in the new online format

    How the virtual courses work

    All three of these courses are EWRB approved, so just like the face-to-face courses you’ll be able to prepare for your exams with proper professional support, the difference is that you can do it from home or the office instead of a classroom.

    The courses have been designed to keep people engaged, keep learning on track and also mimic the type of learning you would do in the real world. This is achieved through a mix of video chats, live and interactive classroom-like presentations, slides, chats and screen sharing. You’ll be able to see and hear your course tutors in real time, as well as ask questions and talk to other students. Better yet, in courses where it’s applicable, you’ll be able to get close up views of live demonstrations.

     

    How to sign up

    Signing up is easy. Just choose the course you want to do i.e. Electrical Regulations, Electrician’s Theory or Electrical Installer Theory and make your booking using the enrolment button. Then when your booking is being processed our staff will ask you if you’d prefer to learn in the classroom or virtually. The costs for virtual and classroom-based courses is the same, and this fee includes the cost for your EWRB exam.

    If you have any questions or would like to find out more send a message here or call us on 0800 030 500.