Looking to broaden the scope of your NDT knowledge? Want to enhance your expertise in a method you already practice or learn about a technique that you don’t?
One opportunity to advance your NDT education is by taking e-courses, which ASNT is beginning to make available on its ASNT Learn website.
In the “NDT Online Instruction” section under the Courses tab, five courses are currently available based on presentations by subject matter experts at past ASNT conferences. The courses are modeled on microlearning, which is a perfect format for the quick acquisition of knowledge and skills for professionals “on the go”—in this case, NDT technicians and managers who are swamped with work and pressed for time while they make the world a safer place. ASNT began offering these courses with the inception of its learning management system in 2020.
What is microlearning? Per an online article by the eLearning Industry, “It’s the more engaging, less time-consuming … sibling of regular eLearning.” Learning is delivered in “short bursts of content.” With the e-learning courses on ASNT Learn, videos of 20-minute conference presentations have been subdivided into four- or five-minute digestible segments or modules followed by short, engaging interactions to help ensure that what the learner has viewed has “stuck.” Interactions include knowledge checks, photo galleries, matching exercises, and branching scenarios requiring the learner to choose the correct course of action given a problem or issue.
The e-courses on ASNT Learn are designed to take no longer than one-and-a-half hours total. The learner’s progress is checked off and saved, so you can return to the e-course at any time and pick up where you left off. Benefits of this type of course design include unlimited access anytime anywhere and a more engaging experience that can boost knowledge retention. With the current courses being offered free of charge, it’s also quite affordable!
At present, ASNT Learn offers the following:
- MFL of Storage Tanks: Become familiar with improvements in technology that are making this method more sensitive to both top- and bottom-surface discontinuities in storage tank floors.
- UT of Concrete Infrastructure: Come away with an appreciation of the advantages of the total focusing method for more efficient visualization and interpretation of ultrasonic data.
- 3D Modeling for VT: Discover how advances in the field of remote visual inspection using modern video borescopes has made measurements of surface-breaking discontinuities more precise than ever.
- MT of Process Controls: Find out how each step of the magnetic particle testing bench process can be augmented with computer programming for improved efficiency and accuracy.
- Guided Wave Inspection of Pipe Corrosion: Explore the advantages of guided wave testing to inspect corrosion under insulation and corrosion under pipe supports
A seeming exception to the microlearning model is the new Introduction to Nondestructive Testing e-course, which provides up to three hours of learning engagement. Although broader in scope than the above e-courses, it still follows a microlearning model by breaking a complex subject into a number of short, interactive, video-based modules that cover a wide range of NDT topics, including the profession of NDT, qualification and certification schemes, an overview of all 16 NDT methods recognized by SNT-TC-1A, and career and educational opportunities in the field. Learners can pick and choose which topics they wish to explore at random. Once all modules are checked off, the learner earns credit for e-course completion.
“Although this course is meant to be an introduction to NDT for anyone interested in learning more about NDT or just entering the profession, it’s a great resource for more seasoned professionals,” said Bob Conklin, Project Manager for Learning & Events at ASNT. “For example, students enrolling in one of our Basic Level III Refresher courses may consider taking this e-course in advance of the class to refamiliarize themselves with all things NDT.”
[S]tudents enrolling in one of our Basic Level III Refresher courses may consider taking this e-course in advance of the class to refamiliarize themselves with all things NDT.
The popularity of these courses on ASNT Learn attests to the effectiveness of microlearning as a tool for learner engagement. To date, the five NDT Online Instruction e-courses as a whole have garnered 8994 user visits, with 1415 certificates of completion awarded. The three-hour Introduction to NDT e-course, launched only in March of this year, has already attracted 1454 user visits and issued 98 certificates.
Survey responses have generally been positive regarding these types of courses helping the learner achieve specified learning objectives per unit of instruction. Other factors positively reviewed include the relevance of the subject matter to the learner’s professional goals and the quality of the content, including the videos and activities. Course enjoyment is another criterion that brought in a majority “yes” or “mostly” responses.
One learner expressed their satisfaction as follows: “This course gave me another way of looking at the subject from an expert’s point of view.” Another learner said, “I like how easy it was to navigate through the course.” Summing up, a user stated, “The course was very well designed and contained a great mix of audio/visual presentation with interactive activities.” One additional comment was that these courses “are a valuable resource for members.”
Of course, this does not mean there isn’t room for improvement. In the future, ASNT plans to incorporate learners’ comments and suggestions to continue building upon the foundation laid down by these e-courses. Suggestions include going into even greater detail with technical details and explanations, adding more videos of actual inspections in the field and shop, and continuing to add interactions such as knowledge checks and quizzes as well as extra links to multimedia resources.
Although these e-courses come with a disclaimer that they are not intended to meet the training requirements of SNT-TC-1A or CP-189 for the certification of Level I, Level II, or Level III personnel, learners who complete each e-course earn a certificate with the designated contact hours, which can be converted into CEUs or renewal points for ASNT NDT Level III recertification.
Based on the interest in these shorter, more specialized types of courses, ASNT plans to develop more online opportunities for learning in the future. Stay tuned to ASNT Learn for not only new e-courses as they evolve but live webinars and on-demand recordings of webinars and conference presentations.
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Trying to pursue a new career. I’m already a first class structural welder
Hi there! I was wondering if I had enough man hours doing VT, PT, and MT inspections that I could be recognized or retain some sort of verification or certification from ASNT? I don’t know if I need to take a course through you guys or if since I’ve been taught through someone that has been certified that I would be already certified? Thanks for your time and look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Aaron, It will be easier to answer all of your questions through email. Please contact Lisa Law, ASNT Certification Coordinator, at llaw@asnt.org.