Blended Learning is the new format in which the NRA Basic Pistol Course is conducted. Students register and take an on-line e-learning course with the NRA. Upon completion they finish the practical exercises and range qualification with an instructor.
Below is from NRA Published Source"
http://trainingupdate.nra.org/#3837
We plan to roll out the new blended pistol course before the end of the year, and completely replace the pistol course as it is now conducted by the end of the first quarter of 2016. This means that the current packets and certificates will become obsolete, so we want to make sure you consider that when placing your orders.
NRA Pistol Instructors will be provided with a new Instructor Led Training (ILT) lesson plan, which will be downloadable right on your
NRAInstructors.org account page. Basic pistol students will come to your course with a solid foundation, which they learned in the e-learning module. The ILT portion of the course will consist of a firearm and range safety review, fundamentals, practical handling exercises using each action type with dummy ammunition, shooting positions, and shooting to a standard with a qualification shoot requirement. Once you are satisfied that the students have fulfilled each learning objective, you can check them as passed and print their certificates through
NRAInstructors.org.
We anticipate reaching more people than ever before. There will be two ways for students to find your course – the way they currently do, where you advertise on
nrainstructors.org, or they will be directed to your courses if they found out about the NRA Basic Pistol Course from another source. We will provide more information as it develops.
Blended Learning FAQ |
Will the way instructors schedule courses change when blended learning is introduced?
The scheduling of your course will be done in two ways: establishing a date when the instructor-led portion would take place or on demand when students have completed the eLearning section. If you establish a date when the instructor-led would be given, inform your students that they would not be able to complete the instructor-led portion until they have successfully completed the eLearning portion.
Do I schedule a class, have folks sign up and then I tell them they will have to complete eLearning instruction by that deadline?
Yes. The students will now have flexibility to complete the eLearning portion of the course based on their schedule, but still need to be cognizant of the instructor’s deadlines and completing in advance of the instructor-led portion.
What about students who do not have computers or internet access? Some older students might not have computers.
Access to computers is widely available at public libraries in both rural and urban centers all over the country. Also suggest gaining access to a computer from a family member or friend. The eLearning portion of the course will also be available using a mobile device like a smartphone or a tablet. If they still are unable to locate a computer, smartphone, or tablet, the instructor could secure access to one of these devices for them.
Can eLearning be done as a group in a classroom setting?
It can. This would require the instructor to provide the equipment necessary for each student to complete the eLearning portion.
Will this be just watch a video online via computer?
No. This is a learning management system that integrates the course content with interactive applications, lecture, animation, and review questions. Then culminating with a final examination. The learning management system tracks the students process in the course, records their missed answers in the exam, provides materials for review questions missed, and provides the instructor with information about the student before the instructor led portion of the course.
Will there be eLearning portions for instructor training as well?
Yes. The next course to be added to the blended learned curriculum is Basic Instructor Training. The content for this online course will only cover the material, focusing on training techniques, how to manage your classroom, budget and training teams.
Are you putting out a revised Training Counselor guide that will include info about the process of “blended learning”?
Yes. Those materials will be developed once the entire blended learning course is complete.
Will the blended learning course be like the current Range Safety Officer course?
No. This course is completely different. While the Range Safety Officer is all online, the blended basic courses have eLearning and instructor led portions.
My state doesn't recognize online classes for concealed carry permits. What do I do?
This is NOT an online course, it is a blended learning course. Most states use the technique for delivering Hunter Education and Drivers Education. A live instructor is not required to show students the best ways to carry a firearm while hunting or to establishing the distance a car traveling at 60 mph requires to stop. A live instructor is not required to show students the basic parts of a firearm. With blended learning a live instructor will ALWAYS have the final say as to when a student passes the basic course.
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