STAR Center to offer Blended Learning Courses beginning in July
STAR Center has received approval from the U.S. Coast Guard to teach certain approved courses in a blended learning format. The Coast Guard approval requires that STAR Center provide online "synchronous" instructor led training for knowledge-based lectures, along with an onsite section at STAR Center to complete the required course assessments (practical and written). The Coast Guard has provided this limited/temporary approval of these alternative training delivery methods online through the end of 2020. All students must complete the onsite course assessment portion at STAR Center within six months of the completion of the knowledge-based online portion.
STAR Center will begin offering the online sections of the approved courses in July, with onsite assessment sections scheduled to start in August. The blended course offerings will complement (and not replace) our traditional onsite course schedule.
The following is an overview of STAR Center's blended learning format:
- Utilizing a video conferencing capability, STAR will provide "synchronous" instructor-led training with students via an online video-conference capability for identified course modules.
- Students will complete the online instructor led portion and return to STAR Center to complete the required course assessments (practical and/or written) within six months from the completion of the knowledge-based online portion.
- Students will register via the normal STAR Center registration process for blended courses. Blended courses (online sessions and onsite assessments) are listed on our course schedule in the online/blended section.
- Once confirmed for the online/blended course, the student will be sent/emailed all required course materials or provided a link to download them.
- On the scheduled date the instructor will open/convene each scheduled online session utilizing the video-conference platform and take/record attendance. A record of attendance for each session will be verified and retained as part of the student records.
- Morning and afternoon online sessions will be convened in accordance with the approved modified course schedule.
- Students must be present and participate in all scheduled online sessions and onsite assessment sessions at STAR Center, which is required to verify each student's identity for all sessions in accordance with our approved Coast Guard process.
- Upon successful completion of all course requirements and assessments, the student will be issued a STAR Center course completion certificate.
Students must have the following technical capabilities to participate in the blended courses:
- PC, Laptop or suitable tablet
- Reliable High-Speed Internet connection
- Email and scanning capabilities
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Earphones (as needed to prevent feedback)
The following courses have been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for blended learning:
- Leadership and Management (four days online/one day at STAR)
- MEECE - Management of Electrical, Electronics and Control Engineering (4.5 days online/one-half day at STAR Center)
- Advanced Stability (three days online/two days at STAR Center)
- Advanced Meteorology (three days online/two days at STAR Center)
- Marine Propulsion Plants (four days online/one day at STAR Center)
- Advanced Cargo (four days online/ one day at STAR Center)
- Advanced Navigation (three days online/two days at STAR Center)
- Celestial (Management Level) (four days online/ one day at STAR Center)
- Tankerman PIC (DL) classroom (4.5 days online/ one-half day at STAR Center
- Basic and Advanced Low Flashpoint Fuel (IGF code/LNG fuel) (4.5 days online/one-half day at STAR Center)
Additional online and onsite assessment sessions will be added in accordance with the temporary approval through the end of 2020, with additional onsite assessment sections for an additional six months. AMO members and applicants must successfully complete the online session before being allowed to attend the onsite assessment session. All students must complete the onsite course assessment portion at STAR Center within six months from the completion of the knowledge-based online portion.