Dear Human Kinetics Coach Education Scholastic Instructor,
Human Kinetics Coach Education introduced online courses and testing nearly 20 years ago. The use of Coaching Principles and Sport First Aid paper-pencil tests has steadily decreased since that time. Instructors and students have embraced the benefits of online testing, including a better user experience, less instructor involvement, fewer data entry errors, and instantaneous scoring, feedback, and reporting.
The majority of scholastic instructors already have their coaches test online*. Because so few users now use paper-pencil testing, it is no longer a viable option. As such, Human Kinetics Coach Education will be eliminating paper-pencil tests April 2021.
The limitations of offline testing were made even more apparent over the last year. During the coronavirus lockdown, many instructors made the (permanent) switch to online testing. In addition, the simple act of handling and scanning completed test forms now carries risk. In the interest of safety, online testing is a no-risk proposition.
If you’re one of the few scholastic instructors who still use the paper tests, we understand that moving to online-only testing may be an inconvenience. But we are confident you’ll appreciate the streamlined processes for completing and submitting tests, the elimination of user errors that frequently occur with paper-pencil forms, and the improved turnaround time for getting test results.
With this change, beginning immediately, we are taking course packages that contain the test packet (scan forms) out of print.
From this point forward, please purchase the course package for your clinics listed below in the FAQ section of this article.
If you still have the “old” classroom courses still in inventory, please continue to use those courses. There’s no need to return/exchange courses. We do however require you to have your coaches test online instead of using the paper-pencil test forms.
What will be different?
First off, this change does not spell the end of classroom, in-person instruction. You may continue conducting in-person clinics just as you always have. The difference is in the course materials that your coaches receive. The online course package that you will use moving forward does not contain the scan form test package or the Coach Workbook. The test package contains the respective textbook and instructions and key code for taking the test online. The Coach Workbook will made available to you as a PDF (by request) that you can duplicate as needed.
Also, you will no longer need to submit course report forms. Instead, you will be granted administrator access to run reports from the website. This will minimize your time and effort and eliminate errors that frequently stem from CRF submissions. We trust this will be a welcome relief for you. Instructions on how to use this tool will be provided to you in the very near future.
We will no longer accept paper tests after April 2021. Any new courses you purchase moving forward will not contain the paper-pencil tests.
If you have any questions, or for more information or clarification on which course ISBN to provide to your coaches, contact me today.
Mark Allemand
Marketing Manager
Human Kinetics Coach Education
1607 N Market Street
Champaign, IL 61820
800-747-5698, ext. 2212
MarkA@hkusa.com
CoachEducation.HumanKinetics.com
*If you are an instructor in the states of Illinois or West Virginia, nothing is changing for you, as you have been using online-only testing for several years. You will continue to purchase and use the same course packages you’ve always used.
FAQ
Why the change?
A variety of factors drove the decision to abandon offline testing: fewer and fewer instructors are using the scan forms in favor of online testing (online testing is easier to administer and inherently has fewer errors), the technology used to scan/process offline tests is becoming obsolete and expensive to upgrade (the cost to upgrade is difficult to justify when fewer instructors are demanding it), and the proliferation and acceptance of online courses/training/testing/certification was accelerated during COVID. In addition, the simple task of handling and scanning completed test forms now carries risk. In the interest of safety, online testing is a no-risk proposition.
What courses are being affected by the change?
The following courses will no longer be offered (going out of print):
Coaching Principles classroom course 4E; ISBN 9781492516293
Coaching Principles classroom course 4E ebook; ISBN 9781492516255
Coach Education classroom package; ISBN 9781492516286
Coach Education classroom package ebook; ISBN 9781492516248
Sport First Aid classroom course 5E; ISBN 9781492516729
Sport First Aid classroom course 5E ebook; ISBN 9781492516736
CIF Coaching Principles classroom course 4E; ISBN 9781492516200
CIF Coaching Principles classroom course 4E ebook; ISBN 9781492516156
KSHSAA Coach Education classroom package; ISBN 9781492516422
KSHSAA Coach Education classroom package ebook; ISBN 9781492516408
PSADA Coaching Principles classroom course 4E; ISBN 9781492516675
PSADA Coaching Principles classroom course 4E ebook; ISBN 9781492516651
PSADA Coach Education classroom package; ISBN 9781492516668
PSADA Coach Education classroom package ebook; ISBN 9781492516644
PSADA Sport First Aid classroom course 5E; ISBN 9781492516682
PSADA Sport First Aid classroom course 5E ebook; ISBN 9781492516699
What courses should I purchase for my clinics moving forward?
Coaching Principles online course 4E K; ISBN 9781450430739
Coaching Principles online course 4E ebook K; ISBN 9781450433082
Coach Education online package K; ISBN 9781450476225
Coach Education online package ebook K; ISBN 9781450476232
Sport First Aid online course 5E K; ISBN 9781450476911
Sport First Aid online course 5E ebook K; ISBN 9781450492041
CIF Coaching Principles online course 4E K; ISBN 9781450430975
CIF Coaching Principles online course 4E ebook K; ISBN 9781450442183
KSHSAA Coach Education online course package K: ISBN 9781450476522
KSHSAA Coach Education online course package ebook K: ISBN 9781450476539
PSADA Coaching Principles online course 4E K; ISBN 9781492561729
PSADA Coaching Principles online course 4E ebook K; ISBN 9781492561736
PSADA Coach Education online package K; ISBN 9781492505679
PSADA Coach Education online package ebook K; ISBN 9781450476805
PSADA Sport First Aid online course 5E K; ISBN 9781492561743
PSADA Sport First Aid online course 5E ebook K; ISBN 9781492561750
Will the course components (that my students receive) be the same as before?
The new course package will be different than before. Missing will be the scantron form/test packet and the Coach Workbook. The components that your students will receive in the online course package are: Successful Coaching text (print or ebook; whichever the student purchases) and a key code letter.
What if I purchased classroom courses before the change? Do I need to return them? Or can I still use them?
Please use the courses you purchased and/or currently have in inventory. There’s no need for you to return/exchange courses. However, we do require that you have your coaches test online for now on instead of using the paper-pencil test forms.
Will I need to generate IDs for my students and/or submit course report forms*?
No, when switching to the online course packages, you will no longer need to submit course report forms or generate/assign IDs for your coaches. This will reduce time and effort and eliminate errors that frequently stem from CRF submissions (missing/incorrect information). We trust this will be a welcome relief for you.
*If you still have classroom course packages in inventory, you will continue to administer your clinics as you have before (you’ll submit course report forms and generate/assign IDs for coaches). Coaches will need to test online, however.
How will I access my coaches’ test records?
Instead of the traditional “verification report,” you will be granted administrator access that allows you to run reports from the website. Instructions on how to use this tool will be provided to you in the very near future.
Is it possible for my coaches to purchase course materials directly from Human Kinetics instead of from me (the instructor)?
Yes. In contrast to the classroom courses, coaches can purchase online courses through our website. As the instructor, you have the choice of making this option available to your coaches. For most of our state high school association partners, we've established a “portal page” on our website through which coaches can purchase online course materials directly from us. Simply direct your coaches to purchase their courses through the website prior to your scheduled clinics. This way, you won't have to deal with inventory.
How long may I continue to submit scan forms for grading by Human Kinetics?
We are no longer accepting paper tests after April 1, 2021.
I relied on the Coach Workbook for in-class activities and additional assignments. Is there a way for me to keep using it?
While it won’t be available in print format, the Coach Workbook will be available as a PDF through the library of online ancillaries found on the product-specific website (which you should already have access to as a classroom instructor).
I relied on the paper-pencil test for my final exam. What are my alternatives?
We realize there are instructors who administer the paper-pencil test as part of the clinic experience. However, with no physical tests to provide to coaches, this may not be possible moving forward. Possible solutions would be to use a computer lab or have coaches bring laptops.