Is SEI’s Online Campus Really That Good?

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity, Sustainability News

 

left_shadow.jpg

banner_grass

Is SEI’s Online Campus Really That Good?

Sutton 
Starting tomorrow, SEI is offering the following online sessions:

Online Learning for Technical Training?
One of the questions Solar Energy International’s (SEI) Student Services Department gets most often is “How can online learning be as informative and effective as in-person classroom based workshops from SEI?” To answer that question there is a broader context that needs to be understood about SEI’s solar pv training model.

Christopher Turek, Director of Online and Student Services points out, “Here at SEI it isn’t a question of which format is “better” when it comes to in-person or online training.  The online format is optional, but classroom study is actually required in our full program of study. We have a blended classroom / lab training model where the classroom portion can be taken online or in-person, but the hands-on lab experience is ultimately the only way someone can really fully absorb the real world experience of a solar PV installation. We highly value learning through doing.”

SEI’s Focus on Quality and Online Instructor Support  

SEI’s instructional method to delivering online training starts with offering quality live online instruction.   All of SEI’s online PV courses have two online instructors there to help drive discussions and answer technical questions that come from our industry leading PV technical training curriculum.

SEI’s Focus on Rigorous Training and Student Success
SEI’s online courses offer some of the most rigorous training in the industry, but we also focus on making sure we maintain a high student retention and course completion rate.  We accomplish this with a strong emphasis on instructor / student interaction and support in the SEI Online Campus.

We are proud of our high rates of students completing our courses with passing scores and having a full understanding of the learning material – many of them moving on to take NABCEP Entry Level Exam and Certification Testing.   In a recent poll of SEI student alumni, a 98% passing rate for all NABCEP exams was reported by our surveyed alumni.   

SEI’s Online Training is Cost Effective
We realize travel and lodging can be expensive and is one of the core reasons why we offer our PVOL101: Solar Electric Design and Installation (Grid-Direct) online and a full library of our classroom / lecture based training in the SEI Online Campus.    


Don’t Let Anymore Time Pass By – Register Today! 
Time lapse video from SEI’s Paonia, Colorado Campus

time_lapse2
Are You Ready for SEI’s Lab Training
Most SEI students choose to start their online training with PVOL101: Solar Electric Design and Installation (Grid-Direct) – Online and then come to a PV201L: Solar Electric Lab week in Paonia, Colorado.  All lab training requires a classroom / lecture training prerequisite.

Dive Deeper into the NEC
Many of our students who wish to dive deeper into the National Electric Code and commercial / utility scale topics, choose to take SEI’s PVOL202: Advanced PV System Design and the NEC (Grid-Direct) – Online.

Register today!

students_lab
Course Description
PVOL101: Solar Electric Design and Installation (Grid-Direct)

This online solar training course establishes fundamental concepts required for safe, code-compliant design and installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems, with a focus on residential-sized grid-direct solar electric systems. The goal of the course is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with all PV systems, including: system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning.

The course will also cover the basics of sizing a residential grid-direct system, wire sizing, overcurrent protection, and grounding – all of which will be expanded upon in PV 202. PVOL101 online students receive 1 full year of free access to Home Power Magazine Online. You will receive your login in an email 1 to 2 weeks after your course starts.

ken_point
Course Description
PVOL202: Advanced PV System Design and the NEC (Grid-Direct)

Apply National Electrical Code (NEC) standards and industry best practices to residential and commercial grid-direct solar electric systems to ensure safe, code-compliant design and installation. This online solar training workshop builds upon the core concepts from PV101, expanding them to address larger, more complex grid-direct PV systems. PV202 focuses significantly on the National Electrical Code, including interconnection calculations, grounding, workspace clearances, and disconnect and overcurrent protection sizing and considerations.

Commercial system equipment specifications including inverters, racking, and commercial voltage service panels are covered; as well as site considerations for roof and ground-mounted arrays, including layout and inter-row shading. PV 202 thoroughly addresses array sizing with various inverter configurations, in order to assess design options and optimize performance.

Students will learn to evaluate system performance under various operating conditions, and identify and correct installation errors including ground-faults. This course combines class lectures with individual problem solving exercises covering common design considerations. The online course is six weeks long and covers all of the material presented in the in-person workshop.

SEI’s Solar Professionals Certificate Program

SEI_SPCE_transAll of SEI’s online courses qualify for satisfying the required classroom training hours and count towards graduating from SEI’s Solar Professionals Certificate Program.

The SEI Solar Professionals Certificate Program goes beyond a “certification test prep” format of training and takes participants to a higher level of educational experience to truly prepare them for the solar industry and a career.

For more information e-mail Solar Energy International’s Certificate Program Advisor, [email protected] or call Breccia Wilson in the Student Services department at (970) 963-8855 ext. 107.


or Register online today!


About Solar Energy International 
Solar Energy International (SEI) was founded in 1991 as a nonprofit educational organization to help others to use renewable energy resources and sustainable building technologies through education and technical assistance.

Our vision is focused on helping create a more sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants. Through our work, we see clear opportunities to influence people’s thinking and behaviors towards energy efficiency and the use of natural, sustainable methods of energy production and utilization.

Solar Energy International is a 501(c)(3) Equal Opportunity Institution and Employer, and is not affiliated with any dealer, manufacturer, distributor, or any other renewable energy commercial enterprise.

Media contact for SEI is Christopher Turek, Director of Online and Student Services – [email protected] – 970-963-8855 x115– http://www.solarenergy.org