E-learning: the Chirale Academy platform passes 1,000 subscribers

Launched in April 2020, in the middle of lockdown, our new e-learning platform — reachable at the web address https://chirale.online — hosts the online version of all our main training courses, and from a few weeks ago also the Higher Vocational Training courses recognised by the Lazio Region, delivered in distance-learning mode by some of our clients.

The project of producing online versions of our most requested courses had been planned for some time, to respond to the numerous requests that kept coming in from companies and professionals who, for reasons of time or geographical distance, did not have the possibility of accessing our laboratories.

Transferring to the web a teaching format based on practice and experimentation in the FabLab — where the learn by doing paradigm is one of the most important elements for triggering the creative learning process — is not an easy undertaking; for this reason we have always taken our time, with the aim of perfecting a new course delivery model, suited to the dynamics of e-learning consumption and somehow recreating that kind of immersive and engaging experience that has always characterised our laboratory events.

The interruption of in-person teaching that took place last spring and the sudden increase in demand for distance courses and events was the compelling event that accelerated the completion of the project, with the online release of the new platform in April 2020.

The success of the initiative has been decidedly greater than our forecasts and last week the number of users registered and subscribed to at least one of the courses available on the platform exceeded 1,000 units.

The system has been built using a content management system framework, integrating consolidated, internationally market-leading products and solutions in the e-learning technology sector.

The platform allows the delivery of courses both in synchronous mode (webinar) — in which the event is broadcast live in video and allows interaction between students and the teacher — and in asynchronous mode, where the student interacts with the platform, accessing material downloadable on their PC or recorded video lessons in high resolution.

To give visibility to the platform, a specific web domain has been registered: chirale.online. The system runs on dedicated hosting that guarantees high performance in terms of concurrent access and bandwidth capacity.

The webinar system uses Zoom technology to guarantee maximum compatibility with any type of device — Windows or Mac PC, Smartphone and Tablet, on both Android and Apple iOS systems.

The video lessons are delivered in high-resolution streaming, 4K or 1080p, and the video player allows automatic quality adjustment, adapting to the bandwidth available on the student’s connection.

For production, a recording studio has been set up at FabLab Ostiense, equipped with green-screen, directing workstation, 4K cameras, theatre-quality microphones, high-fidelity audio processor and equipped bench.

The platform integrates our e-commerce system, allowing students to access the purchased courses as soon as payment is finalised.

The content includes interactive online tests that can be used for self-assessment of the learning process or to access certification programmes.

A personal profile page is created for each student, and it is possible to track and record progress made along the course of study. At the end of each course, the student can generate their own certificate after passing the final test.

Since September, the platform has been made available to our clients, has been certified as a distance-learning system compliant with the guidelines for the delivery of courses funded by the regions, and already hosts numerous courses produced and delivered by third parties.

We take advantage of this post to announce that the project for an independent platform — based on our technology — has just started for an important client, which we will discuss in due course.