A sustainable approach to wellness education

As a member of the sustainability and wellness community, I think it is fair to say that most of us exemplify and believe in a growth mindset. We are always looking at how to do better, how to grow, how to learn, how to be more efficient and of course how to be more sustainable.  

Coming from this mindset, I am naturally drawn to education and put a strong emphasis on helping others grow. As a WELL AP, WELL Faculty, LEED AP, LEED Faculty and Fellow, I had previously found eLearning opportunities to be elusive. Then I discovered Chromatic Content, a company that converts existing operating procedures and legacy training materials into engaging eLearning courses. I was impressed with the quality of Chromatic Content’s resources and decided to partner with them to create a video series on the WELL v2^™ pilot. As their primary subject matter expert (SME), I reviewed their courses for content and accuracy. The final result was the WELL Learning Library (WLL), an online resource hub with video courses, monthly newletters, blogs and occupant surveys that focus on the WELL v2 pilot. The WLL is a valuable education resource to members of the WELL and sustainability communities. 

eLearning: A digital experience

Did you know that people who take eLearning courses actually learn nearly five times more material?¹ Retention rates in eLearning courses are between 25-60%, whereas the average retention rate for face-to-face trainings is only 8-10%.² The more I learned about eLearning, the more I started to realize that it truly is the way of the future, especially in a society where human and environmental sustainability are at the forefront. 

”According to a study by Open University in Great Britain, producing and providing eLearning courses consumes an average of 90% less energy and produces 85% fewer CO₂ emissions per student, than conventional face-to-face courses" ³

For large companies, eLearning provides opportunities for substantial cost-savings and economies of scale. For example, there are oftentimes significant costs associated with travel and missed work days for in-person education trainings, whereas this is not relevant for eLearning sessions. I encourage company leaders to experiment with eLearning offerings, as they may find that employees are equally happy about the added flexibility and independence.

Fulfilling feature requirements

In addition to being an educational resource hub, the WLL is a solution for meeting up to ten preconditions and optimizations in WELL v2. WELL v2 is inclusive of existing buildings allowing them to participate without extensive renovations, while encouraging them to pursue WELL v2 preconditions that address occupant education. I have started using the WLL with some of my WELL Portfolio and project clients who want to fulfill education preconditions and earn points in an easy, efficient and meaningful way. I’ve even started using the WLL as a solution for meeting preconditions and optimizations on my WELL v1 projects. Learn more about how you can implement the WLL for your project or portfolio.

Continuous engagement

Many of the eLearning courses in the WLL are approved to fulfill 0.5 WELL-specific CEs. If you are looking to earn more CEs, you can choose from a variety of bundle options. The platform that Chromatic Content has built is simple, easy to use, and the courses are fun and engaging. They’ve already received amazing feedback from many of the users who have signed up and completed the courses!

 

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Testimonials

"The WELL 101: An Introduction course...was the most concise, informative and highest quality production I've ever viewed in the LEED & WELL AP continuing education space."

Larry Eichel

WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, ID+C, O+M, ND, Homes, SITES AP, CPHC, LFA, GGP, TRUE Adv., Parksmart Adv., Fitwel Amb., ENV SP

Sustainability Director, DryWired

 

"It's very user friendly and the navigation is so intuitive and simple. Needless to say, the user network idea is so creative! I liked the course contents and organization. They are well organized, clear, to-the-point, and precise."

Zeynep Cakir

WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C

Green Building Specialist, ECOBuildTurk

 

"....the classes and information flow well, the speed of the information is quick but not too fast that it feels overwhelming. The visual quality was good. I give it a thumbs up!"

Michael Romine

Business Development, Roomored