Driving Science: The new BTEC qualification from a²om

A brand new business opportunity for you. A learning opportunity for your pupils.

• Give you a marketing advantage
• Offer high learning opportunity
• Enhance your customer service
• Give your business more credibility

You can offer your pupils a qualification

a²om will empower you to assess your pupils to BTEC level 2 in Driving Science As an associate
a²om instructor you will receive:

• materials and guidance on assessment 
• support for your own development 
• an opportunity to increase income 
• clear marketing advantages

Why Driving Science?

In sport there is a foundation of different scientific issues that underline the act of scoring a goal or winning a race. In the same way, competent and safe driving is a skill that can only be fully developed when a driver understands the underpinning scientific knowledge.

The content of the course covers:

• Neuroscience
• Adolescent brain development
• Psychology
• Self-awareness
• Driver behaviour
• Risk management
• Statistics
• Causes of a crash
• Physics
• Momentum, centrifugal force
• Environmental Issues
• Hazard perception
• Scanning and planning
• Personal contribution, fuel saving.
• Alternative transport
• Social studies
• Governmental policies (road pricing, cameras etc)
• Changing lifestyles and attitudes to car ownership

What makes this different?

This is the first driving course to deliver a research based curriculum aimed at educating learner drivers and exceeds the recommendations given by the government anticipated in the latest consultation paper on Novice Drivers.

This course provides a structure for instructors and students that educates not just the physical skills involved in learning to drive and pass the driving test, but also prepares the learner for a safer driving life. The current DSA driving test assesses competence to control the vehicle on a varied route, but this is only a 'snapshot' of ability to drive. It is generally at the point of passing the test that personality and attitude form the type of driver one will become. The a²om BTEC course expands into post test training, not only developing the student’s on road experiences, but covering the responsibilities of licence acquisition and how one can develop risk management techniques for life.

How?

The statistics for young drivers are evident. This course covers the risks that contribute to crashes and develops the student to question his/her own behaviour.

a²om believes that students must be aware of his or her own attitudes and beliefs and how they affect their decision making. Students are encouraged to assess their own performance and actions, and learn how they can improve on their responses to situations on the road. Raising awareness of the human factors in driving starts the process of self-reflection which has been shown to lead to safer behavioural outcomes.

The a²om BTEC course is designed to prepare you the student for a lifetime of safe driving. Passing the driving test is only part of the journey. Students who are learning in this structured way will be better prepared for the test and ready to move on the next part of their learning post-test.

On passing the test, the student has demonstrated that he/she can drive with autonomy. However, this is the stage where the driver’s personality now becomes part of their driving style. Students will be educated about their vulnerability at this time and the importance of questioning their own attitudes and behaviour whilst coaching and developing them through wider driving experiences.

About EdExcel

EdExcel is the UK’s largest awarding body, providing academic and vocational qualifications to more than 25,000 places of learning here, and in over 100 countries worldwide. In the UK, EdExcel offers qualifications and testing in more than 24,000 schools, 450 further education colleges, more than 80 higher education institutions, 600 public and private sector employers and, increasingly, e-learning providers. EdExcel will verify the quality of the course and its delivery.

The e-learning support system

a²om has developed a high quality scenario-based lesson support system, designed to underpin learning to drive. Students can access this on line in their own time as and when recommended by you.

Source materials a²om Highway and a²om Mind

Each student has access to a research based on line learning programme. The research conducted by Dr Robert Isler, creator of a²om mind and founding director of the University of Waikato’s Traffic and Road Safety Research Group (TARS) found that training the immature cognitive brain functions in young drivers improves life saving skills including hazard perception, risk management and impulse control.

a²om mind is available to all a²om students together with a²om highway, a modulated interactive learning system which is designed to underpin and support the student’s driving sessions.

You should advise the student when to access each module depending on the practical driving lesson support required and the progress of the individual. The a²om data capture system will be able to track when each individual student has logged in.

Registering

To be able to deliver the a²om BTEC in Driving Science you need to Register with the a2om learning site.

Once you are registered, we will do a quick check and get back to you at a convenient time to arrange your training.

Once you have completed your training day successfully we will give you your website login details and your ADI BTEC license number, with this information you will be ready to start delivering BTECs.

‘Being able to drive is an important route to employment, and should be embedded in our education system; driving well provides a route to continued employment - this breakthrough will give young people a chance in life which was just not there before’.

Adrian Walsh, director of RoadSafe