Hardwood Floors February/March 2017

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can help their associations build loyalty in their internal community and increase visibility to the general public. But it is no longer enough for associations to provide training and certifications. As NWFA found, associations must also provide opportunities for their members to promote their third-party verified skills and earned certifications in a digital, readily accessible format. It can take time for innovation to take hold in an established field, but the NWFA is demonstrating how digital certifications provide value for association members and useful information to consumers. Thanks to new technology, the industry has been able to turn this skills gap challenge into an incredible opportunity, supporting the industry as they attract and enable a new generation of talent. Stephanie Owen is Education Director at the National Wood Flooring Association in St. Louis. She can be reached at stephanie.owen@nwfa.org.

NWFA University uses digital badges to show course completion. To date, University students can earn up to 23 badges.

example) with potential customers or employers in a way that is quick, efficient and reliable. The process is simple and intuitive to members, borrowing on concepts familiar from the consumer web. After successfully completing a course

through NWFA University, a student receives a badge via email that can be shared on social media channels like LinkedIn or Facebook. These secure digital badges can be accessed easily, allowing professionals to demonstrate their verified proficiency and skills to potential customers on the fly, right on their mobile device. Since launching the NWFA University, the association has seen staggering engagement: more than 7,300 courses have been completed,

This article originally ran in Chief Learning Officer Magazine in Dec. 2016.

NWFA’s next learning path is for Sand & Finish Certifications. More information will be available at a later date.

1 . Answer A | The process of adjusting (conditioning) the moisture content of wood flooring to the environment in which it is expected to perform. CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE Answer Key Questions on page 64. RESOURCES

and more than 4,200 badges have been issued in partnership with Credly, a digital credentialing platform that ensures that credentials are valid, reliable and authenticated. Young professionals are able to earn badges, while veterans with existing skills or credentials have new ways to show them and put them to use. Digital badges are transforming the association into a powerful marketing channel as well. Members can now connect their badges to the NWFA’s search platform, which gives potential customers the ability to check out their credentials before getting in touch, or to search for only those professionals with specific badges or certifications. Other association executives are recognizing the value of credentialing: more than 80 percent believe that offering credentials earned through rigorous programs is a valuable member benefit. They know that credentialing programs

2. Answer A | Normal living conditions

3. Answer D | All of the above

4. Answer B | Educate the client as to the importance of achieving and maintaining the required conditions

5. Answer C | Floated 1 / 2 ” plywood

the magazine of the nat ional wood f loor ing associat ion

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