MiPod

Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions section. Try searching for your question in the drop menu to locate your answer. If you can’t find the answer you need please don't hesitate to contact m.rogers@preston.gov.uk or x6362. Please Select...

1. I'm a first time user, how do I log in?
Enter your username and password at the top of the home page. ◦Type in your username, which is always your unique PCC email address. ◦You should have received a password via email from Training. (If you do not have a password please see question 2). ◦Once you have logged in for the first time, you will immediately be asked to change your password to something more memorable.

2. I haven't received a password?
If you have not received a first time log in password, please contact m.rogers@preston.gov.uk (x6362) who will issue you with one.

3. I've forgotten my password, what should I do?
If you have forgotten your password, click on the ‘lost password’ link underneath the log in box. Fill in your and this will generate a new password which you will receive via email.

4. What is e-learning?
MiPod allows "eLearning" training courses to be developed. These courses can be accessed from your desk or when advised by your line manager. In practice the courses can be accessed from anywhere you have internet access. The e-Learning courses are not intended in all cases to replace the existing classroom training you receive, they are intended to enhance the opportunities available to you. There may be times when you need to quickly refresh your memory about a topic or only have a couple of queries which do not require you to attend a full training session or there may be mandatory courses you are required to complete within a set time frame.

5. What is MiPod?
MiPod is a Preston City Council initiative designed to provide you with a range of on-line courses, legal updates, development tools and techniques. These will assist in supporting face to face training events and give you instant access to a range of learning opportunities.

6. Do I need my Managers permission before starting a course?
Yes, you should inform your manager that you intend to do a course and block out time in your diary to do so. Where possible, book a room (with PC access!) so you are not distracted. The Open Learning Room in the Town Hall can be booked for this purpose via the Training Team x6362.

7. How should I go about choosing a course?
Usually you should discuss the courses that will most benefit your personal development and those that meet your staff development review objectives with your line manager. You may wish to browse through the courses on offer by going to the All Courses category on the homepage. Some courses are designed as quick refreshers or as a point of reference.

8. Do I need to do any preparation before starting a course?
Before starting any course you should make sure you have a clear space in your diary and you will not be disturbed. You should also check the course length and ensure you have adequate time available. To access some of the courses in MiPod, you will need to enable pop ups. If you have not already done this, go to the menu bar and click Tools. Scroll down to Pop-up Blocker and select Turn Pop-ups Off.

9. How do I access a course?
On the MiPod homepage you will see several icons which represent course categories. If you know the category of the course you require, click the link and the courses within it will be displayed. If you are unsure of the category, there is an ‘All Courses’ category which will display everything. Click on the title of the course you require which will then take you to the specific Course content and evaluation page. You will need to log-on before you can access a course, you can do this initially from the homepage, using the boxes in the top right corner, or the system will force you to do it as you try to access a course.

10. What if I want to stop working through a course and return to it later?
The benefit of MiPOD is that you can revisit a course as many times as you like in order to complete it. However, we recommend most courses should be completed in two sessions. To exit a course at any time, click on Menu, located in the bottom left corner of every page, which will take you back to the course contents. Click on Exit, to leave the course and return to the Course Homepage. Your course and completed sections will be saved in your profile and will be available the next time you log in.

11. How do I know if I have completed a section of a course?
As you work through the different sections of the course you will be able to see from the Menu page the sections you have completed, the sections half-completed and those still to do.


12. How can I find out if I have any incomplete courses?
The My Course Progress box is available on the right hand side once you have logged in. By clicking on My Progress, you will see a list of courses you have accessed, along with information on whether you have completed them or not.

13. Will anyone else see any quizzes or tests that I have completed?
No. Where there is a requirement for you to complete a quiz or test, this cannot be accessed by others.

14. What happens if I fail a course?
Should you not achieve the required score for a test or quiz, you will asked to repeat it automatically.

15. Can I print a course out?
We recommend that you don't print out courses, as this can only be done on a page by page basis. All courses are available to return to at any time by just logging in with your MiPod username and password. If however, you would like to print out something from the resources section, this can be done by using the File>Print, option.

16. What is the purpose of the Evaluation Form?
The Evaluation Form is an important part of the MiPod and provides us with your feedback, both on using MiPod as well as the course content. Please spend some time completing this form, your feedback is valued and will help us to improve future courses.

17. I completed a course a while ago. Can I return to it?
The benefit of MiPod is that courses are available at all times. That means, even if you completed a course months ago, you can still refer back to it. This can be done either by clicking on the My Progress link in the My Course Progress box, or by searching for the course in Course Categories.

18. Can I access MiPod from home?
Yes, MiPod can be accessed from home. However, you should always agree with your Line Manager which courses and when/how they should be completed.