New NLOD Course Search
As the national learning opportunities database (NLOD) has expanded in its scope, its become apparent that the search used to find course information needed to be improved. We've recently launched this new course search, after engagement with users to make sure it fulfils all the requirements of those who will use it most.
Lorraine McDonald, New Media Information Services Team Leader explains:
"Rather than simply make the changes the New Media Information team knew were necessary, we took time to talk to the people who use the tool on a daily basis to make it work better for them."
As a result of this feedback, we've:
- added quick links to make Modern Apprenticeships, Training for Work, Get Ready for Work and Skillseekers programmes easier to find
- built in keywords so that results are ordered by relevance to the subject you specify
- made sure that search results now return distance learning courses, regardless of the location you specify – because these courses can be studied anywhere, regardless of location
- added a brief synopsis of each course so you can see at a glance a summary of course content as well as start dates and cost information, making it easier to compare courses
- simplified the search options
- made it easier to skip to different pages within search results
The new course search can now be found on the Skills Development Scotland website;