ECDL-ADVANCED learn - ECDL Advanced Updated: 2023

UAB offers several options for high-achieving undergraduates to accelerate the time and cost necessary to complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. These include Accelerated Bachelors/Masters programs (ABM) and Fast-Track programs.

Undergraduate students can take courses that count toward both bachelor’s and master’s degrees with one of our accelerated bachelor’s/master’s (ABM) programs. Once admitted, you can take up to 12 shared hours of approved 500/600-level graduate courses that help complete both degrees. This allows you to significantly shorten the time it takes to earn a master’s degree and distinguish yourself as a high-level critical thinker and problem solver.

Undergraduate students can apply for a master’s degree program before even finishing their bachelor’s. Our fast-track programs let students begin graduate coursework while you’re enrolled as an undergraduate—saving you money and enabling you to earn your master’s sooner. While hours aren’t shared between the two degrees as in the ABM program, some Fast Track master’s programs may allow you to waive course content you covered while completing your undergraduate degree.

Not all undergraduate financial aid can be applied to graduate coursework. Contact the UAB Office of Financial Aid to learn how enrollment in a fast-track program may affect your aid eligibility.

Published: 06 November 2023 Updated: 06 November 2023

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Learning to ride a motorcycle doesn’t stop when you pass your test. In our opinion, particularly for new riders, some of the best money you can spend in your formative years is on advanced motorcycle training.

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This is optional additional learning, administered by a riding school, an organisation like RoSPA or IAM, or indeed the police. It teaches you techniques to keep you safe on the road, such as where and what to look out for, how to make decent progress without risking an accident, how to look after your bike properly and plenty more besides.

The advantages are obvious: why not benefit from the years of expert knowledge experienced riders can offer? But you may also be interested in the simple fact that some motorcycle training can mean cheaper motorbike insurance premiums too. You’ll be a safer rider, so your risk profile drops.

Why should I take an advanced motorcycle course?

Don’t just take our word for it. Joseph Wright, 22, passed his test six months ago and spent a day with Rapid Training’s Rich Evans to sharpen his skills.

“That was a fantastic day”, beamed Joseph. “I learned so much it’s hard to put it all into words, and it was more like

riding with a knowledgeable mate than a lesson. To start with I was riding in the centre of the lane all the time, braking hard and going slowly round corners, doing loads of unnecessary lifesaver checks… and I was stressed.

“Now, just by positioning myself better for corners, I’m braking less, going faster and feeling a lot smoother. I was nervous about overtaking, so I used to get close to cars so that I had less distance to travel while on the wrong side of the road.

“But by staying further back I’m far more relaxed and confident. Also, at the start of the day I was looking about 20m ahead, when Rich was looking a mile ahead and spotting the tops of vans over hedges! Most people make their big mistakes in the first couple of years, but with this knowledge I’ve a better chance of enjoying riding safely. I honestly can’t recommend it enough.”

But what advanced motorcycle training courses are out there?

There are several worth mentioning here, but they all have one thing in common: they’re based on the ‘system of motorcycle control’, which is set out in a book called Roadcraft.

This is £20 extremely well spent, and we’d urge every rider to have a copy. It’s widely regarded as the ‘bible’ of road riding, and contains evidence-based theories and methodologies the police use to train their riders.

The syllabus is based around the acronym IPSGA – Information, Position, Speed, Gear and Acceleration – and how to optimise each of those things to be a smooth, safe rider.

How much does advanced motorcycle training cost?

This largely depends on the scale of the training you’d like to do. Costs range from free rides with qualified instructors, right up to week-long paid courses that can include track riding as well as road elements. It also depends on your current riding ability, so it’s best to contact an establishment and have a chat about your options.

Popular advanced motorcycle training schemes

Here are three of the best-known advanced riding schemes.

• RoSPA – or Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – is a registered charity that offers a range of courses and exams based on your level of ability. You can take advantage of free training with a local group alongside more structured courses to get you ready to pass one of the advanced qualifications.
• IAM Roadsmart – The Institute of Advanced Motorists, or IAM, is another registered charity that offers an Advanced Rider course for £175 (in November 2023). This features a number of observed rides locally to you, and prepares you to take the Advanced Test.
• ERS – Enhanced Rider Scheme. Unlike the two above, this is often carried out by riding schools, which means there is the possibility of hiring a bike. The one-day course involves an assessed ride with a trainer, after which you’ll get a certificate of competence if your riding is up to standard. If it’s not, you’ll get personalised training on how to Improve to get your riding up to scratch.

Additional advanced motorcycle training offerings

There are plenty of places to finesse your skills… Here are ten great ways to boost your skills and enjoyment.

1. Adventure off-road

If you want acres of Welsh valleys to explore and impeccable advice to train you to take on rocks, mud and more, then a day at one of the off-road training schools nearby will certainly develop your skills.

• KTM Sweet Lamb Adventure Rally Bike £275 for 1-2-1 (with own bike), discounts available and options for weekends away, couples training, trails training and groups.
• BMW Off Road Skills – Level one Starts at £595 for a two-day course. Can opt for a women-only experience, and goes up to level three with other offerings such as adventure maintenance. www.offroadskills.com
• Harley-Davidson Adventure Centre £349 (with Pan America use) for this experience day with Mick Extance.
• Triumph Adventure Riding Experience £525 for two-day level 1 training, but if you’re just after an experience then it’s around £310.
• Yamaha Off-Road Experience £260 for 1-2-1 training with own bike (£400 with hire bike) but if you want to just deliver it a go, there are options for experience courses which are around £250 depending on bike, day, etc.

2. Knee Down School

No, this isn’t your standard trackday training, this is your chance to take your time without riders zooming past to break in those knee sliders – and learn how to do it safely. Bring your own bike to Mallory Park or Donington and Improve your bike

control on track. You can grab three hours in the morning or the afternoon for £295 – but make sure your exhaust is legal.

3. Wheelie School

Improve your bike control and learn how to wheelie all in one day. Tutored by professional stunt riders, you’ll learn all the tricks of the trade, and perhaps a few more. Courses are £250 for the day and take place either in Cornwall’s Perranporth Airfield or at MOD Lyneham near Swindon.

4. Rapid Training

Rapid Training has a whole host of courses to Improve your riding now that your test is done and dusted. The firm’s Roadmaster course will deliver you handy tips for the road, whereas the Bikemaster course gives you time on track, too. Each has three levels so you can choose what best suits your needs and learn at the right pace. Each level costs £885 each, but for Bikemaster with track time that rises to £1296 – and is worth every penny.

5. Flat Track Slide School

Master the art of throttle control at the Royal Enfield Slide School. With adapted Himalayans and all the know-how supplied, all you need to do is bring yourself to master a whole new way of riding. Courses are one day and £185 at multiple venues throughout the UK.

6. Speedway

Ever wanted to go sideways on a dirt track? Thought so. The Amateur Motorcycle Speedway Academy have all the tuition to get your first wheelspins in Speedway and learn how to handle them properly. It’s £45 if you’ve got your own kit, but to hire two 500cc bikes it’s £110. Smaller engines are available for £80 per rider, with kids’ courses at £60.

7. Tips for track

If you’re planning on trying trackdays what better way to learn the proper skills than from the stars? With minimum one coach to 10 riders, you could be getting tuition from James Whitham, Dan Linfoot, Taylor Mackenzie or one of many other decorated riders on offer.

Training takes place at Knockhill, Cadwell, Anglesey, Croft, Snetteron and Mallory Park (check out the noise levels) and you can hire bikes from trackbikehireuk.co.uk and mfmtrackbikes.co.uk. Prices for tuition start from £220 depending on the track, and there are also intensive options available, as well as double-day training courses.

8. Try trials

Trials is unlike any other form of biking but is a great experience for any rider. Taking you through from beginner to advanced, Trials Day have you covered with tuition, bike, kit, and a stupendously fun day for an improved awareness of balance. Beginner prices start from £100 (but you’re probably going to go for the £150 full day option), and the balance skills you acquire will help on the road more than you know.

9. California Superbike School

Track tuition that teaches elements of riding you hadn’t even thought twice about. From £465, at Bedford Autodrome, Brands and Donington.

10. Ducati DRE

Three-day course sharing expertise on the track. £1850 for the advanced course, £1700 for intermediate, including hospitality, hotels and instruction.

Additional words by Richard Newland and Joseph Wright.

Many high-performing students are not offered advanced learning opportunities even when there is clear evidence that they are ready for higher-level academics. This is especially true for Hispanic, Black, Native American and low-income students, leading to a chronic underchallenging of many of the nation’s brightest children. As a result, these students are less likely to be ready for postsecondary education.

One obvious, but surprisingly underused, remedy is automatic enrollment. Also known as mandatory or opt-out enrollment, the concept is straightforward: Students who perform at the top of their classes are automatically placed in advanced courses for the following academic year. A handful of districts and states are considering or have recently created auto-enrollment policies, but North Carolina is far ahead, having implemented this approach with unanimous legislative support in 2018.

Its first-in-the-nation law requires all students who score at the highest level on their end-of-grade or end-of-course math test to be given advanced coursework the next year. While families can opt out if they feel the course is not a good fit for their child, the overarching message is, “if a student earns the spot, they get the spot.”

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A unique aspect of the North Carolina policy is that it starts in third grade, with the goal of engaging and challenging students early in their academic careers. Also, since taking algebra in eighth grade has been shown to have an impact on advanced students’ future math achievement, North Carolina’s legislation specifically guarantees access to high school-level math for highly qualified middle schoolers.

To strengthen transparency and accountability, the law was updated in 2019 to require an annual report on implementation statewide, regionally and by subgroups. The state Department of Public Instruction estimates that in the year before the legislation, roughly 10% of eighth graders in lower-level math classes, about 2,100 children, had actually earned top scores on the grade 7 math assessment. That number has since decreased to 3%.

Several districts have reported that the policy helped to accelerate students who might otherwise have been overlooked. Districts responded to the legislation by developing partnerships between middle and high schools, expanding virtual instruction, personalizing support based on students’ needs and increasing access to advanced education for students who previously were not offered such opportunities.

District data reveal that statewide, 92% of students in grades 6 and above who scored at the highest level on their prior year’s test were placed in an advanced math course in 2022-23 (45,003 out of 49,154). Although those numbers may sound impressive, they also raise serious questions about why nearly 10% of qualified students were not placed. Were those decisions made by their parents, or were other issues at play? There were also demographic gaps, with 92% of white students placed, versus 88% of Black, 90% of Hispanic and 78% of Native American students.