By: Fred (but mainly Emma)
If you know me, you'll know I love technology! I'm always looking for better ways to help my students prepare for their MCA oral exams.
So, I've been busy behind the scenes developing something new – my Crew Portal!
But this isn't just about fancy technology. It's about keeping things personal, making sure you're on track and, ultimately, helping you pass your exam - First Time!
Why Did I Build It?
Over the years, I've looked at various CRM systems, but none quite fitted our needs. My courses are specialised, and every student is different. Some need more encouragement, others need help with particular subjects, and some just need reassurance that they're heading in the right direction.
Previously, we managed student progress through an enormous spreadsheet (thanks Emma!). It worked, but let's be honest, occasionally someone slipped through the cracks.
I wanted to change that.
So, I built my own system, designed specifically around how I teach and how my students learn.
Keeping You on Track (and Me in the Loop!)
One of my favourite features is My Journey.
It's not just a progress tracker – it's your own personalised study roadmap, guiding you step by step towards your MCA oral exam.
The portal knows your exam date and gives you a structured plan, complete with checklists showing exactly what you need to be doing and when.
From working through your course materials and practising past papers to creating flashcards, studying with your buddies and preparing for those final few days before your exam – it's all there!
As you complete each task, you tick it off, and the portal tracks your progress. You'll know whether you're ahead, behind or on schedule, and what you need to focus on next.
But here's the clever bit – I'm keeping an eye on things too!
Behind the scenes, the system monitors your progress and flags when you might need a little extra support.
Haven't studied for a week? Have not been to a webinar? I might get a nudge to check in with you. Perhaps work has got in the way, your exam date has changed, or you've simply lost a bit of motivation. It happens!
The whole idea is simple: you know exactly what you need to do, and I know when you might need a helping hand.
I want to know when you need help, rather than waiting for you to ask.
Study Buddies - Find Your Crew!
I've always said that finding a good study buddy (or two, three, four!) is one of the best things you can do when preparing for an oral exam.
Now, the portal helps connect you with students preparing for exams around the same time.
You can message each other, arrange Teams meetings or set up WhatsApp groups.
I also provide study materials and questions so you can test one another.
Remember, this is an oral exam. You need to practise talking out loud!
Over 2000 Past Exam Reports - Now with AI!
This is another feature I'm particularly excited about.
I've collected approximately 2,000 past papers from students who've sat their MCA oral exams since they moved online.
That's a lot of questions!
Rather than spending hours searching through them, you can now use my AI-powered system to ask things like:
“What are the 10 most commonly asked exam questions?”
“I’m struggling with stability - find me 10 questions to practise”
“Which examiners are considered the most challenging, and what should I watch out for?”
“What questions have caught students off guard?”
“Give me five nightmare questions on passage planning!”
And importantly, I've restricted the AI to my own teaching materials and past exam information, rather than letting it search the entire internet.
AI isn't perfect, but this helps keep the information relevant and reliable.
Of course, you still need to understand the whole syllabus. No cherry-picking!
Part A / Proctored Exam Practice – Know What to Expect!
Another little project I've been working on is helping students prepare for the new MCA Part A (proctored) exams, currently required for Master 200 and OOW Unlimited.
If you're not familiar with the new exam structure, have a read of my blog: Understanding the New M200 and OOW Unlimited Exam Structure.
I've developed a practice exam that closely mirrors the format and style of the MCA's Part A exam, giving you a chance to familiarise yourself with the process and test your knowledge before sitting the real thing.
It's currently available for my Master 200 students, and as the MCA rolls out Part A exams across the other yacht qualifications, I'll be ready with practice exams for those too.
The idea is simple – fewer surprises on exam day and more confidence when you sit down to take your exam!
Everything in One Place
Your dashboard brings everything together – course videos, quizzes, notes, past papers, study buddies, weekly webinars, messages and your personal study progress.
I've also added an Announcements section, where I can keep you up to date with important MCA changes, exam guidance, webinar updates and anything else I think you should know.
No more hunting around for things!
Technology With a Personal Touch
Going fully online never meant I wanted to lose the personal side of teaching.
Quite the opposite.
This new portal helps me keep a closer eye on your progress, spot when you might need help and make sure you're getting the most out of your preparation.
Technology does the organising. I do the teaching. And together, we'll work towards one goal – getting you through your MCA oral exam, First Time!
Have a look at my short video below, where I introduce the new Crew Portal.
Happy studying!
