Frequently asked questions about CMS and DLOG

Candidate Management System

The candidate management system was launched in 2012. It is a highly sophisticated database which has revolutionised the way Mountain Training connects with its candidates and providers by streamlining the registration process, course reporting and general engagement with candidates.

The data held within the candidate management system also allows Mountain Training to draw out accurate statistical data to help with developments and reporting to government about participation and diversity. All Mountain Training course providers use the system to record training and assessment courses and all candidates use the system to register for schemes.

The mountaineering associations are all part of the candidate management system and use the system to record CPD records and events. These include:

Mountain Training Association
Association of Mountaineering Instructors
British Association of International Mountain Leaders
British Mountain Guides

Logging experience

All Mountain Training qualifications are assessed by a combination of practical observation, oral questioning and an analysis of a candidate’s logged experience. An individual’s record of their experience is a personalised list of the big and small adventures that have helped shape them as a candidate for one of our schemes and as someone who ultimately deserves to be assessed. Logged experience is used in the following ways:

A personal record, particularly as you work between levels (registrant to trainee, trainee to assessee, award holder thinking about a further qualification)
A log that helps informal mentors and referees advise you on where to focus your attention in the coming months
A log that helps your Training Course provider give you guidance on how to create an effective action plan to get you from training to assessment
A log that helps employers be confident about your training and experience
A log that helps your Assessment Course provider ensure you meet the required minimums
A log that helps your Assessment Course provider understand your individual experiences in ways that will often mitigate specific errors observed during the assessment
A way of demonstrating that once you’ve passed you continue to develop, explore and lead

We've created a series of short clips to help you add entries and manage your logbook:

How to add a DLOG entry
Add a GPX file to a DLOG record
How to review your DLOG
How to edit or delete a DLOG entry
DLOG Expeditions - start by adding a record
DLOG Expeditions - Create and expedition and add records

Paper based logbooks

For 50 years Mountain Training used a paper based logbook system for candidates to record their experience. Over time the paper based logbook started showing it’s limitations, some of which included:

Candidates loosing logbooks
Poor presentation of entries
Difficulty in sharing with providers in advance of courses
Limited amount of space to record entries
Errors and omissions with recording areas and locations

Mountain Training research showed that a significant number of candidates were creating their own systems for recording experience and that clearly the paper based system was not a reflection of the digital era. We started developing the concept of a digital logbook as part of the candidate management system.

DLOG - Mountain Training's Digital Logbook

Mountain Training’s digital logbook (DLOG) went live at the start of 2014. Within the first 3 months of use over 50,000 records were added by candidates. The popularity of DLOG grew with more and more candidates engaging with the system everyday as their preferred method of recording experience.

The candidate feedback has been crucial in shaping developments of the system to ensure that adding entries is simple, accurate and overall that the process is as straight forward as possible.

Who gets access to DLOG?

Any candidate that registers for a scheme with Mountain Training gets access to DLOG for life with no additional charge.

If you are considering attending one of Mountain Training’s courses in the future it’s a good idea to register early and start recording your experience.

Historic data and paper logbooks

If you are new to DLOG and already have your experience recorded in a different format then it would be useful to upload it digitally to DLOG. The upload facility will recognise many different files types. For those candidates who have a paper logbook then the pages can be scanned and then uploaded in the same way.

There is no need to re-write your experience into DLOG if you upload historic files. Once you have uploaded your past experience you should start fresh by adding any new entries directly into DLOG.

Advantages of DLOG over paper based logbooks

Secure and backed up
No need for version control
Easily accessible from any online computer or mobile device
Ordered layout with simple filtering options for viewing entries
Can be easily shared with other people
Providers can view in advance of any courses (once booked onto their course)
Can be exported at anytime
Records can be edited or added to
Average input time of 70 seconds
Candidates’ training records are integrated
Association members’ CPD is integrated
References can be requested from other candidates and integrated
Ability to add GPX files for greater detail on walking entries
Ever growing database of mountain names, rock climbing routes, crags and climbing walls worldwide

Certificates

All candidates who pass an award will receive a printed, tamper-proof certificate which is sent out once the course report has been submitted by the provider and audited by Mountain Training.

Verifying qualifications

The candidate management system is the definitive record of all candidates’ training and assessment records and allows the public to verify an individual’s qualification easily by contacting Mountain Training.

Improvements and feedback

Mountain Training relies on feedback from candidates to help shape the future developments within DLOG and the system as a whole. Should you have any suggestions or notice errors then please contact Mountain Training. Your feedback is always welcomed and will help us make the system easier and more convenient to use.

What is Tahdah?

The candidate management system is powered by Tahdah, a software company, which hosts the database and develops it on our behalf. The software has been created specifically for awarding organisations, training providers and candidates to manage their training, qualifications and membership, among other things.

As Tahdah expands, the number of national governing bodies using their software will increase, so if you hold other qualifications you may be able to manage more of your training and assessment records through a single portal – your Tahdah account. For example, if the British Knitting Federation started using Tahdah’s software to manage their candidates and you are a Chief Knitter, your Tahdah account would show all of your Mountain Training qualifications and your British Knitting Federation qualification within one account.*

You will always have a Mountain Training account which will be separate (but linked) to your Tahdah account and Mountain Training and the associations will continue to develop the system for you. You will also benefit from developments that tahdah make to the system for the benefit of all its users.

*This example is fictitious and used to illustrate the possibilities without raising anyone’s hopes about specific NGBs.

Premium accounts on Tahdah

Mountain Training continues to invest in the candidate management system so that it works effectively for all candidates, course directors and providers. The software has the potential to offer features above and beyond those considered essential by Mountain Training so tahdah have created a range of ‘premium features’ which allow you to do more with your account. Premium features are currently available to all association members and can be accessed by non-members by joining an association. Both the standard and premium features will develop over time as new features are added by either Mountain Training, tahdah or the associations.

Payments through Tahdah

If you pay for anything through the system, from scheme registration to shop items, your payment is facilitated by tahdah's software and a Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant payment gateway. All payments are secure and your card details are not stored by tahdah or Mountain Training; they are encrypted and stored by the payment gateway.

Data Protection

Mountain Training own the data in the system and is ultimately responsible for the candidate management system. From a data protection point of view and with regard to Mountain Training candidates, Mountain Training is the ‘data controller’ and tahdah is the ‘data processer’. For more information please read our Privacy Notice.

Email Preferences

You can manage your email preferences and opt in or out of various types of email. Some are essential and this is clearly explained on the new Email Subscriptions page. Click on your username (top right), then Settings, then Email Subscriptions.