# Fire and emergency management/Leadership I:Strategies for Company Success (H803)/Course Instructions
## Introduction

The intent of the Leadership I class is to provide an entry level understanding of leadership and management as a company officer. Some of the benefits of NFA training is quality course content and the ability to network with others in the fire service. This course was designed with these two premises in mind. While working through the material, the student is expected to post comments and discussion on the "Discussion" section of the modules. Part of the grading process will be how well the student interacts with others on the discussion boards. Please remember to set up an account on Wikibooks to post your comments and thoughts. To learn how to create a username click here.

## How to register for the course

There are two ways to register for the Leadership I class:
* go to www.greatoaks.com and register online for the class.
* check with your training academy to find out if they are accepting this course and how to register.
To recieve a National Fire Academy Certificate for this training, please complete the Form 75-5A and return to the sponsoring training entity. These must be returned to the sponsoring training entity, as the NFA does not accept these forms directly.
Please note: While utlizing the course materials is free for use and download, training entities may charge a fee for issuance of certificates and administration. Such fees and costs are between you and the institution.
Once you have registered and have recieved confirmation, set up your username on Wikibooks. This will be your access for the discussions and comments.
For questions, or further information, contact finneym@greatoaks.com.

## How to utilize the course materials

You should find the course is very easy to move through. Items in blue provide further detail on the content or additional information of interest. Consider clicking on these to gain a better understanding of the information.
All activities are clearly marked in the outline and most are marked in blue. This means there is a downloadable component to it. All activities that are downloadable are in .pdf format and you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat. You can download a free copy at www.adobe.com.
All videos are in Quicktime format. You can download a free copy of Quicktime at www.quicktime.com.
As part of the course, you are required to provide comments and input on the discussion questions related to the module. The discussion questions can be found by clicking the tab "discussion" at the top of the page. Do not forget to click the "signature" icon at the end of your comment. This is how the instructor will know you have completed that component of the class. For more information on how to use the discussion go to Talk page
Once you have completed the material, and are ready to take the final examination, contact your sponsoring training agency or your instructor to get the final examination login or to schedule to take a paper-based test.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact your instructor or email finneym@greatoaks.com

## Taking the final examination

At the current time, you will need to contact your sponsoring training agencies to schedule a final examination. Some institutions have a web-based or online testing format, others may require you to take a paper-based test. For further information, contact your sponsoring information or your instructor.

## Helpful techniques for taking the course

Here are some helpful tips for utilizing the course materials:
* Be sure to set up your username at the beginning of the course.
* Download a copy of Adobe Acrobat and Quicktime.
* Utilize the module approach of the curriculum. Trying to do all 12 hours at one time can be overwhelming and content retention will decrease.
* Set up a schedule and timeline. This will save you a lot of headaches trying to rush through the materials to meet a deadline.
* As you go through the modules make notes of how you can utilize the material in your department.
Feel free to add additional hints that may be helpful to students.