Introduction

System Requirements:

To use eDofE you will need internet access and to allow pop-ups for our website. We currently support IE6 and later, though upgrading from IE6 is recommended. We also support Firefox from v3, Safari from v4, Chrome from v4 and Opera from v10.


What is eDofE?

eDofE is an interactive online system that helps you to manage your DofE programme and Leaders to monitor your progress.   Accompanying the system is your Welcome Pack and the facility to create an Achievement Pack which you will be able to keep and share with others.

What is your role as a participant?

    Fill out the enrolment form
    Pay registration fee
    Receive Welcome Pack
    Receive your username and password
    Access and enter required fields
    Decide on your sectional timescales and activities
    Work on your DofE programme and upload evidence.  

Setting up your E Dof E Account

Sign in and complete the required fields

1.    Before you can start using eDofE you must have received your username and password from your Leader/Operating Authority or via an email sent to your personal email address.

I’ve forgotten my username and/or password - what can I do?

a. Contact the person who gave you the details, they might have a copy.  

b  If it’s the username, contact your Leader who can find this out for you.  If it’s the password, contact your Leader to help reset your password (you may need to provide your email address). Also use the password reminder function.

2.    Open up your Internet browser and go to www.eDofE.org/Login. Fill in your username and password and click ‘sign in’.   All users have to complete the listed required fields. 

Changing username, password and security answer

When you sign in you will be prompted to change your password. For data protection requirements it’s important you know how to change your username and password in the future.  

1.    Click on ‘View/edit my profile’ (top left of screen)

2.    Click on the ‘Password details’.  It must include letters and numbers and be six characters/numbers with one as a capital. Note: This is case sensitive so be careful!

3.    Click on ‘Account details’ to edit your username and enter your security answer.
Back to contacts

Security rules of eDofE access

1.    Your sign in to eDofE is timed. Remember to sign out if you move away from the computer.  This is for security purposes and there is a timing out rule.   If you do not perform any actions in eDofE after 30 minutes then the system will automatically sign you out.

2.    Security question. If you have forgotten your password and you have previously entered an answer to the security question, you have eight attempts to enter the correct password.   Failure means you cannot access your account for up to 24 hours. Contact your Leader if this happens.

Using your E Dof E Account

Select your sectional timescales

You decide on how long you want to do each section for.  You should have discussed your DofE programme with your DofE Leader:  

1.    Click your DofE programme level (e.g. Bronze, Silver or Gold).

2.    Click on ‘Overall timescales’.

3.    Choose the duration for each section by selecting from the drop down menus and press save and now select your activities.


Your home page

As soon as you completed your timescales, you will have access to your home page.

1) We recommend you add your picture by clicking the profile face and options to change your username, password or personal details – click on ‘View/edit my profile’.

2) Start your sections - click on your level name (‘My Gold DofE’) and select the relevant section. Also you can click on the ‘speedometer’ to go straight to the section.

3) On the top right – when a Leader asks a questions or an action is made online then you will get a ‘Message’. Click on it to view the messages.

4) Speedometers and ‘My evidence’ – to see your progress and view your uploaded work.


Starting sections

Now you have to choose an activity for each section and research what interests you and whether you can find suitable opportunities in your area.  Once you are satisfied with your choice and have discussed it with your DofE Leader, you can record the activity in your eDofE account. The Volunteering, Skills, Physical and (Gold only) Residential sections have two areas: programme plan and evidence.  

1.    Click your DofE level (Bronze, Silver or Gold)

2.    Select the section

3.    Fill in the start date.   

I’ve entered the wrong date, how do I change it? – You can edit this until your Leader approves your plan or you undo the submission to them.  After its been approved ask your Leader who can either permit you to change it or they can do it on your behalf.

Backdate a section:

You can only backdate one section for up to three months before your enrolment date and you meet the age requirement. If you have actually started your level before the eDofE enrolment date (for example you were waiting for the sign in details) then ask your Leader to edit your enrolment date to when you actually started.  

How to complete the section

After the minimum time duration has passed, you must get two areas approved by your Leader
before the section can be finally completed and approved. These are:

- Programme planner

- Evidence

Expedition section

This Expedition section is similar to the other sections however its split into five areas.  You must first contact your Expedition Leader and team members to agree the overall aim and goals.  Participants must get five areas approved by the Leader before this section can be completed.

    Mode of travel and start date of section (not the date of the expedition)
    Training  
    Two Expedition plans (at least one practice and one qualifying plan)  
    Evidence (optional unless requested by your Leader)
    Presentation

How to record evidence

You should be collecting evidence of what you did / achieved throughout your DofE programme as this will show your Leader what you have been achieving.  Any image evidence you collect will also be a great addition for your Achievement Pack.  You can record evidence and get it approved by your DofE Leader through your eDofE account.   
If possible, convert any non electronic evidence that you have, such as written statements and printed pictures to an electronic format by scanning.  You can also upload MP4 video images.

1.    Click your DofE programme level (e.g.  Bronze, Silver or Gold)

2.    Click on the relevant section name

3.    Click on ‘Add evidence’

Get approval of a section

You must send an alert to your Leader to confirm the section is awaiting their approval.  Until they do this then you cannot achieve your Award.  

Before you can achieve your Award, all of your sections must be confirmed by your Leader.  The system will permit you to submit the section for completion when these two rules are met:

a.    The minimum timescales for a section has passed.

b.    These areas in your sections have all been approved: programme plan / evidence / expedition training / expedition plans.  Items which are not approved can stop you submitting the section for approval.

1.    If you believe you have met the two conditions then select the section you want completed. For example we will select the Physical section

2.    The option to submit your section for approval will appear. Select the preferred Leader and click ‘Submit section for approval’.  It will be greyed out if you haven’t met the two rules (see below). Then confirm that you wish to do this.

3.    When you press yes, an alert will be sent to your Leader who will formally approve it as completed.  The system will also tell you if you have already submitted the section

You can still upload more evidence but you still need to get your Leader to approve it before you can achieve your Award.


Approving your DofE Award

Your DofE Award can only be approved by your Operating Authority once all your sections have been checked and confirmed by your Leader.

When all sections have been completed then it automatically submitted your programme to your Operating Authority (OA).  Now wait as your OA checks your level, you will receive either notice direct of the approval to you or to your email address.  

What happens when an OA finds an issue on your programme and won’t approve it?
If the Operating Authority (OA) ask you to change your section aims / objectives,
upload more evidence, correct a mistake etc then just ask your Leader to ‘un-submit’ your
Award away from the OA (this is covered in the leaders own DofE Centre user guide) – this
means your Award will be taken back from the OA to allow you to make any changes.

Achievement Pack

Once your Award has been approved by the OA, or DofE Office for Gold, you will be given the option to create your Achievement Pack.  You will be signposted to a template for your level – Bronze, Silver or Gold - and will be able to drag and drop in your evidence and capture all your best memories and achievements, to create a personal record and memory book to keep.
Once you’ve assembled your Achievement Pack online, you’ll then be able to either print off a free PDF of your book or pay a little more to upgrade to a leatherette or hardback version.


Messaging – sending & receiving

eDofE includes a messaging system allowing you to communicate with your Leader(s) and other participants in your centre. Remember the messages are not sent to the person own email address, they can only read them from their eDofE account.

Sending messages:

1.    Click ‘Messages’

2.    Click ‘Create new message’

3.    Choose the person who will receive the message. You can find them by typing their names into the box.

4.    Enter a subject

5.    Enter the message and click ‘Send’– the message will be sent to your recipient.

Receiving messages: This can be accessed in a number of ways:

1.    Click ‘Messages’ and all the items are listed

Change an activity

The system gives you the opportunity to change your sectional activity once in each section.  You should only change activity if there is a situation which arises where it is outside of your control - for example, in your Physical section hockey training / games were cancelled because the team folded or you have been injured and cannot continue this activity. You will be asked to complete the plan with the reason why you changed and submit it again for your Leader to check.

If you want to use two activities for one section: If you want to use two activities together then manually type in both activities, for example: ‘Helping OXFAM shop and RSPCA’ because any evidence from your previous activity remains in your account for your programme and when you create your achievement pack.

Why doesn’t the change activity option appear? Your initial programme plan and all your previous evidence must first be approved by your Leader before the option to change activity appears on this screen.