Online Training
Education makes us what we are.
—Claude Adrien Helvétius
In the days of our grandparents, valued employees were those who stuck around until retirement. But the gold-watch days are over. Companies now value fresh, newly-educated recruits and experienced employees who stay on top of new technologies, by constantly keeping their skills honed and polished. But with today's rapid technological advancements, one would have to go to school almost forever. With a full-time job, who has time to go back to school?
The Internet is one solution. It's changing the way we learn. The biggest advantage is that you may take courses at any time, from any place, and at your own pace. You can log off to change your kid's diaper, then log back on and pick up exactly where you left off. Slower students aren't rushed and advanced students aren't held back. Night people may study into the wee hours and hit the sack just as morning people are starting.
Internet based training (IBT) is heavy on software applications and programming, because it lends itself so well to learning by computer. But with the advancements in streaming audio and video, Internet connections, computing power and online training applications, that's already changing. Many colleges, universities and vocational training centers are now offering online training (distance learning) or are planning to. Even prestigious universities are jumping on the bandwagon. Courses are typically cheaper online, and with today's technology, they are much more sophisticated than the computer-based training (CBT) courses of the early 90s.
| Classrooms as we know them are going away. White boards and chalkboards are already almost obsolete. We'll still need instructors and course developers, but in different capacities. If your field is education, especially corporate education, you'd be wise to embrace these new technologies and learn how to implement them. |
Many IBT organizations offer free sample courses or modules. Some courses are CD-based or downloadable with limited online time, while others are completely online. For starters, see Online Training or check with your local colleges and universities. Many have or are planning online learning programs.
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Copyright © 1997, J. Steven Niznik. All Rights Reserved.