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Singapore, 12 March 2003
Emergency workers and sports teams are part of the growing audience for online training In the past, online learning originated as a way to train computer programmers, database administrators, and other IT workers. A few years ago, companies began adopting E-learning for training employees in telemarketing and sales. But now E-learning is also turning up in untraditional workplaces, such as prisons, fire stations and hotels. There's growing demand for niche E-learning applications that train very specific-and non-traditional-types of workers. In New York, firefighters are learning how to respond to emergencies involving hazardous gases and materials via a new online training program. Since June 15, online courses were offered to emergency-response professionals. The online format makes it easier for training providers to update information. In addition, online training helps the fire department cut costs and time related to classroom training. Previously, firefighters had to travel to training centres in other states that specialised in these areas. The online classroom offers individual, self-directed classes for emergency-response professionals. The site also addresses certification issues related to emergency-response training. To be re-certified, states need emergency workers to complete a certain number of training hours every two years. Re-certification requires training in a variety of areas, such as dealing with cardiac trauma and response to biological and chemical weapons. For emergency workers, finding time to complete training can be tough. New York City's 11,000 correctional officers face similar challenges with their work schedules. Officers are often required to work the "wheel," a series of rotating shifts (noon to 8 p.m. one day, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. the next, 6 p.m. to midnight the day after). To hold a supervisory position, officers must have completed at least 60 college course credits. With such an unusual schedule, correctional officers who don't have that educational background find it nearly impossible to attend the college courses needed for a promotion. But that's changing, as officers should soon be able to "attend" college from their home PCs. The jail guards' union, the New York City Corrections Officers Benevolent Association, recently started a pilot program that lets officers take online classes offered by local education institutions. Most officers are expected to take criminal justice courses, but any online class they take from designated local colleges--from basic accounting to literature--will count toward the 60 credits they need. So far, more than 1,000 correctional officers have applied for the online learning program. Educating correctional officers is just the beginning and similar courses are being offered to the National Football League Players Association.. One interested team is the New York Jets. "These are non-traditional students with non-traditional hours. And they're transient," says Carl Banks, the Jets' director of player development. "Being able to take that computer home and log on is really helpful." Baseball's San Francisco Giants are counting on online training to get an edge on the field. The Giants have created a disk library that lets players and coaches analyze batters' stances and swings, pitchers' deliveries, and opponents' defensive setups. Four cameras at Pacific Bell Park record every at-bat of every home game. The images are transmitted over fiber-optic lines to the team's local area network, then dumped into a DVD jukebox that holds 750 disks--about 5 terabytes of information. The system includes a database tying the ball-strike count, fielders' positions, pitch speed, and type of pitch to every clip. As all the information is now digitized, players and coaches can search by every conceivable criteria--from the positions of the fielders to the type of pitch thrown. At Pacific Bell Park, team members have access to PCs, which they use to search footage and study games on the Giants' intranet. When the team is on the road, players and coaches have individualized DVDs that contain information pulled from the jukebox, which they can view from their notebook computers. But niche E-learning applications aren't always so glamorous. A growing number of E-learning apps are being developed to train blue-collar workers. Training includes 30-to 90-minute online classes on such topics as how to properly clean a guest room and how to set up a dinner table. While those aren't the types of skills that one might expect to learn via a computer, analysts say that E-learning is rapidly moving beyond text-heavy instruction into more graphically appealing presentations that are easier to use and learn from. The part that all employees like is that E-learning is going to go from a bad class to a good experience that doesn't feel like training at all. But despite the recent push of E-learning into non-traditional workplaces, and the strong emergence of niche E-learning applications, analysts stop short of predicting widespread use of online learning for all jobs. Only time will tell if the growth of E-learning beyond the white-collar worker will really turn into a strong trend. For more information on a variety of e-Learning courses, do visit www.PurpleTrain.com for an idea of what e-Learning can do for you. You can also find out more by sending an email to enquiry@purpletrain.com *Adapted from an article by Noah Shachtman ABOUT PURPLETRAIN.COM By combining innovative technology with world-class training content, PurpleTrain.com offers companies and individuals a high value, quality and effective on-line training solution. Over 700 on-line courses are available, offering masters, degrees, diplomas and certificates in business and IT programs. Our online learning community now stands at over 67,000 users. PurpleTrain.com is a 100%-owned venture of Informatics Holdings Limited, a leading training and education provider listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Informatics Holdings Limited is a world class institute for quality lifelong learning services and made the ranking among Forbes Global's 200 Best Small Companies in the world. ABOUT INFORMATICS GROUP The Informatics Group, established in 1983, is a multinational corporation providing training and educational services in information technology and business management. Through its international franchising programme and strategic acquisitions, Informatics presently has a global network of more than 550 centres spanning over 45 countries. The company presently offers six franchise products: Informatics Computer School, Thames Business School, Informatics Professional Development Centre, CAL Computer Training Centre, Cambridge Child Development Centre and RACC. For more information, please visit http://www.informaticsgroup.com. For more information, please contact : Andrew Yap All trademarks and registered trademarks are property of
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are forward-looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The actual results may differ from those described or contemplated. |