[September 07, 2004] Unique WebCT Certified Trainer Program Reaches Major Milestone LYNNFIELD, Mass. --(Business Wire)-- Sept. 7, 2004 -- In first-in-the industry initiative, more than 230 participants have become experts at training faculty to harness the power of WebCT's e-learning systems WebCT today announced it has certified more than 230 WebCT trainers in a fast-growing, model program that is the only one of its kind in higher education. WebCT Certified Trainers help faculty apply WebCT's course management and academic enterprise system tools - including multimedia content, assignments, assessments, chat and discussion groups - to produce the best possible learning outcomes for their students. More than 60 percent of WebCT Certified Trainers have earned their certification in the past 12 months. San Diego State University has evaluated the program and is offering graduate-level credit for certification. The gathering momentum of certification has prompted WebCT to schedule five sessions around the world over the next few months. "The application process is sound, the workshop is intense, and the final evaluation is rigorous," said John St. Clair, executive director of training and technical services at the Tennessee Board of Regents, which certified 27 instructors for 19 institutions this year. "Most importantly, the results deliver an exponential impact: Our instructors have become incredibly effective in leveraging the WebCT toolset in applying modern learning theories to teaching online, which means tens of thousands of students learn more." As the WebCT Certified Trainer Program improves education, it also opens new career doors for faculty, course designers and support staff who are familiar with WebCT systems. "The WebCT Certified Trainer Program is acquiring a deserved reputation for being challenging, so the credential really means something when you tell your class that you are certified," said Dana Little, a WebCT Certified Trainer who is an instructional technology consultant at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. "Certification also means a lot to your institution. You have proven your abilities as an instructor through a formal evaluation. Certification earned me a new position with decision-making responsibility over the administration and delivery of all of our WebCT programs. I'm enjoying the challenge." The WebCT Certified Trainer Program establishes an official set of WebCT-sanctioned trainer performance standards around teaching the pedagogical foundation of WebCT. The program is based on a professional training framework. There are three levels of certification, depending upon one's background and experience with WebCT, and one's performance in the evaluation: -- Associate Level Trainer Certification -- Senior Level Trainer Certification -- Vista Trainer Certification Certification workshops have two components. The online session, conducted in WebCT Vista(TM), takes approximately 30 hours over three weeks. Candidates then attend a three-day face-to-face session, which typically includes the final evaluation for certification. The workshops include online learning, discussion groups and classroom presentations. The next round of certification workshops include: WebCT Fall East Coast Main Office Program: Sept. 22-Oct. 22 -- Online session: Sept. 22-Oct. 13 -- Face-to-face session: Oct. 20-22 in Lynnfield, Mass. WebCT Fall UK Program: Oct. 5-Nov. 5 -- Online session: Oct. 5-27 -- Face-to-face session: Nov. 3-5 in a location to be determined West Coast Program: Nov. 2-Dec. 3 -- Online session: Nov. 2-23 -- Face-to-face session: Dec. 1-3, location to be determined Middle East User Conference Program: Sept. 11-Oct. 12 -- Online session Sept. 11, 4 p.m. (+3 GMT) -- Face-to-face session: Oct. 10-12 Additionally, a workshop in the Asia Pacific region is currently under way in Sydney, Australia. "We're pleased with the enthusiasm for this program," said Carol Vallone, WebCT president and CEO. "It signifies our customers' commitment to e-learning as a strategic, enterprise-level undertaking and the importance of faculty development in the online context as well. We created the program for our customers, but it seems to be useful to e-learning as a whole by setting standards for both certification and pedagogy." About WebCT WebCT has set the standard for e-learning systems in higher education. Based in Lynnfield, Mass., WebCT provides a highly flexible e-learning environment that empowers institutions across the educational spectrum with the ability to achieve their unique objectives. Thousands of colleges and universities around the world - from community colleges to large university consortia - are using WebCT to expand the boundaries of teaching and learning. For more information, please visit www.webct.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]