ICIA Releases Introductory Online Course
Sep 1, 2002 12:00 PM
The International Communications Industries Association (ICIA) has announced the latest addition to its InfoComm Academy online courses: Quick Start to the Audiovisual Industry, an introductory course designed for technicians, managers, and support staff in their first six months to a year of hire. The course helps employees understand the context of their job and how the industry works.
The online training provides a basic understanding of the A/V communications industry and is supplemented by a learner’s workbook and manager’s guide. The course was designed for easy integration into electronics and broadcast as well as media technical and vocational education programs by secondary school and postsecondary school instructors.
“Despite the current economy, the A/V industry nevertheless faces a shortage of qualified workers over the next five years,” says Randy Lemke, ICIA’s executive director. “Quick Start is a key component of ICIA’s strategy for workforce development.” The course supplies basic, necessary information to get new employees up to speed. High school and college students can also use the course to learn about opportunities in the industry.
The course consists of about three hours of interactive online training and provides bonus materials for the manager/adviser and employee/student. ICIA members have long stated that they don’t have time to develop their own programs and exercises for new employees. The course makes it easy for a manager to coordinate hands-on practice with concepts learned through Quick Start. Topics include in-depth discussion of various industry roles, the distribution channel, vertical markets, team concepts, as well as introductions to basic technical concepts such as the difference between analog and digital, factors to consider in visual and audio environments, and applications of the technology. It can be used as a first step toward ICIA’s more advanced science and technology online course, Essentials of the A/V Industry.
The training program is free to ICIA members. Nonmembers can take the course for free for a limited time. To register, go to www.infocomm.org/education/online.
