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Online Learning with Element K
Introduction
| Benefits | Overview
Subscribe | Samples
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Course Listings
Frequently Asked Questions –
To Get You Started
What are the advantages of online training?
Will my employer pay for this training?
How are Continuing Education Units handled and how many are available for each class?
What are the minimum hardware and software requirements for taking courses?
You mean I can take any course in the library I choose for one full year?
Can I enroll in more than one course at a time?
So how does it work? I sign up for a library, pick a course, then work my way through it?
So will everything I need be provided to me within the course structure?
How do I decide which library to choose? Which courses to start with?
It sounds too easy. What’s the catch?
Surely there must be some down side.
What are the advantages of online training?
It’s convenient, skill based, practical information for working adults. Courses can be accessed anytime and anywhere. It puts you in charge of your own personal and professional development. You don’t have to take time away from work or your family to continue your learning. The information is always the latest because courses are updated on a regular basis.
Will my employer pay for this training?
Most likely. Most companies have tuition reimbursement benefits and/or professional development funds to help employees keep skills current. Element K has been in the education business for over 20 years and is a leader in the field of e-Learning, so there is no question about the quality of its content or the delivery medium – see the Element K list of satisfied partners. But, if your employer will not pay, you still need to consider enrolling. You’re investing in your future – something that is vital in today’s fickle, changing marketplace.
You purchase the use of a single library with complete access for a full year. The Business Fundamentals Library costs $199 for IAAP members ($219 for nonmembers). The Office Productivity Library costs $229 for IAAP members ($249 for nonmembers). The Design and Media Library is a six-month library which costs $249 for IAAP members ($269 for nonmembers).
What are the minimum hardware and software requirements for taking courses?
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Hardware/Software
Minimum Requirements |
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Processor
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Pentium
90-MHz or better; or Macintosh PowerPC |
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Platform
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Windows
95 or NT4; or MacOS 8 |
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Browsers
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For
Windows: |
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Screen
Resolution |
800
x 600 @ 256 colors |
You mean I can take any course in the
Business Fundamentals library or the Office
Productivity library I choose for one full year? Or,
any course in the Design and Media library for
six-months?
That’s correct.
Can I enroll in more than one course at a time?
That’s up to you. You may work your way through a course and complete it (many offer CEU and CPS/CAP recertification points) or open a course and extract just the information you need. The latter is often called “just-in-time training.” It’s up to you.
So how does it work? I sign up for a library, pick a course,
then work my way through it?
It depends. If you choose a self-paced course, then that’s exactly what you do. You create your own schedule for completing assignments. But some people prefer instructor-led courses where you are part of a class. You meet at certain times and interact with other students – more like what you’d do in a traditional classroom, except that it’s all done online. But whatever you choose, you have 24/7 technical and support help. You can access someone online or by phone to talk you through technical problems, or post questions regarding content and receive feedback from online faculty.
So will everything I need be provided to me within the course structure?
Some courses may require additional resources, like reference materials or books. These can be purchased from an online bookstore. You have access to a number of reference materials that you can read, bookmark, or the pull information you need from them.
How will I know when my year’s subscription ends? What if
I’m in the middle of a class and it expires?
IAAP will try to let you know one month prior to your expiration date so that you can finish any courses you’ve started and give you the opportunity to renew your subscription. Once you enroll, you’ll never want to be without access – you’ll enjoy it that much!
I’m not very technologically savvy. What if I enroll and
can’t get things to work right or don’t understand the directions?
That’s why you’ll always have the option of talking to a real Element K representative who can talk you through the glitches. And, your expertise will grow as you go through the courses.
How do I decide which library to choose? Which courses to start with?
You can subscribe to all three libraries if you want – that gives you total access. But if you must choose, I’d say look at where your skills need the most polish and start there. If your company values technological proficiency, go with the Office Productivity Library. If you’re trying to improve your leadership, management, or people skills, select the Business Fundamentals Library. If you are required to do newsletters, brochures, etc., then you'll want to select the Design and Media library. You may also want to get input from your manager. The two of you could discuss areas of strengths and weaknesses and where your job is going in the next few years and use that as a basis for course selection. By making the courses a part of your professional development plan, it provides for employer buy-in and support.
What if I start a course and find out I’m over my head? For
example, if I take an intermediate Word course?
Then simply back up and start at a lower level, like Beginning Word. You’re the boss. You haven’t lost a thing. Complete the basic course, then move into the intermediate. No problem. Remember, you have access to all the courses in the library you choose. You can tailor the content to meet your needs. You might also want to carefully look at the course curriculum before you start a course, to make sure that you’re in the right course for you at this time.
It sounds too easy. What’s the catch?
There is no catch. It’s a cost-effective way to design your own learning curriculum and move along at your own pace.
Surely there must be some down side.
The only down side is setting a goal for yourself and accomplishing that goal – and that requires self-discipline. If you opt for self-paced learning, there are no scheduled classes and deadlines for assignments. It’s all up to you to work through the course and meet self-imposed deadlines. Some of us are good at that, others of us need some outside prodding. Signing up with a friend or colleague can help, so too can setting goals with your manager and having progress reports as you move your way through the course. Sometimes establishing milestones and sharing when you’ve reached them can be a great incentive to complete a course.
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