CUNA's eLearning program gaining popularity

<p>MADISON, Wis. – Will credit union professionals ever opt for online training over in-person training? CUNA thinks so, and it is building numbers to prove it. So far 110 people have taken part in CUNA’s eSchools since they debuted in December 2001. In addition, CUNA has administered a total of 46,000 online tests since they were introduced in 1999. “CPD’s eLearning approach is unique because we are committed to providing training for a wide range of learning styles,” says Plumer Lovelace, director of training technology for CUNA’s Center for Professional Development. CUNA’s eLearning programs allow credit union staff and volunteers to participate in national training programs without traveling from their homes or offices. “To me it was just as interactive as a classroom and the material covered was on par with the quality of a classroom presentation,” said Danielle Chatfield, vice president of member services/lending at OhioHealth Credit Union in Columbus, Ohio. CUNA’s eSchools, formerly CUNA’s Virtual Classrooms, combine CPD’s schools and institutes with an eLearning delivery system. The program is a blended approach to learning that combines live, real-time interactive instruction from industry experts with self-paced Web activities, including group discussions, exercises, simulations, and case studies. Instructors also maintain online office hours outside the classroom. Each program consists of two to six live virtual classroom sessions plus additional learning activities to be completed individually. CUNA’s eCourses, formerly Web-Based Training, allow employees to acquire new knowledge, improve productivity, and develop new business and technical skills at their own convenience. CUNA will offer eSeminars and eWorkshops beginning in June. Topics include Identity Theft, Web Site Compliance, Investments, and Sales Incentives. eSeminars are one-day interactive classroom sessions, while eWorkshops meet for two days. Cost is $129 for eSeminars and $250 for eWorkshops. Five eSeminars and two eWorkshops are currently scheduled, with more to be added throughout the year. For more information visit www.cuna.org/training.</p>