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CEDIA overhauls education platform, adds to course portfolio

CEDIA is launching a new, online learning platform and additional courses to create a more relevant and intuitive training experience for professionals in any career stage. The learning management system (LMS) and course offerings are part of the organisation’s global strategy to boost industry professionalism and skill up the workforce, while creating clear pathways toward CEDIA certification.

“CEDIA is aggressively focussed on raising the bar for industry training and the new LMS and courses are key to these efforts,” said SVP of education and certification at CEDIA, Tom Darling. “We’re making educational opportunities more accessible than ever before to help build a pipeline of qualified talent.”

The new LMS includes tools to customise course selection based on occupation and experience level. Tom said the platform is different and better in several ways, including offering virtual instructor-led training where participants learn live from qualified instructors anywhere in the world. In addition, the LMS supports 58 different languages enabling CEDIA to translate its content for a more global audience and are optimised for laptops, tablets, or smartphones.

“Industry veterans will receive an experience more tailored to their needs and professionals new to the CEDIA channel will find educational and career pathways clearly outlined so they know what their training path should look like to move to the next level,” said Darling.

Launching first are new entry-level courses including: Jobsite Basics, Introduction to Home Theatre, Basic Networking and Systems Control, Introduction to Audio, Introduction to Video, Introduction to Wiring and Cabling, Introduction to Sales and Marketing, Finance for the Non-Financial Manager, Building Your Brand, Mastering Cash Flow, Increasing Productivity Through Efficiency, Introduction to Project Management, and Hiring the Right People.

Darling added the courses will avoid the “death by PowerPoint” style typical of online education layouts by engaging learners in formats that read more like web pages or social media feeds. The content, written and reviewed by industry leaders, aims to engage participants in their career fields — think technician, owner, salesperson, or project manager — and offers “clearly delineated” options to ensure relevance for the user.

One year ago, CEDIA unveiled its three-year strategic plan and education and workforce-building initiatives are key. The online training platform and new course offerings will complement initiatives like a 12-week training programme in the U.S. for entry-level students seeking to become home technology integration professionals and a programme in the EMEA region built on the Smart Home Technician Apprenticeship standard that recently received approval from the Institute of Apprenticeships.

“It is essential for our industry that we continue to load and grow the pipeline of talent,” explained Darling. “CEDIA’s emphasis on training, continuing education, certification, and workforce development demonstrates our commitment to our members as the need for highly-skilled integrators, tech designers, and trade supplier professionals expands throughout the world. Our new resources will provide tremendous value for seasoned or prospective pros at all levels and in any area of the industry.”

The first slate of new courses is due to be rolled out in the coming weeks and dozens more will debut monthly with a full 70 courses available by the end of 2019.

www.cedia.net