As more correctional agencies take a closer look at utilizing distance learning, one industry-tailored e-learning platform is showing correctional practitioners the benefit of educating employees through computer-based training and how easy it can be.

Crimcast, first developed by Screened Images Multimedia in 1998 and launched in 2001, offers corrections and criminal justice professionals a turnkey training automation system, allowing them to build, teach and take online courses using preexisting training materials.

As a result of its flexibility, robust management tools and tailor-made corrections and criminal justice features, the Crimcast platform is being adopting by state and county agencies as a part of their training plan.

In the State of Kentucky, Crimcast in collaboration with Eastern Kentucky University, has been chosen as the central learning management system to create and house its staff training courses.

According to DOC Commissioner John Rees, the plan is to take his existing pre-service and in-service courses traditionally given at the central academy and place many of them in an online learning structure.

Those courses that would not adapt well to online learning, such as hand-to-hand combat or firearms training, would be given to staff members in a traditional form at three or four regional locations that are closer to the corrections facilities.

"The cost savings are going to be substantial. We get to eliminate the cost of maintaining the academy and, not to mention, the dollars for housing and travel," said Rees.

Currently, DOC staff are working to transform existing lesson plans into online learning courses, which will include graphics and testing mechanisms.  Rees said the platform will allow the agency to build custom courses according to the DOC's specifications, which is an advantage over other products.

"The society has changed. Five years ago we might have needed to provide computer training but our workforce is changing. We are using the PC in everything we do. Not only has technology improved, but it is more user friendly," Rees said.

More about Crimcast

Along with the ability to build courseware without any technical expertise, trainers can also put all of their records in the system to track employees and accountability. Through Crimcast, a trainer can pull up a staff member's file to see what courses they've taken, when they took the courses, whether or not they passed, the credit hours acquired and more. Additionally, the software gives trainers the ability to track an entire facility's compliance.

Additionally, an agency can input their entire training calendar for the year and courses that are offline. "From the user's point of view, when I'm an employee and I come in and want to see what training is available to me, I could, in theory, see every single training that's available, whether it's at the academy, in the field, in another state at a conference plus what's online. I can then register and sign up for any of them," says Laura E. Noonan, President of Screened Images, Inc. [SIM]

The Crimcast software is also a valuable tool for publishers in the criminal justice field who want to put their materials in a computer-based format for agencies to access and use to train staff. For example, an agency may have training specifically tailored to its facilities and state laws, but requires a course on signs of staff sexual misconduct. Through Crimcast, they can search the course catalog for such training and publishers can make it available to agencies nationwide.

"You have to leave your preconceptions at the door, sit down, experience what Crimcast can do and realize that this is what distance learning was truly meant to be," says Noonan.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Crimcast e-learning platform, please contact:

Joseph S. Noonan
SIM
Call 800-748-4336
sales@crimcast.com
www.crimcast.com

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