Page 24: of Marine News Magazine (September 2015)

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TRAINING & EDUCATION

Online Education and Training

By Captain Stan Wallace

The emerging technology tool is embraced by award winning West Kentucky Com- munity & Technical College’s Inland Logistics and Marine Institute and its students.

Years ago, it was not uncommon as U. S. Coast Guard approved schools and training cen- for a deckhand on a towboat with no ters take the time to develop competency-based courses higher education to work his way up taught through secure online venues. Not only is the train- the ladder to become a Captain or ing material reviewed, but the delivery, and security of

Chief Engineer. Today as technologies safeguarding content and student information is veri? ed are added and new U.S. Coast Guard as well. West Kentucky Community & Technical Col- regulations are put into place, indi- lege (WKCTC) located in Paducah, KY – and the very viduals are ? nding that working on heart of America’s river economy – has two such programs,

Wallace

America’s Inland Waterways requires “Marine Technology” and “Logistics and Operations Man- not only a love of the waterways, but agement,” offered in the new and innovative means of also a commitment to continuous learning. achieving higher education through the online Blackboard

The Marine River Industry, like its deep-water counter- learning environment. The Marine Technology program part is moving fast into a new technically advanced era. An gives professional mariners the opportunity to rise above era where advances in navigation equipment, communica- the crowd and establish themselves as a leader in the In- tions, and shipboard systems that diagnosis themselves and dustry as well as improve their opportunities to advance communicate problems has quickly outpaced our ability to professionally. The curriculum for the Marine Technology have a well-trained and educated work force to deal with it. program is taught online with ? exible schedules to accom- modate the ever-changing schedules of the mariner.

RAINING MEANS OGISTICS OGISTICS OGISTICS

T L , L , L WKCTC’s online courses offer a fresh new opportunity

Part of the problem is the ability to schedule the needed to working adults who no longer have the ability or time to training for industry personnel. When can the company juggle job, family, and trips to a college campus in order to schedule allow suf? cient personnel to go and receive need- achieve a college degree. With a focus on the Marine River ed educational updates and still be able to conduct daily Industry and that of Logistics, workers in those ? elds or shipping business? Beyond this, there’s the cost of coordi- individuals in other jobs who are looking for a change, have nating and arranging travel and locating a training facility the opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge. to accommodate this task.

N INE

In the past, providing marine industry education and WKCTC O L training centered on using the traditional method of stu- Developing courses that engage the students through dents in a structured physical classroom environment. En- the use of 3D technology, online lab exercises, and other tering the scene right behind these advances in emerging interactive material, both the Marine Technology and Lo- technology is a newer concept of training and education gistics programs at WKCTC offer a more focused, easier to through the online environment. The idea is to get indus- use learning experience.

try to embrace the use of online technology that is a more The two programs are overseen through WKCTC’s new cost effective and timely method of providing ever-chang- Inland Logistics and Marine Institute located in Paducah. ing education and training. This satellite campus lies near the marine industries served

Online education has come a long way in a few short in Paducah and the Ohio River, allowing Institute person- years. Today, many nationally accredited colleges as well nel to work closely with local marine leaders to receive

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