Courses | Using u4all.com
Computer Based Learning
Traditional vs. New Class Offerings

The ACA Group now offers you the option of receiving your training on-line. Starting with our popular "How To Improve Customer Service" course, the program will soon include many of our other classes.

These courses offer all the benefits of traditional classroom training plus the convenience of learning from the comfort of your own computer. Take one of our internet ready courses or ask us to design a course just for you. As usual, the ACA Group is here to help.

The ACA Group offers its On-Line Training utilizing U4ALL.com, the Live Knowledge Trading Community . Instructors and students meet in live, fully-interactive virtual classrooms that truly capture the real-world learning experience. For the first time ever people the world over can experience the same exchange of ideas and information online, as they would in a brick-and-mortar classroom.

By using U4all.com's state-of-the-art software, ACA Group is able to bring you a highly dynamic and interactive virtual learning environment that cannot be found elsewhere on the web today.

In our on-line learning courses, you'll be able to hear the instructor lecture live, in real time. You will see what the instructor writes on the white board or any graphics the instructor puts on the overhead. You can raise your hand and ask questions or write questions to the instructor and receive written answers. You can interact with other students, one-on-one or in small groups all in real time. You can take the classes from the office or at home. Click here to see how On-Line Training compares to a traditional classroom.

ON-LINE COURSES:

How to improve Customer Service - An Introduction (FREE Course)

How To Improve Customer Service - 8 Part Series

ERP to E-Commerce: Understanding Today's Business Systems (Free preview available)

"Assuring Excellent Customer Service" (Free preview available)

"Inspiring Employee Commitment To Customer Service" (Free preview available)

"Communication Skills, Tools & Techniques"

Before registering for any of our on-line courses we strongly encourage you to read the following instructions.

HOW TO USE u4all.com PAGE

Students need: Sound card, speakers and a microphone

Note: U4all.com uses technology that "pushes" the class' graphics to your computer before class begins. This means that during class the only thing that is being sent over the wire is the instructor's voice.

To get the graphics downloaded, you have to be on-line sometime before class starts. Be sure you spend some time on-line the day before the class. It doesn't matter where on-line or what you're doing. The graphics will be pushed to your computer in the background.

Alternatively, sign into class 15-20 minutes before the scheduled start time. This will void any delay in viewing the graphics during class.

Students may want: Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free program. This will allow students to print the course material and take notes. Click Here to get Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Instructions:

1. Click on any of the couse link above.

2. Then click on the "Enroll" button.

3. You'll be asked to select one of the scheduled course dates.

4. If you're a new u4all student, click on the Register link just to the left of the course schedule.

5. Complete the form.

6. Click on the download link to download the student software. After the download is complete, close the download window.

7. Click the Register button, and you'll get the course enrollment page.

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BASICS OF COMPUTER BASED LEARNING

This is a introduction to the concepts of computer or web based training. There are two basic categories of computer based training:

Asynchronous - The instructor and the student are not in real time communication. This breaks down into two sub-categories. Either of the two categories can and should include lots of student interaction like exercises and quizzes.

• Overall Pro - Flexibility for the student. They can take the course when and where they want.
• Overall Con - Lack of real time interaction with other students and the instructor.

1.1 Web based training where the student signs on to a web site any time they want and takes a course. The student may be able to communicate with the instructor and other students through email, list serves and bulletin boards.

• Pro - Student can take course spontaneously.
• Con - Bandwidth limitations on audio, video and graphics.

1.2 CD-ROM based training. The student buys a CD or maybe downloads a file. They then take the class at the time and place of their choosing and do not need to be tethered to the Internet. Communication with others still possible if a web site or list serve is maintained for that purpose.

• Pro - No bandwidth problems. Lots of flexibility with video and graphics.
• Con - Lack of spontaneity. Need to make a separate effort to interact.

2. Synchronous or virtual classroom - The students and instructor are in real time communication. This can include the visuals (slides) plus video and voice or visuals and voice only. This is getting very popular. More and more software companies in the middle market are doing their demos this way. It greatly reduces their cost of sales.

There are lots of ways to do this starting with simple use on Net Meeting, a free accessory from Microsoft.

There are web sites dedicated to providing communication using only a browser, like Web-X and Placeware.

Then there are sites dedicated to delivering courses like u4all.com, and blackboard.com.

• Overall Pro - Still flexible for the student. They can take the course where they want, but not when. There is real time interaction with other students and the instructor.
• Overall Con - Student must take class when scheduled.

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COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL VS. NEW CLASS OFFERINGS

CHARACTERISTICS & INTERACTIONS	TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM	ON-LINE TRAINING
See the instructor, live, in realtime	X	X
Hear the instructor, live, in realtime	X	X
See what the instructor writes on the white board	X	X
Receive and work with hand outs	X	X
Raise your hand and ask questions	X	X
Interact with other students, 1 on 1 or in small groups	X	X
Write questions to the instructor	X	X
Receive written answers to you questions	X	X
Use Manipulatives, blocks, legos, toys, tools	X
Have a private conversation with the instructor during class	X	X
See visual aids presented by the instructor	X	X
View videos and other material	X	X
Do exercises	X	X
Receive immediate instructor feedback	X	X
View live demonstrations	X	X
Use other research materials as made available by the instructor	X	X
Ask instructor to change pace of instruction, speed up or slow down	X	X
Take advantage of flexible curriculumk, unplanned changes in direction	X	X
Take quizzes and tests	X	X
Get test results immediately		X
Student controls the geographic location where course is viewed		X

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[Ellen Kane, CPIM] [James Tarr, CPIM] [Doug Howardell, CPIM]
[Gene Oster, CPIM] [Ray Blinde, CPIM] [Steve Davis, CPIM]
[Norm Raffish, CPIM] [Bob Gilson, CFPIM, CIRM, CMC]

The ACA Group
P.O. Box 220782
   Newhall, CA  91322
  PH: 888-262-1727