CWA 1180 Training and Education

CWA/NETT: High-tech training for 1180 members

"It's a wonderful course. Intense, but wonderful," said Denise Paul, an 1180 member and PAA at the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), talking about the on-line Cisco Certified Network Associate (CNAA) training course she is taking through CWA. "I didn't know it was as simple as it was to build a computer."

Paul is one of a handful of Local 1180 members that are currently enrolled in the innovative high-tech training program. The union would like to encourage more members to take advantage of this unique opportunity to obtain valuable skills.

The CWA/NETT Academy runs the program, which offers several courses, all of them designed to help CWA members acquire technological skills that are increasingly required in the workforce. The program is a joint initiative of CWA and Cisco. It is part of CWA's commitment to provide training to its members; Cisco provides the equipment and curriculum. In addition, Stanly Community College trains the proctors and oversees the lab implementation.

Each course combines an on-line curriculum with one-on-one mentoring in accredited courses that lead to industry-recognized certification. The courses include computer technology (A+), the CNAA course Paul is taking, UNIX, electronics, structured cabling, and the Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS). The lab component of the course is done at one of 12 state-of-the-art computer labs CWA has set up throughout the country. For 1180 members, the lab is housed right at the union office, on the third floor at 6 Harrison Street. "The lab is wonderful!" Paul enthused.

Although it is a distance learning program, Paul said she felt students were thoroughly supported throughout the process. "We have on-line instructors," she explained. "You e-mail him, and he'll e-mail you right back. The support is there. And there's a chat room where you can go with questions. Once a week you're e-mailed to tell you what is expected that week. There's an on-line test after each chapter. It's very structured."

As to why she signed up for the CNAA course, Paul said, "it's the role of technology—everything is computerized. So to have a background in computers is useful to anyone. To be able to troubleshoot your own system and put it back together is worth it right there." She said she plans to use her knowledge in her current job, but is aware that these new skills may also open other doors for her. "It's self-gratification," she said about the learning, "but on the other hand, if it's going to benefit me financially, I'm open to that," she acknowledged with a laugh.

Local 1180 members can sign up for the CWA/NETT courses at anytime through their website, www.cwanett.org. These courses can be taken for college credit, and scholarships are available; for more information, log on to the CWA/NETT site.

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