ETA Custom Print - May/June 2008 - (Page 7) Demand currently being generated through the government is more on the local level, Jacobi believes. “Everyday more and more municipalities, school systems and hospitals are dealing with having to install fiber, maintain it, or troubleshoot it. The more schools use computers in the day-to-day classroom environment, the more fiber becomes a necessity. And given the need for less regenerator, fiber is making its way into more remote areas. The cost of installing fiber for long distance is less than it is for copper.” (Aeronautical Radio Incorporated) have also worked with the ETA to create fiber optic certifications for the aerospace and avionics industry. ARINC and SAE International both have published fiber optic training standards. ETA certifies fabricators, installers, technicians, quality assurance personnel, and engineers to these standards. Schools use these standards as a guideline for their training. The ETA also has installer, technician, and designer training competencies for the telecommunications industry.” Training for these certifications requires time in the classroom and the lab. About 40% of the training is hands-on, Woodward notes, and students must demonstrate a proficiency in fiber optic connectorization, splicing, cleaning, inspection, and testing. Depending on the certification being attempted, this training can be completed is as few as 24 hours or as long as 80+. Learning the theory, principles and installation procedures for fiber optics is like any technical field, Jacobi believes. “If you apply yourself to learning you will succeed, although the installation of fiber through the use of today’s and tomorrow’s high end equipment makes the job a lot easier,” he notes. As President and CEO of Redwood Education Services, he views Redwood’s approach to conducting training as very different from its competitors. “We take the theory portion of the courses and put it into an online environment wrapped with weekly webinars and access to an instructor 24x7 via email or phone. The online learning isn’t just your everyday eLearning. We actually have interactive 3D models that demonstrate the text and students can also take advantage of the audio. Studies have shown that students learn more effectively and efficiently when they can interact with the course material, in addition to hearing what they are reading. Upon completion of the online theory, we then schedule the handson labs to be conducted at a location nearest to the student or on campus through one of our college partners; we’re currently partnered with over 250 colleges and universities. We also do the typical boot camp style of our courses. Through our unique delivery method, we have found that students are favoring this more so than our boot camp style training that is conducted in the classroom. Students have the luxury of accessing their course at their convenience, and they love that. They can spend as much, or as little time as needed to grasp the material. The weekly webinars reinforces the content.” Jacobi points out that Redwood was founded for the military, by the military. “A lot of military personnel are deployed overseas and at sea,” he says. “These individuals need a distraction from their weary day to day wartime activities and the high paced operation tempo. We are finding more and more deployed enlisted personnel are taking our training while overseas to not only learn a new skill but to keep their morale up in a hostile environment and keep their minds off their day-to-day activities. We recently had 30 students taking our Fiber course while deployed in Afghanistan – our unique delivery method allowed them to do this – we will then schedule the needed hands-on component once they are safely returned back to the states.” And here in the United States, companies like Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, FairPoint, and Quest continue to fuel the fiber demand. So why exactly does it make sense for homeowners and businesses to bring fiber optics into their homes and offices, even if it’s simply to future proof them? The advantage Jacobi cites is that fiber is immune to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency InContinued on page 9 Clay Franklin of Corning Inc. demonstrates the usage of a Corning LID fusion splicer. Obviously, the time has never been better to benefit from the lucrative field of fiber optics. Jacobi points out that “Fiber optics is an expanding technology that is making its way into all areas of technology; the obvious areas are bandwidth related. However, there are many advantages to fiber optics besides bandwidth and attenuation, such as electrical isolation, EMI immunity, small size, light weight, and low optical power levels. Fiber is used in manufacturing for sensing. It used in the medical field for laser surgery. It is used in home entertainment systems to exchange data between pieces of equipment. Engineers are taking advantage of fiber in new designs and integrators are doing the same in legacy systems.” With the right training and education, techs can easily scale the fiber optics learning curve and increase their earnings. “The ETA has had fiber optic certifications for the installer, technician, and designer, in place for over a decade,” Woodward says. “SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) International and ARINC College Credits for Fiber Optics Courses Redwood Education Services has partnered with Baker University, allowing students to obtain college level credits for all of our course offerings. Redwood’s Fiber Program encompasses the Fiber Optics Installer and Technician competencies as outlined by the ETA. Baker University has granted it 12 credit hours. Students can transfer those credits so they can be used to pursue an Associate, Bachelor, or Master degree at a college or university of their choice or through Baker University. Partnerships such as this allow people to tap into funding available to them such as Tuition Assistance, which is typically offered by various organizations and the military so that they can enhance their skills without financial hardship. Redwood’s partnership with Baker University allows students to obtain college level credits for all of its course offerings. MAY/JUNE2008 | etainternational.org | 7 http://www.etainternational.org
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