Where did this idea for the pilot originate?
In 2004, the Reporter Education Commission was formed. After extensive research conducted by professional researchers, educational consultants, the Council on Approved Student Education (CASE), and multiple member focus groups, the Reporter Education Committee Report was created. The NCRA Board approved the report in 2005, and work on the initiatives was begun.
Where does the Total Immersion concept fit into the initiatives?
Volumes of data were collected during the many, many hours of interviews with reporter members and court reporting educators. With what it learned, in terms of what was and was not working in the schools, the Commission wished to test the hypothesis of whether a more streamlined program was possible, which would allow students to pass over information in which they had attained competency and to accelerate their progress in the area of skills development.
How did NCRA go about approaching that task?
A task force was formed, meetings began, and many options were discussed. Once a strategy was in place, the NCRA Board approved funding to explore the possible streamlining of court reporter training. The task force was charged with developing a skills-only reporter training pilot program, in an effort to address the shortage of reporters and to get more graduates out into the profession as quickly as possible.
Who is on the task force?
The task force is comprised of one theory expert and five experienced (and successful) instructors from NCRA-Certified programs.
What do you hope to accomplish?
The team has worked very closely (and very hard!) to develop a course with the best chances of succeeding. If it does, great! If it doesn’t, at the very least, we hope to share the pieces that work so that schools can implement the components that will allow students to advance more quickly.
What theory will be taught in the pilot?
The task force members wrote their own theory, selecting what they felt were the “best of” principles they had taught over the years.
Where will it be taught, and who will teach it?
The pilot will be taught online. Several instructors submitted applications, and following an extensive review of candidate qualifications, Robert McCormick of Hornell, New York, was selected to teach the course. He has 24 years of teaching experience, over 10 years of that teaching online. He has taught other schools on the use of the Moodle course management software program, which will be utilized for the pilot. Bob retired from the State University of New York, College of Technology at Alfred, in 2005. He has an Associate in Applied Science degree in court reporting, a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Business Education, and a Master of Arts in Theology.
How many students will participate, and how will they be selected?
There will be 15 students, and the selection process has been rigorous. Candidates submitted applications, essays, and high school or college transcripts. The strongest of those candidates next took a 100-question academic test comprised of RPR and RMR test prep questions in the areas of word usage, spelling, and punctuation. Test takers with 25 or fewer errors are currently being interviewed by task force members. There are many highly educated candidates from a variety of backgrounds. The finalists will undergo a TAIS Inventory screening (Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style), to assess their aptitude for a career in court reporting.
What courses will the pilot students take?
The students will focus initially on learning the theory inside and out, and they will then concentrate on speedbuilding. They will be immersed for no less than six hours per day on their steno machines, writing dictation, reading back, working on drills and assignments, and taking tests. The six hours of writing will be spread out over the course of the entire day, which will provide appropriate endurance training without being too physically demanding.
What about the academics? Will the students be taking general education courses?
The pilot will focus primarily on the skill of achieving 225 words per minute in one year’s time. While the instructor will constantly be monitoring their work to ensure that they’re transcribing the correct words, the students will have been prequalified through WKT testing and essay writing, so that their spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary knowledge will have been analyzed. Cognizance of topics such as medical and legal terminology, specialized vocabulary, and CAT technology will be assessed throughout the course, so that assistance can be offered to prepare students for state or national certification tests. A former paralegal, for example, may already have a firm grasp of legal terminology. A former nurse will be familiar with medical terminology. Instruction will be given where needed.
How long is the pilot program?
This will be a one-year pilot, starting March 16, 2009, and ending March 12, 2010. Students will have to meet specific speed benchmarks each quarter in order to remain in the program. The benchmarks are: First quarter – 60 wpm; Second quarter – 120 wpm; Third quarter – 180 wpm; and Fourth quarter – 225 wpm.
February 12, 2009