Since Ventoux Learning Network announced the launch of its online instructor-led (OIL) courses that prepare students for the BICSI RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer) exam, the educator has received inquiries from numerous prospective students about the courses offered. As we previously reported, Ventoux offers five courses, each of which is based on a single chapter of the Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual—the document upon which the RCDD exam is based.
Ventoux executive David Cranmer, a BICSI past president as well as former executive director/CEO of the educational association, recently posted information on Ventoux’s blog that directly addresses some of the most-frequently asked questions about the company’s courses. With Ventoux’s permission, we’re reprinting that Q-and-A here.
Q: I don’t really understand what you mean by “instructor-led online (ILO) courses.”
A: In this format you will be able to see and hear the instructor as well as all of the other students during the class. Nothing is prerecorded. This will be a live discussion of the chapters, but it will be held online instead of in a classroom.
Q: Why do I need a Gmail address?
A: We use Google Hangouts, one of the best collaborative tools available, to conduct our courses. In order to join a Hangout, Google requires a Gmail address. Approximately 10 minutes prior to class start, I will send out an invitation to your Gmail address. Once you accept, you will automatically join the class. Once you join, you will see me on the main screen and each of the students will appear in smaller windows along the bottom of the screen.
Q: Why can’t I register online?
A: I feel it’s important to speak with each student to understand their expectations and to provide them with more detail about the courses they choose. Payment, however, is handled online for your security.
You can read David Cranmer’s latest blog post in its entirety here. In it, he embeds a link to a Hangout featuring Sir Richard Branson and Elon Musk, for reference.