Online NDT training – the next big thing?
17/07/2014
Although the classical classroom approach to NDT training is alive and well, improvements in communication and computing technology have led to a growing interest in online training. There have been some apprehensions about training online due to the lack of practical hands-on experience, however there are numerous advantages to online training over traditional classroom training.A new market insight report by Frost & Sullivan says that online training is here to stay and that, over the next five years, the number of students taking online training courses will increase steadily. With greater demand for online NDT training, there will also be an increase in competition.
According to Parker Ray, Director of Operations for World Spec Testing Services, there has been a positive reaction from the NDT community in the United States to this new trend of training.
“NDT service companies welcome online training,” said Ray. “In order for the NDT service companies to train someone, they have to transport them to a centre, pay for the course, pay for hotel accommodation for several days and pray that the student passes the exam, because if they don’t they’ll have to repeat the whole thing.”
Ray further added that because companies like World Spec Testing Services don’t have to lease floor space or pay their instructors for 40 hours of teaching, these companies “can provide a much cheaper avenue for NDT service companies.” He also states that students taking the online courses likewise look favourably on this type of training.
“Students like online training as well, because they don’t have to complete the course in a few days, like they would have to in a classroom. They can take up to a year, which is good, in case they are working. So, there is no pressure that way on the student,” said Ray.
“When a student signs up, they have instant 24-hour access to the course,” Ray continued. “We offer dynamic PowerPoint presentations, videos and flash quizzes at the end of each chapter, basically an interactive and well-rounded learning experience. Everyone learns differently, some learn better visually and some are audio learners, so we try and hit as many options as we can. Once they have completed the course, they can take an exam completely online.”
Several other US-based online NDT training companies, such as the American Institute of Nondestructive Testing and NDT Classroom Inc, have sprung up in recent years, which is further testament to this growing trend.
Donald R Booth, CEO of the American Institute of Nondestructive Testing, believes it is only a matter of time before the world fully embraces the idea of online NDT training.
“In today’s education, a person can attain an engineering degree, business administration degree, nursing degree, psychology degree and hundreds of others, all online; there is no reason for our industry to ignore the future of education. We must embrace online education to train the next generation of NDT examiners,” said Booth.
Although there are apprehensions within the industry about online training, Frost & Sullivan believes the NDT industry can no longer hold itself back and needs to flow with the technological evolution witnessed globally.
The report: ‘The Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Training Industry – Primed for Expansion’, is available from Frost & Sullivan.
www.frost.com
