Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009

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No: 1102

Conference: Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009

Title: A Better Nuclear Industry Through Online Learning

Theme: Education for Sustainable Nuclear Power

Author(s): Pamela Aigner, David Helling, David Kwiatkowski

Contact : Pamela Aigner

E-mail: aignerps@westinghouse.com

Address: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
PA 15663-0158 Madison

Country: USA-Pensylvania

In this age of technology, online learning should be a vital tool in the training portfolio of the nuclear industry. However, for the most part, our industry continues to favour face-to-face classroom methods, ignoring or misusing the many benefits that technology delivered education can provide.

Although relatively new to the nuclear industry, online learning is the preferred training method at many universities and corporations, and is shaping the way the next generation of works learn. With this in mind, it is now imperative that the nuclear industry embrace the benefits of online learning.

Westinghouse Training and Operational Services, since 2001, has experienced exceptional results by using online learning techniques to train utility maintenance and engineering staffs. Central to our success is the use of a progressive student-centered learning approach that establishes a learning partnership between the student, his or her management, and our instructors. In this presentation, we will discuss how and why online learning was implemented and the performance improvement that we have seen in the U.S. plants using these methods.

Geography need not be a barrier with online learning. Students with diverse backgrounds from world-wide locations can simultaneously participate in these programs. The benefits of having multiple organizations participating in training programs include efficient use of instructor resources, cross-industry knowledge sharing, travel cost reduction, and development of life-long communities of practice. Most importantly, online learning can deliver learning outcomes that are superior to traditional classroom training methods.

We believe that the learning approach that we will outline during this oral presentation develops a partnership with utility and corporate leadership and training organizations that will lead to the improvement in student metacognitive skills required to bring learning and knowledge transfer to the level needed to meet today’s resource challenges. This is a learning approach that can significantly contribute to safe and vital nuclear energy for the New Europe and for the world.

No:	1102
Conference:	Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009
Title:	A Better Nuclear Industry Through Online Learning
Theme:	Education for Sustainable Nuclear Power
Author(s):	Pamela Aigner, David Helling, David Kwiatkowski
Contact :	Pamela Aigner
E-mail:	aignerps@westinghouse.com
Address:	Westinghouse Electric Corporation PA 15663-0158 Madison
Country:	USA-Pensylvania

In this age of technology, online learning should be a vital tool in the training portfolio of the nuclear industry. However, for the most part, our industry continues to favour face-to-face classroom methods, ignoring or misusing the many benefits that technology delivered education can provide. Although relatively new to the nuclear industry, online learning is the preferred training method at many universities and corporations, and is shaping the way the next generation of works learn. With this in mind, it is now imperative that the nuclear industry embrace the benefits of online learning. Westinghouse Training and Operational Services, since 2001, has experienced exceptional results by using online learning techniques to train utility maintenance and engineering staffs. Central to our success is the use of a progressive student-centered learning approach that establishes a learning partnership between the student, his or her management, and our instructors. In this presentation, we will discuss how and why online learning was implemented and the performance improvement that we have seen in the U.S. plants using these methods. Geography need not be a barrier with online learning. Students with diverse backgrounds from world-wide locations can simultaneously participate in these programs. The benefits of having multiple organizations participating in training programs include efficient use of instructor resources, cross-industry knowledge sharing, travel cost reduction, and development of life-long communities of practice. Most importantly, online learning can deliver learning outcomes that are superior to traditional classroom training methods. We believe that the learning approach that we will outline during this oral presentation develops a partnership with utility and corporate leadership and training organizations that will lead to the improvement in student metacognitive skills required to bring learning and knowledge transfer to the level needed to meet today’s resource challenges. This is a learning approach that can significantly contribute to safe and vital nuclear energy for the New Europe and for the world.