Photo courtesy Chris’s Sign & Lighting Service
The International Sign Association (ISA) recently augmented its ‘sign academy’ resources with new online learning tools specially designed to help sign companies implement training at the most convenient times for their staff.
The courses will be open to ISA members and non-members alike. Each one will take an estimated 90 minutes to complete, including interactive exercises to verify student comprehension. Participants can also go through each of a course’s numerous learning modules at different times, if they wish.
“Many sign businesses find hiring qualified employees is increasingly difficult and therefore they must train new hires,” explains Matthew Rumbaugh, ISA’s director of education (see video). “So, our online learning is designed to address the current issues our sign company members face. These courses provide an opportunity for education, cross-training or refresher courses for more experienced employees.”
The first course was launched in late November 2012. The Sign Installer’s Guide: Safety Course has been designed to educate participants about the proper use of safety harnesses and equipment, best practices for avoiding electrocution, safety with ladders and scaffolding and general safety skills.
The second announced course, for which registration is expected to open very soon, is titled The Sign Installer’s Guide: Wall Signs. It will teach the basics of wall sign installation, including sign placement options, pattern options and examples, wall types and surfaces, common fastener types and their proper use and basic sign types and examples.
The launch of ISA Sign Academy’s new online learning tools follows a year of development behind-the-scenes, as the trade group—well-known for its annual International Sign Expo—has tapped industry experts to contribute content, while also ensuring the technical aspects of the material will be easy for users to understand and implement.
“Education has always been an important element of the services ISA offers, both to its members and to the larger sign industry,” says Lori Anderson, ISA’s president and CEO. “By adding online learning to our in-person education and webinars, we have made training available to sign companies around the world, when and how they need it.”
In U.S. currency, the courses cost $75 for members and $150 for non-members. Companies that register for a course before December 31, 2012, will receive one complimentary registration for each person registered.
Further courses, covering such topics as project management and electrical sign installations, are planned to be rolled out in the coming weeks. More information is available at www.signs.org/online.
Video courtesy ISA
