CLC now offered Online!

[DBlair]

Looking around on the web, I just noticed that CLC is now being offered online. Members wishing to take it via this option sign up by putting their name on a waiting list pending enough students for the class. I'm excited at the hopes of finally taking CLC (and completing Level III), as this course seems to be quite rare in my area.

If anyone is interested...

http://www.capmembers.com/cap_university/online_courses__exams.cfm

National Corporate Learning Course Sign-up

Please use this form to sign-up for an upcoming online Corporate Learning Course.

The course will take 8 weeks to complete, and is writing intensive through online discussion. A group will start and end as a cohort. The course was designed to help members could not attend a traditional face-to-face course.

Each course will start when a cohort is put together. If you sign up, you will be placed on a waiting list until the next course opens up.

[DrJbdm]

If it is done correctly, it might be a good idea. I was not impressed at all when I went thru the class room CLC, I didn't come out of that weekend with any additional knowledge that would make me a better Field grade officer when I make major.

[DBlair]

I have to admit, I like the idea of offering CLC online. With upper PD courses, there are distance learning alternatives, so why not for SLS or CLC? While in-person courses do offer great networking opportunities, there are many situations where an in-person class may not be possible.

Considering that there are often substantial travel/hotel costs (not to forget potential time off from work), I hear a lot of members say that this prevents them from participation and further progression in CAP. Cost tends to be the #1 detractor.

Also, considering that everything in/out of CAP tends to be scheduled on the weekends, scheduling can be somewhat difficult with several activities/organizations fighting for the same weekend. Additionally, by offering it online, it eliminates the potential religious conflict (be it Saturday or Sunday) that a weekend courses may have.

In my opinion...
- Should CLC be offered in person? Sure, some people prefer in-person learning.
- Should it also be offered online? Yes, not everyone can attend the in-person courses, for whatever personal reasons.

[Eclipse]

I would prefer the local wing or unit be more flexible in the offer than remove another of the quickly shrinking places that
commanders can actually instruct their members in person.

My wing offers 3-4 every year - that's 9-12 opportunities to get into a class in the three years between Capt. and Maj, and probably 20+ since they joined, not including surrounding wings.

If yo can't find a weekend to do an SLS/CLC in 5 years with 20 opportunities, how much of an asset are you to CAP to start with?  CAP is slowly turning into a correspondence course, with less and less need to ever show up to a unit meeting.  This is not a good thing.

[DBlair]

I see your point and agree to a certain extent.

I think these courses (TLC, SLS, CLC, UCC) should be offered quite a bit more frequently than they currently are, and in each Group throughout the Wing, not just in the same far off place everytime.

In smaller Wings (such as I remember in NER), offering it once or twice is not a big deal, but in larger Wings, there is quite a bit more difficulty.

In a Wing such as FL, they are usually offered once or twice a year, but usually in in the same general area, and don't seem to be promoted at all. It has been several years since certain Groups have had any PD courses at all, not because they don't want them, but just because they are never offered.

If a member can hunt down one of the few opportunities offered in the Wing, they can expect to pay $500+ or so in travel/hotel costs. Surrounding Wings? Increase that $500 to perhaps around $1,000. Many members can find a much better use for that money. This does not mean that they are not extremely involved/active in CAP, this just means that they might not want to spend that money on travel/lodging costs or have to drive/fly several hundred miles each way.

[Eclipse]

If a member can hunt down one of the few opportunities offered in the Wing, they can expect to pay $500+ or so in travel/hotel costs. Surrounding Wings? Increase that $500 to perhaps around $1,000. Many members can find a much better use for that money. This does not mean that they are not extremely involved/active in CAP, this just means that they might not want to spend that money on travel/lodging costs or have to drive/fly several hundred miles each way.

I hear about these nightmare scenarios all the time - $500 travel, $50 admission fees...

It shouldn't cost the member anything, certainly not overnight travel money.  That's a wing problem that needs to be fixed in the wing.
Ours are generally 1 - N, 1 Mid, 1 S.  1-2 hours travel tops, and I try not to charge anything for the seminar, though someone always sneaks in copies on me.

1 a year per state is unacceptable.

[necigrad]

Also, considering that everything in/out of CAP tends to be scheduled on the weekends, scheduling can be somewhat difficult with several activities/organizations fighting for the same weekend.

I work weekends, so this describes me perfectly.  I've slowly, over the three 1/2 years I've been in CAP, seen SAREXs becoming long weekends allowing me to occasionally participate.  Every time an SLS or CLC or Wing Conference is offered, surprise surprise, it's on the weekend.  I know that MOST members work during the week, so this makes sense.  Those available on the weekends aren't the only ones that make it work, however, many work when others are off.  I'm quite pleased to see that opportunities in SAREXs are starting to pull away from the SAT/SUN only thing, but PD courses must follow suit as well.  I hate online (done it for a college course, it sucks), but if it's what's available to me it's better then nothing.

[RiverAux]

If it is done correctly, it might be a good idea. I was not impressed at all when I went thru the class room CLC, I didn't come out of that weekend with any additional knowledge that would make me a better Field grade officer when I make major.

The current CLC or the old one?  The old one was a total waste of time. 

[Capt Rivera]

I would like to see unit commanders in the approval/selection process for this and the other online courses like this... (SLS, OBC)

[a2capt]

I had a blast at CLC in 2005, and helped put on an SLS as part of a PD weekend in 2007, that the reviews overwhelmingly were positive, the attendees enjoyed it, got something out of it, etc. There's always a few that complain but even the complaints were pretty lame.

Unit commanders are in the loop on for the classroom course as the Form 17/31/CA150 is used at least in our case, for the enrollment. (Form #'s noted for widest possible example)

[Seabee219]

I just took my CLC a few weeks ago, it was not to different than my SLS class.  I am glad to see it online for those of us who live miles upon miles away from the nearest class.   

[Tubacap]

I see they are using Google Docs for this.  This could be a really good thing for our organization!

[Hill CAP]

I just applied for the on-line course.

For me I live in St John's County Florida and most of the CLC I have seen hosted are over in the panhandle or way down south. I am currently a SLS/UCC Director and was told the reason they will not let me run a CLC with it is because they are not going to send instructors for CLC when only one person needs it referring to me.

I am sure I am not the only person in the area that needs CLC heck I can count two others in my Squadron who need CLC but I'm not going to fight with Wing Prof. Development to get the course.

[dwb]

I definitely prefer to see these courses done in person, but at least the online alternative looks like it's reasonably rigorous.  It's not just a click-through PPT with quiz at the end.

I live in a big Wing (NY), and I don't think we offer these courses as regularly as we should.  It's difficult to find high quality directors who will make the weekend worthwhile.  I'd rather have too few PD courses than have someone throw together a subpar implementation that's a waste of time for everyone involved.

And unlike Eclipse, my experience has been that all of these courses require travel and overnight stays.  New York is a very big state, and long drives are the norm, especially for the edges of the state (Jamestown, Plattsburgh, Eastern end of Long Island, etc.)  I imagine California, Texas, and Florida have similar experiences.

[Eclipse]

And unlike Eclipse, my experience has been that all of these courses require travel and overnight stays.  New York is a very big state, and long drives are the norm, especially for the edges of the state (Jamestown, Plattsburgh, Eastern end of Long Island, etc.)  I imagine California, Texas, and Florida have similar experiences.

NY is smaller than my state with 1/3rd more population.  If RON or more than a day drive is required the Wing is not offering them enough
or in the right places.

Having to pay more than ~$20 for these is not right.

[DBlair]

I just applied for the on-line course.

For me I live in St John's County Florida and most of the CLC I have seen hosted are over in the panhandle or way down south. I am currently a SLS/UCC Director and was told the reason they will not let me run a CLC with it is because they are not going to send instructors for CLC when only one person needs it referring to me.

I am sure I am not the only person in the area that needs CLC heck I can count two others in my Squadron who need CLC but I'm not going to fight with Wing Prof. Development to get the course.

Exactly. It seems we have a problem here in Florida. I think the Wing grossly underestimates the need for training/PD and needs to think strategically about how to better serve the members. I'm in Tampa (Hillsborough County, FL) and it has been quite some time since many (any) courses have been offered here- yet I think we have one of the largest (if not the largest, according to number of members/units) Groups in the Wing. Some of us have been pushing the issue lately of getting courses held locally, but it seems very difficult to actually make any progress. SLS, CLC, UCC, BCUT/ACUT, and pretty much anything like that is a rarity here.

On a positive note- I'm glad to see you likewise applied for the online CLC course. Hopefully there will soon be enough of us so that we can get things rolling.

[dwb]

NY is smaller than my state with 1/3rd more population.  If RON or more than a day drive is required the Wing is not offering them enough or in the right places.

Didn't I say in the paragraph above the one you quoted that I don't think we run enough of these courses? 

In any event, population density is an issue when you're talking about Upstate NY.  I don't think it's worth running the course if < 10 people are participating.  "Experience density" is also a problem; qualified directors and instructors tend to live closer to the population centers, leaving the people in the outlying areas little choice but to drive.

Even with all of the geography factors, we still just plain don't run enough of these courses.  Part of the problem is that people at the Group and Squadron level aren't stepping up to be directors (I've run two courses in the last three years, but I can't/shouldn't direct every course), and part of the problem is that the Wing is not actively recruiting directors.

[Star-Maker]

I assume that I have to have taken SLS before I can take CLC, right?

Too bad, I'll have to wait awhile on this online option.

[DBlair]

I assume that I have to have taken SLS before I can take CLC, right?

Too bad, I'll have to wait awhile on this online option.

Actually, they are offering SLS online as well.

[RiverAux]

I assume that I have to have taken SLS before I can take CLC, right?

Too bad, I'll have to wait awhile on this online option.

I think you can take them out of order, it just won't help you any promotion wise right away, but you'll have it done when you are ready to move up to that level.  Ideally you would take SLS first.