The GCIU's education directors went back to the classroom to explore better ways of providing up-to-date training to members and keep them ahead of the rapid technological changes in the printing industry.

During their meeting, hosted in June by the Milwaukee Graphic Arts Institute (MGAI), the dozen or so educators toured the nationally renowned Milwaukee Area Technical College and reviewed its state-of-the-art technical training programs and distance learning methods – ways to learn outside the traditional classroom.

The tour was arranged by MGAI Education Director Lauren Baker, who also serves on the Board of Directors of the technical college. MGAI is a GCIU training school jointly funded by Milwaukee 577M and area employers.

She explained to the Graphic Communicator that the printing industry is in the midst of rapid technological advances and, since many smaller GCIU locals do not have training and upgrading programs, union educators must find ways to offer continuing training to all members, whether or not their local has a school.

Dr. Gail Cash, left, dean of instructional design at the Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Milwaukee Graphic Arts Institute director Lauren Baker both welcome the GCIU Education Directors' conference to the college for demonstrations on "distance education" to train GCIU members.

The visit to the Milwaukee Area Technical College was to review distance learning options used by a leader in the field and to see which options would be best suited for the GCIU.

Distance learning

The faculty of the Milwaukee Area Technical College, all members of the American Federation of Teachers, reviewed the strengths and applicability of teaching by cassette learning, audio tapes, two-way video from a central location to multiple offsite classes, and teaching via the Internet. The GCIU educators visited a class-in-progress in which the college was using two-way television to teach students at the Milwaukee campus and other Wisconsin institutions hundreds of miles away. All participants at each location could see and hear the instructor and the other students.

During a break in the class, the GCIU contingent got to speak with the students and gauge their reactions to learning via closed-circuit television.

Overall, the reactions were very favorable, particularly from students from small Wisconsin communities who would not be able to get the classes at small local colleges.

The education directors heard the advantages and disadvantages of the new teaching technology from the technical college's experts and were led through a step-by-step Internet Web course by Elaine Stracota of the college faculty. She reviewed her course on the Web to the GCIU guests just how Internet courses can force student interaction, aiding the learning process.

Facing the challenge

Before and after the tour, the education directors discussed their situation. With daily changes in printing technology, the task of GCIU trainers is complicated. Some areas in the U.S. and Canada have labor-management supported schools where each independently sets curriculum and buys or borrows equipment from trade manufacturers to train or upgrade printing workers.

In other areas, smaller locals, unable to support training, are left out. They do not have the funds to contribute, and often their employers are not enthusiastic to support joint labor-management funded training facilities.

The group agreed that something must be done to cope with the rapid technological advances that are reaching into even smaller print shops. And advances in TV and Internet technology could be an avenue to bring the latest training to GCIU members and keep them in demand to employers.

Newly elected GCIU Vice Pres. Edward J. Toff, named as Pres. George Tedeschi's education and training overseer, goes through a training tutorial at the MGAI. Toff told the GCIU education directors that Tedeschi will give strong support to initiatives to prepare members for jobs in the rapidly expanding technology of the printing industry.

The directors agreed they are heartened by the announced priorities of the new GCIU administration that prominently include education and training for all members. Even before his June 4 inauguration, GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi announced that keeping members trained and highly qualified is a major priority for his administration. To this end, he appointed Vice Pres. Edward J. Toff – who attended the Milwaukee education directors meeting – as his education coordinator.

During the meeting, Toff reiterated Tedeschi's priorities and told the directors the new administration would be very supportive of their education initiatives.

What is available?

The GCIU contingent heard a presentation on Web-based training used at the MGAI by Instructor Brian O'Day.

He emphasized that Web-based training was ideal for small classes and irregularly scheduled classes and advised the education directors that Internet companies have already set up many Internet classes that can help train and upgrade printing industry workers.

"The lessons are good, but there is a problem with the fragility of the Internet, problems with the phone lines or the servers," O'Day warned the education directors. He also explained that "we get a lot of students here who have to learn how to use a (computer) mouse for the first time. But after they get started, it works out very well to train them. Internet learning worked especially well with patient students and motivated students," O'Day declared.

Training trainers

Considering the fact that online training is new to many educators, Baker raised the possibility of sending instructors from the MGAI to other schools to train the trainers and set up the training facilities.

"Here we are in the year 2000 and the Internet will be getting better. We have to start being part of it. We have to jump into it or we will fall behind the curve in training," Baker said.

The directors also agreed that – as a part of the new training push – schools and school directors should try to liaison with employers and manufacturers of printing equipment. They discussed examples where keeping good will and close communication between supplier and school resulted in the loan of new equipment and favorable deals when training equipment was purchased.

Future planning

Encouraged by the new administration's promise of backing, the education directors also developed recommendations to be considered for presentation at the upcoming GCIU convention in Las Vegas in September.

They proposed formal creation of a position of international education director for the international, so as to continually push education and training priorities. A high priority is to establish closer avenues of communication with the president and the General Board.

Christopher Yatchak, Milwaukee-Madison 577M president and General Board Education Committee member, suggested scheduling a future meeting of the task force in conjunction with a General Board meeting so the education director representatives could talk directly with the board.