Virtual classroom keeps ISR Academy at the leading edge.
October 2020
The ISR Academy has successfully completed its first Imagery analyst course using its new face to face (F2F) virtual classroom environment. The course was delivered to a Intelligence organization from a NATO member state. Students were receiving their initial Imagery analyst training in order to continue as a specialist within their organization. Until recently these courses were always given in a “classic”’ classroom environment. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the ISR Academy was forced to look for a new way to train their students. A new methodology was developed using a F2F Virtual Classroom environment and remote access to analysis workstations.
“In a way it was a jump into the unknown” Joep Schouren, Manager of the ISR Academy says. “we have been providing classroom courses for over 14 years but never in a virtual environment. One of the concerns we had was losing the interaction with the students and not being able to fully support the practical work, which is a vital part of our training programs. The opposite proved to be true. The students were very enthusiastic about the new program.” One students states: “The virtual classroom invited to be more interactive, and my personal opinion is that it is easier to pay attention to the lecture in a virtual classroom than a conventional one.”
With the new range of virtual courses, the ISR academy will also be able to reach a much broader range of customers. Travel and lodging cost may sometimes make up for 50% of the total training cost so now it is an easier fit with training budgets. Another advantage is that students can return home at the end of the day. Something well appreciated by military personnel who inherently are away from home a lot.
The students graduated on October 23rd, the 14th anniversary of the ISR Academy. Asking the students if they would recommend ISR Academy virtual classroom setup for future ISR training, 100% of the students answered with “Yes!”. The ISR Academy has clearly demonstrated that they are still at the leading edge in the ISR training world.
The ISR Academy has successfully completed its first Imagery analyst course using its new face to face (F2F) virtual classroom environment. The course was delivered to a Intelligence organization from a NATO member state. Students were receiving their initial Imagery analyst training in order to continue as a specialist within their organization. Until recently these courses were always given in a “classic”’ classroom environment. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the ISR Academy was forced to look for a new way to train their students. A new methodology was developed using a F2F Virtual Classroom environment and remote access to analysis workstations.
“In a way it was a jump into the unknown” Joep Schouren, Manager of the ISR Academy says. “we have been providing classroom courses for over 14 years but never in a virtual environment. One of the concerns we had was losing the interaction with the students and not being able to fully support the practical work, which is a vital part of our training programs. The opposite proved to be true. The students were very enthusiastic about the new program.” One students states: “The virtual classroom invited to be more interactive, and my personal opinion is that it is easier to pay attention to the lecture in a virtual classroom than a conventional one.”
With the new range of virtual courses, the ISR academy will also be able to reach a much broader range of customers. Travel and lodging cost may sometimes make up for 50% of the total training cost so now it is an easier fit with training budgets. Another advantage is that students can return home at the end of the day. Something well appreciated by military personnel who inherently are away from home a lot.
The students graduated on October 23rd, the 14th anniversary of the ISR Academy. Asking the students if they would recommend ISR Academy virtual classroom setup for future ISR training, 100% of the students answered with “Yes!”. The ISR Academy has clearly demonstrated that they are still at the leading edge in the ISR training world.
