IBM opens Christchurch training centre

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 27

IBM opens Christchurch training centre

Last week IBM opened in Christchurch a training centre where students teach themselves computing concepts.

Called a guided learning centre, the facility has been designed and equipped for self-paced instruction. Four students can use the centred at a time. They work from booklets. which guide them through a number of course modules:. - Each module consists of reading assignments supplemented by video disc training,' audio cassette lessons or<hands-on computer sessions. At the end of each module the student is directed to sit a quiz. If he feels he has passed the quiz satisfactorily the; student can move on to the next module!.

. • Currently courses are available on introductory' computer concepts, installation planning and management, introductory data com-

munications concepts. System/34 topics, System/38 topics and 5260 retail system topics. Included in the System/34 courses are RPG II training courses. A feature of the new centre which caught the imagination of the opening day visitors was the iise of the latest video disc technology. The video disc player is similar in concept to video cassette players, but the programme is recorded on a disc which is read by a laser beam. The disc moves under the laser beam and the operator can instruct the player to rapidly move to any frame recorded on the disc. While watching sequences the operator can stop, freeze, slow down or backtrack the action.

These direct access features make the video disc an ideal teaching tool. The student is presented with a

menu of programme sequences and can direct the player to commence showing any of the sequences. •

In the IBM courses on video disc the concepts are mostly presented through animated sequences with accompanying speech.

The complete courses range from one to five days in duration. They are either free or cost 545 per half-day, depending on the course.

Mr Graeme Fletcher, a systems engineer for IBM, shows the guided learning centre to visitors. The video disc player is in the centre background and two visitors are holding video discs. To the left of Mr Fletcher is a terminal connected to an IBM System/34, used to provide hands-on computer experience.