CEDIA University Corner
CEDIA Boot Camp -- From Technophile to Technician
By
Apr 3, 2008, 10:35
So you've just hired a smart, young, motivated employee to fill a
technician role within your company. He's enthusiastic and a fast
learner. Just one problem: he's never set foot on a jobsite.
Maybe
he has some do-it-yourself knowledge, or maybe even some training in a
related industry. Or, maybe he just has a passion for great audio and
video.
But how do you tie this knowledge together in order to
perform quality installations? How do you ensure his work is on par
with your company's reputation?
Start by sending him to Boot Camp.
CEDIA's
Electronic Systems Technician (EST) Basic Residential Boot Camp is a
comprehensive starting point for those just entering the electronic
systems industry.
"Our Basic Boot Camp attracts not only
entry-level ESTs, but also people moving into our industry from another
discipline such as IT, electrical or security," said CEDIA director of
technical training, Jeff Gardner.
Created to give new hires and
aspiring technicians the skill and confidence level required to be
effective on the job, this three-day hands-on training session takes
students through the pre-wire and trim-out phases of new construction,
covering much of the background and terminology needed by entry-level
technicians.
Boot Camp sessions, which run from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. each day of training, are offered only at CEDIA's Training
Facility in Indianapolis. Students begin with classroom instruction to
get a grasp on the fundamentals, then move into hands-on training in
the lab area.
The Basic Boot Camp course focuses on core
residential electronic systems skills, including a thorough roster of
installation tasks, test procedures, and proper job documentation.
CEDIA ensures that presentation materials are frequently updated to
remain in line with changing industry standards. The courses, which
often sell to capacity, provide a strong foundation to help attendees
jump-start their career as part of an electronic systems contractor
team.
"Our Boot Camp sessions include an abundance of
fundamental knowledge needed to be successful in the industry, in
addition to helping prepare students for CEDIA Certification," Gardner
added.
CEDIA also offers a similar three-day session for
technicians who have already had a few years on the job: EST Advanced
Residential Boot Camp. Building on the principles that made the
original Boot Camp successful, the Advanced offering targets ESTs
looking to transition into the role of lead technician.
This
course expands on the installation, configuration, testing,
calibration, and basic control tasks associated with more advanced
subsystems, including flat panel and front projection displays,
distributed audio and video, satellite video distribution, RF source
distribution, AV entertainment systems, and home theater systems. Like
the Basic course, Advanced Boot Camp focuses on hands-on, personalized
aspect of the instruction. The lab portion of this course is devoted to
the installation, setup, and calibration of a typical home theater
system.
"This is a hands-on business, and there is no substitute
for actually doing the installations in real rooms, with real tools,"
Gardner said. "And we always have multiple instructors here to work
with participants and answer their questions."
CEDIA will next offer the Basic Boot Camp session May 20-22. Additional information is available at www.cedia.org/education.
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