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ISU Virtual Class FAQs
Are these classes new?
These classes are based upon the classes we have been teaching since 1992 in California and at client sites throughout the US and Europe. They earn the same CEUs that the campus classes earn for ASA and NAPS.
While maintaining its campus class opportunities, ISU has reformulated its campus class studies and approach to be conducted in three hour segments (3.5 hrs on the third day) on three consecutive days. This allows for enough time for comprehensive classroom topics to be discussed within a broader, more penetrating context than short webinar or tele-class formats. Class time is limited to 180 minutes so that lessons can be digested and applied in the student’s job immediately after the class in the real world of staffing.
Multiple student discounts are available (and encouraged!). For all the important details such as fees, dates and times, frequently asked questions, class descriptions and connectivity requirements see below.
Can you earn ASA CEUs from these classes?
These classes earn the same two day class - 1.2 CEUs - that ISU campus classes earn for ASA and NAPS. CEUs are issued upon completion, return and passing of the final exam for each class.
How are these classes scheduled on a daily basis?
We have set up these classes to be typically three days, three hours per day, except on the final day which is scheduled for three and a half hours.
What is the difference between a virtual class and a webinar?
ISU virtual classes use a similar web-based technology, but in a much more robust form. The communication is two-way and even three-way because the instructor is able to see the students for much of the program as the students see each other and the instructor. Students use a webcam and headset fully integrated into their computer.
Role plays between students and instructor can be conducted, questions and remarks are live and in real time. Assignments are issued and returned. In short, it is a real classroom environment without the inconvenience of campus class training (travel, hotels, lost production time). Credit for the class is issued after we receive and review the final exam for each class.
Webinars are typically 60 to 90 minutes long and conducted over the web and phone line. Generally the speaking presenter is hidden from the audience, as are the participants hidden from each other and the instructor. No assignments or exams are completed. The dynamic is mostly one way – instructor to participant – with Q&A at the end. Webinars are great for a simple topic – a training “burst”!
What days and times are the classes scheduled for?
The ISU classes are schedule for Monday through Wednesday, or Wednesday through Friday.
All ISU virtual classes are scheduled 9:00am to 12:00pm Pacific Standard Time (except the third day which goes for three and a half hours).
Eastern Standard Time: 12:00pm
Central Standard Time: 11:00am
Mountain Standard Time: 10:00am
Hawaiian Time 07:00am
Will I need to devote an extra computer or a separate room to the 3 hour/3 day training?
There are several ways to receive the training. One way is to have your student sit at their office computer with headphones on and take the class at their station listening through their headphones and speaking occasionally through their headphone microphone. If your office provides a training room the student could receive the training in that environment. Another way is for the manager of the office to relinquish their office during the brief training periods. Lastly, the student could take the training at their home or elsewhere providing they use a camera and headphones and have broadband web services.
We don't have a technical person in our office. Can we still do this?
The good news is that this approach is pretty simple, not demanding an "IT" person. If you already have a computer using DSL or cable to access the web you are in good shape.
Adding a web camera (webcam) requires a USB port that is on all new computers. Cameras do have to be installed but this is easily done by putting the accompanying installation CD in the computer and following the easy instructions. Older computers (we have a couple of those in our office) which do not have USB ports would not work. By the way, most USB ports are located in the back of your computer…though some computers have a USB port on the front of their computer, as well.
The headphones are usually recognized instantly by your computer and will also be hooked up to the computer via USB.
Prior to class day the student will log into our website to test their headphone and camera (we have information about this step if you want to see it at http://www.istaffingu.com/html/your_computer.html .
On class day students will log into the same website as above, check their equipment and then ISU will also make sure that we see and hear you on our side.
I can't afford to spend all that money on special equipment and use it only once.
The equipment - headphone/mic and webcam - is very inexpensive. You can purchase both pieces between $50 and $100 (it can be more if you want top of the line equipment).
Once you see that this is a very efficient way to train - no travel costs, minimal disruption of personal and business life, no jet lag -- while providing immediate impact... as well as much closer management monitoring, you will want training to be like this all the time. Plus the actual cost of training is less than paying for a real classroom class at ISU in Huntington Beach, CA.
How does this work? How can it be like live training?
We have explained in simple but brief detail how this works at To restate: register, purchase and check equipment, attend and participate in the class at the appointed times and … learn! See and be heard by the trainer, other students. Watch and listen to the presentation, instructor and other students.
Live training in the training world is called "synchronous." This means that student and teacher are on the same page at the same time allowing for live exchange. The virtual classroom removes the distance and therefore removes cost complications. In a real classroom, students can have peer interface after class and at breaks. The virtual classroom doesn't provide for this type of interaction...but it's the next best thing.
Are you saying that this is as good as sending my people (or coming myself) to ISU for training?
ISU has been training staffing professionals since 1992. The classroom has been our primary method of training. We have strong classroom management skills, many years to learn from our students about what is crucial for them to learn - and the right approach to instilling the lessons so that they "stick."
The trainers will be the same, the topics and staffing and training savvy will be the same, workbooks and handouts plus Q&A will be the same, comments and live interactions will all be very similar to training here at our campus in California.
In some ways the training will be better because the information can be applied immediately, the same day; this ‘deepens’ lessons. There will be no disruption in personal lives (i.e. boarding the dogs, making babysitting arrangements, disorienting family routines); and minimal intrusion into business production. Jet lag disappears, "fear of flying" gone, transportation and accommodations' snafus dissolve.
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