Registration opens Dec. 20 for NCRA’s newly updated Certified Reporting Instructor (CRI) program designed for current or aspiring teachers of court reporting, but space is limited. The course will begin on Jan. 16, 2024.
According to NCRA’s Professional Development team, the program’s curriculum encourages excellence in the educational programs that prepare tomorrow’s court reporters. NCRA previously stopped offering the CRI certification in 2015 to allow time for the instruction materials to be updated to meet current industry standards. A recent spike in requests from court reporting instructors also aided in the relaunch of the program.
L to R clockwise: Kelly R. Moranz, Jen Sati, Len Sperling, Jen Krueger
As part of the update, four NCRA members and court reporting instructors worked together to author a new handbook for use by course attendees. They include: Jen Krueger, Ph.D., FAPR, RMR, CRI, CPE, a professor at Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, Ohio; Kelly R. Moranz, CRI, court reporting program manager at Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, Ohio; Jennifer Sati, RMR, CRR, CRC, CRI, program director and instructor for judicial reporting and broadcast captioning at Anoka Technical College in Anoka, Minn.; and Len Sperling, chair of the captioning and court reporting program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
“Revisiting the CRI and updating it was done to ensure that the highest quality of teaching is being offered to students of stenography,” said Jen Krueger, author of Section 3 of the handbook, “The Learning Environment: One Size Does Not Fit All.”
“It is essential to NCRA and the court reporting profession to provide high-quality training and certification to our court reporting instructors, assuring that our new reporters are being well educated for their careers,” she added.
“Training for court reporting and captioning instructors is of utmost importance in order to promote student success and completion. The CRI certification is crucial as it lends credibility to the acquired skills and bolsters the profession overall. Once acquired, the continuing education assists instructors in maintaining relevancy through fostering lifelong learning,” added Moranz, author of Section 2 of the handbook, “Planning Excellent Instruction.”
“There is much to be gained from those with vast experience teaching students of stenography and those of us who have shared our knowledge with our fellow instructors,” Moranz noted.
In addition to the tried and true techniques of teaching, the handbook which follows the course also features fresh concepts in education and a variety of materials that instructors can implement into their own programs to have an immediate impact on their students.
For example, said Sati, author of the book’s Section 4, “Overview of Assessment: Are Students Learning?” The new curriculum includes weekly modules, quizzes, and a discussion area. It will feel like they’re in class. Participants will learn how to dictate, create a lesson plan, and more while also receiving feedback on their work.”
The updated course also addresses significant changes to the way court reporting instruction was taught since it was last offered. Among those changes have been the move to remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the advances in the use of technology.
“Technology has had the most significant impact on court reporting instruction since the last time the CRI was offered. Improvements in learning management systems have allowed for a much better student experience for both online and in-person learning,” said Sperling, who authored Section 5 of the book, “Unique to Court Reporting and Captioning Instruction.”
“The students themselves have also changed, and some teaching techniques used by educators years ago might not be as effective today. The concepts learned from the new CRI will be easily adaptable to the new teaching environment,” Sperling added.
He also noted that a portion of his section of the handbook deals with the retention of students, and he is hopeful course participants will find the tidbits he offers useful.
“Moreover, I am hopeful there will be robust discussion among participants regarding retention that everyone can learn from. The use of coaching techniques should be a part of every instructor’s toolkit,” he said.
“Although coaching is a large topic and does take practice, participants should come away from the CRI with basic but effective coaching techniques they can use with their students,” Sperling added.
Participants in the five-week online interactive program will have the opportunity to learn about successful teaching methods and communication with students, gain insight into the learning process and development of a court reporting course, and classroom management. Upon completion of the course, participants will be granted a completion certificate and be able to use CRI certification after their name.
For anyone interested in taking the course, Krueger said there is absolutely no reason not to take this course to further their own personal education and understanding of teaching stenography in the best possible way, and every student represents a reason to attain this important certification.
“If you are currently teaching or plan to teach or plan to lead an NCRA® A to Z Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand program, this course will provide the guidance and confidence you need as you interact with students,” added Sati.
The cost to take the course is $489.99 for NCRA members and $565.99 for nonmembers and includes access to a newly written and designed handbook. Once purchased, participants have 60 days from the start date to complete the course. NCRA members who complete the course will also earn 1.0 total CEUs.
Become a Certified Reporting Instructor and take advantage of the growing opportunities available to teach court reporting. This program will expand your level of knowledge for becoming a more effective realtime reporting instructor. You must pass with a score of 80 or better. As a reminder, space is limited so be sure to register early to ensure your spot.
For complete information on requirements to earn the Certified Reporting Instructor (CRI) certification, visit the CRI webpage or contact Cynthia Bruce, M.S. Ed., Senior Director, Education and Certification, at cbruce@ncra.org.
