The Hirsch Learning Center’s goal is for each student to effectively perform their job when they return to work, as it relates to Hirsch products. We design our courses so our students must demonstrate proficiency in the subject matter to proceed through the material. At Hirsch, we want all our students to succeed.
Instructional Design
Instructional design is the practice of developing a methodology to ensure students acquire desired knowledge and skills most effectively. It focuses on “learning” rather than “training.” The process consists of determining the current state of the typical student's understanding, defining the goal of instruction, and creating courseware, labs, and presentations to assist in the learning.
A unique component of the Hirsch Learning Center Approach is the wealth of hands-on equipment we include in the learning process. Where appropriate to the material covered, every student gets their own computer, controller, readers, enrollment station, badging camera, et cetera, to effectively learn and emulate the systems that they use in the real world. Our courses include lecture -- to communicate concepts -- as well as hands-on labs to reinforce and confirm comprehension. Our labs let us know how students are progressing, and they allow us to adjust our course accordingly. Ideally, we spend no more than half our time on lecture and the rest of the time in hands-on labs and feedback. If a student is struggling to complete required lab work, the instructor can recognize when the student needs additional assistance and will provide the support required for him or her to master the material. In the rare circumstance that an instructor feels the student cannot perform the job function, the Learning Center staff informs the Hirsch Regional Manager.
Certificates
We believe end-users should be able to verify that the individuals who will be working on, or using, their system possess the appropriate certifications. Certificates are handed to students upon completion of courses in the Hirsch Learning Center. Hirsch does not certify the sponsor organization, rather we certify the individual who attended the course.
Evaluations
It is our belief that we can always get better, and we continuously strive to improve our programs. Students submit course evaluations at the end of class, which allows students to contribute to our improvement objectives. The Learning Center also solicits feedback from the student’s supervisors, Hirsch technical support team, and the sales department on the student’s ability to do their job when they return to the field.
