AREA COLLEGE'S LEARNING CENTER HITS THE ROAD

Mineral Area College is going mobile with its new Mobile Learning and Assessment Center.

The center, basically a customized Ford coach equipped with 12 network computers, allows the college to take job training directly to participating businesses that then pay a fee. The price is determined by how long the system remains at the business.

The college demonstrated the capabilities of the mobile center to some Cape Girardeau County companies Wednesday, including Lone Star Industries.

"I like to call it training wheels," said Tracy Santhuff, public information coordinator. "Though I guess training on wheels is more accurate."

Santhuff said with jobs getting more complicated, many employers should be looking to further train their employees. "If an employee is in a job where he or she needs to read at a higher level," said Santhuff, "this would be ideal."

Santhuff said workers could get their GED, learn basic math or reading in the mobile center.

The college believes many businesses would find the center useful for a variety of reasons.

"It is beneficial for both the employer and the employee," said Bill Richardson, Mineral Area College project development director.

Richardson said the center offers the employer improved employee skills, motivation, job attendance, job productivity, relations, and overall employee performance. "It also offers the employee the ability to keep with the changing technologies and preparation for job advancement," Richardson said.

The network computer system is full of customized software that allows students to move at their own speed.

Of the 12 computer consoles, two have touch-screen and interactive software capabilities. The two specially-equipped consoles are used for basic reading and math, and the need for computer or keyboarding knowledge is eliminated.

"The touch screens are very user-friendly," Richardson said. "Imagine how threatening a computer is to a person who can't read. We believe this user-friendly technology helps to ease those fears."

Mineral Area College purchased the mobile center from Centec Inc. of Jackson, Miss., in April, for about $231,000, Santhuff said.

Mineral Area College is the first institution in Missouri to offer a mobile learning program of its type, said Santhuff.

Mobile Learning and Assessment Services are available through Mineral Area College's Learning Center. For more information or to learn about the center's full capabilities, call Gil Kennon, program director, at (314) 431-1307.