e-Learning Leader to Offer Online Training to Rural Ohioans

Columbus, OH (PRWeb) February 12, 2007 -- e-Learning and organizational development corporation, MindLeaders (mindleaders.com) has announced collaboration with Connecting Rural Ohio (CRO), a grant-funded program lead by The Ohio State University Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Ohio Supercomputer Center. The broad collaboration between MindLeaders, higher education, public and private organizations is designed to bring high tech skills and business training to remote areas of Ohio.

Alan Escovitz, Director of External Affairs, Office of CIO, Ohio State University said, "MindLeaders participation allows us to offer hundreds of e-Learning courses on everything from basic computer literacy skills to sales training." Escovitz explained that lack of training and educational resources in rural areas results in limited career choices. "By bringing an extensive e-Learning course catalog to rural areas at no cost to the community, CRO and MindLeaders are providing Ohioans with the training and education needed to find high demand, well paying jobs."

The courses will initially be available to residents of Vinton, Ohio, located in Gallia County.

The CRO project is part of a broader effort by various agencies and groups in the Central and Southeastern Ohio region to link instruction and learning, teachers and students, schools, homes and businesses via broadband Internet connectivity. In addition to the MindLeaders courses, residents will also have access to the Ohio Learning Network's "E 4 ME" course, a free course designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of online and distance learning.

The individuals and institutions involved in this outreach initiative provide intensive consultation services and expertise to address current technological and management issues facing rural communities that are working hard to change years of economic and population decline in one of the most distressed regions in the country.

According to Bob Dixon, Ohio State's Office of the CIO Director of Emerging Technologies, and of OSC, the addition of MindLeaders "adds online job training and professional development courses" to the program, allowing users in remote areas to stay current on business skills, learn new software programs and prepare for job interviews, without commuting to a college, university or training seminar.

"MindLeaders e-Learning courses cover topics that could help program participants get better jobs, advance in their current careers and learn important new technology and professional skills," Escovitz adds.

"The Connecting Rural Ohio program benefits all of Ohio," Carol Clark Founder and Chairman of MindLeaders said. "This program provides rural Ohioans with access to information, news and technology that those of us in more populated areas take for granted. MindLeaders believes in this program and are happy to offer our e-Learning through CRO."

MindLeaders e-Learning course library includes technical, desktop, web design, professional development, certification and career development courses, all delivered online. Many of the online courses are recognized for continuing education units (CEUs) by colleges and professional associations.

About Connecting Rural Ohio
OARnet plays a leading role in the extension of Internet technology services to rural Ohio through the Connecting Rural Ohio Wireless Neighborhood Project. OARnet and The Ohio State University Office of the CIO, in collaboration with the American Distance Education Consortium and funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are bringing broadband Internet connectivity to the town of Vinton, Ohio, from a satellite 23,000 miles out in space.

The connectivity is providing educational services to adult learners and job training opportunities to low income residents that improves their quality of life, increases their standard of living, and provides a valuable resource to police, fire, libraries, and other community services.

OARnet is a division of the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC), a technology initiative of the Ohio Board of Regents

About The Ohio Learning Network
The Ohio Learning Network (www.oln.org) is a consortium promoting and supporting e-learning in the state of Ohio. OLN has 75 member colleges and universities and is a program of the Ohio Board of Regents. OLN helps Ohioans access higher education and helps build partnerships among higher education, schools, businesses and communities in the state of Ohio.

About MindLeaders
MindLeaders is an employee and individual performance-improvement company with over 25 years of experience in the technology-based, self-paced training and e-Learning fields. MindLeaders provides personalized learning that supports organizational success. Their e-Learning tools cover topics ranging from networking in an enterprise environment to personal use of the PC and from healthcare privacy issues to business skills.

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