Strengthening the Court Reporters’ Educational System

Improving educational policy and practice through research

www.educationalpolicy.org

Strengthening the Court Strengthening the Court Reporters’ Educational SystemReporters’ Educational System

Dr. Watson Scott SwailDr. Watson Scott Swail

Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia, PA

April 2, 2005April 2, 2005



Why Retention is an Why Retention is an Important IssueImportant Issue

Retention stable at 50 percentRetention stable at 50 percent Issues of cost and qualityIssues of cost and quality Federal and state interventionFederal and state intervention



Why Students LeaveWhy Students Leave

Academic PreparednessAcademic Preparedness Campus ClimateCampus Climate Commitment to Educational Goals Commitment to Educational Goals

and the Institutionand the Institution Social and Academic IntegrationSocial and Academic Integration Financial AidFinancial Aid



Age Distribution of Court Reporters Age Distribution of Court Reporters (NCRA Members Only)(NCRA Members Only)

Age Distribution of Court Reporters, 2004

-

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

71 or Older65 - 7060 - 6455 - 5950 - 5445 - 4940 - 4435 - 3930 - 3425 - 2919 - 24



Age Distribution of Students (NCRA Age Distribution of Students (NCRA Members Only)Members Only)

Age Distribution of Court Reporters, 2004

-

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

71 or Older65 - 7060 - 6455 - 5950 - 5445 - 4940 - 4435 - 3930 - 3425 - 2918 - 24



Age Distribution of the Court Age Distribution of the Court Reports (NCRA Members Only)Reports (NCRA Members Only)



Cost of Student AttritionCost of Student Attrition

InstitutionalInstitutional IndividualIndividual SocietalSocietal



Cogn

itive

Fac

tors Social Factors

Institutional Factors

The Student

Experience



Social Factors


The Student

Experience

Academic Rigor

Quality of LearningAptitude

Content Knowledge

Critical-Thinking Ability

Technology AbilityStudy SkillsLearning Skills

Time Management

Academic-Related Extracurricular Activities




The Student

Experience

Academic Rigor


Content Knowledge



Time Management


Financial Issues

Educational Legacy

Attitude Toward Learning

Religious Background

Maturity

Social Coping Skills

Communication Skills

Attitude Toward Others

Cultural Values

Expectations

Goal Commitment

Family Influence

Peer Influence

Social Lifestyle



Financial Aid

The Student

Experience

Academic Rigor


Content Knowledge



Time Management


Financial Issues

Educational Legacy

Attitude Toward Learning

Religious Background

Maturity

Social Coping Skills

Communication Skills

Attitude Toward Others

Cultural Values

Expectations

Goal Commitment

Family Influence

Peer Influence

Social Lifestyle

Recruitment & Admissions

Student Services

Academic Services

Curriculum & Instruction



Cogn

itive

Fac

tors Social Factors


The Student

Experience



Five Components of the Five Components of the Student Retention FrameworkStudent Retention Framework



The current status of the reporter The current status of the reporter education systemeducation system

1.1. Not enough schools; online learning only option for rural Not enough schools; online learning only option for rural students; CC programs only look at numbers; private students; CC programs only look at numbers; private schools focus more on student needs.schools focus more on student needs.

2.2. Firms may settle for reporter with lesser skills because of Firms may settle for reporter with lesser skills because of lack of qualified reporters.lack of qualified reporters.

3.3. Schools been unable to recruit students with aptitude and Schools been unable to recruit students with aptitude and ability to achieve and succeed. How do we know what ability to achieve and succeed. How do we know what type of person will succeed.type of person will succeed.

4.4. Feel that proprietary schools don’t care as much about Feel that proprietary schools don’t care as much about studentsstudents

5.5. Recruiting without qualification is a “deadly issue.” Recruiting without qualification is a “deadly issue.”

6.6. Our theory approval system is antiquated, and Our theory approval system is antiquated, and outsourced to institutions.outsourced to institutions.



The current status of the reporter The current status of the reporter education systemeducation system

7.7. Branding is a major problem/challenge. In the world, Branding is a major problem/challenge. In the world, people think we are a “dying” business. Technology people think we are a “dying” business. Technology taking over (perception).taking over (perception).

8.8. This is a competency-based profession and education This is a competency-based profession and education system; pass or fail, which “crashes” the graduation rate. system; pass or fail, which “crashes” the graduation rate.

9.9. At one point had “role models” teaching; in one school, At one point had “role models” teaching; in one school, teachers were those who failed the test… We need to teachers were those who failed the test… We need to know who our educators are in the field.know who our educators are in the field.

10.10. Our most promising students are those who are Our most promising students are those who are intellectually engaged. Students who are enthusiastic, but intellectually engaged. Students who are enthusiastic, but have to wade through a long road of training that is not have to wade through a long road of training that is not intellectually demanding. intellectually demanding.

11.11. Students come in with an unrealistic picture of what the Students come in with an unrealistic picture of what the field has to offer.field has to offer.



Specific challenges in the court Specific challenges in the court reporting / captioning professionreporting / captioning profession

1.1. We haven’t looked at how the industry has changed and We haven’t looked at how the industry has changed and adapted the program; we have added pieces but not taken adapted the program; we have added pieces but not taken out (KISS)out (KISS)

2.2. Not enough motivation within educational system.Not enough motivation within educational system.3.3. Tuition is a challenge for students, forcing them to extend Tuition is a challenge for students, forcing them to extend

their education (time to degree)their education (time to degree)4.4. WE burden students with way too much information/technical WE burden students with way too much information/technical

when they don’t need it or are ready for it.when they don’t need it or are ready for it.5.5. Recruitment policies: court reporting takes an intellectual Recruitment policies: court reporting takes an intellectual

type of student/professional. We have to get the word out…type of student/professional. We have to get the word out…6.6. Adult students don’t have the same mental talents. Adult students don’t have the same mental talents. 7.7. Being able to motivate those who are self-motivated. Being able to motivate those who are self-motivated. 8.8. This was a full-time, bread-winning profession; then it was This was a full-time, bread-winning profession; then it was

marketed as a part-time profession. marketed as a part-time profession.



NCRA’s current and future role in NCRA’s current and future role in the education systemthe education system

1.1. Create minimum standards for recruitment to guide or Create minimum standards for recruitment to guide or assist schools;assist schools;

2.2. Create pilot projects to test education models. (test Create pilot projects to test education models. (test theories; learning). theories; learning).

3.3. Create training (intensive) for new professionals; work Create training (intensive) for new professionals; work with firm owners to develop curriculum;with firm owners to develop curriculum;

4.4. Figure out way to help schools motivate students; use our Figure out way to help schools motivate students; use our own experience to develop models. We need to identify own experience to develop models. We need to identify these “effective practices” model.these “effective practices” model.

5.5. Teach schools the business of teaching & learning.Teach schools the business of teaching & learning.

6.6. What is the special aptitude of court reports that leads to What is the special aptitude of court reports that leads to success. Perhaps create inventory for admissions process success. Perhaps create inventory for admissions process (developed from survey about attributes). This info can (developed from survey about attributes). This info can also be used to market court reporting broadly.also be used to market court reporting broadly.




7.7. Economic analysis of the “cost” of student departure.Economic analysis of the “cost” of student departure.

8.8. Mentoring boot camp to teach people how to mentor the Mentoring boot camp to teach people how to mentor the entire student body, and those who do so on small group entire student body, and those who do so on small group or individual level. Mentors for new professionals.or individual level. Mentors for new professionals.

9.9. We’ve never targeted career counselors at colleges and We’ve never targeted career counselors at colleges and universities. universities.

10.10. Emphasize teacher trainings; professional development; Emphasize teacher trainings; professional development; so they can see what the profession is like, not just so they can see what the profession is like, not just isolated in the school.isolated in the school.

11.11. We’ve allowed vendors to determine “who we are.” We We’ve allowed vendors to determine “who we are.” We need to recreate our image. need to recreate our image.

12.12. We have an obligation to provide skills trainings, not only We have an obligation to provide skills trainings, not only to new professionals, but extended to teaching the to new professionals, but extended to teaching the teachers. teachers.




13.13. Develop online qualifying test. Aptitude, personality, as Develop online qualifying test. Aptitude, personality, as well as punctuation, etc. well as punctuation, etc.

14.14. Is there something we can do to help with accreditation Is there something we can do to help with accreditation process for NCRA schools? process for NCRA schools?

15.15. NCRA should expand the teacher training program NCRA should expand the teacher training program (provide more incentive to become certified instructors).(provide more incentive to become certified instructors).

16.16. NCRA: put the word out where firm members could come NCRA: put the word out where firm members could come to glut areas (e.g., Texas) for recruitment. to glut areas (e.g., Texas) for recruitment.



Top Ten ConsiderationsTop Ten Considerations1.1. Rely on proven research.Rely on proven research.

2.2. Suit the particular needs of the campus. Suit the particular needs of the campus.

3.3. Institutionalize and become a regular part of campus Institutionalize and become a regular part of campus service. service.

4.4. Involve all campus departments and all campus personnel. Involve all campus departments and all campus personnel.

5.5. Take into consideration the dynamics of the change process Take into consideration the dynamics of the change process and provide extensive and appropriate retraining of staff.and provide extensive and appropriate retraining of staff.

6.6. Focus on students.Focus on students.

7.7. Ensure that the program is fiscally responsible.Ensure that the program is fiscally responsible.

8.8. Support institutional research in the monitoring of programs Support institutional research in the monitoring of programs and students.and students.

9.9. Be patient.Be patient.

10.10. Be sensitive to students’ needs and target the most needy Be sensitive to students’ needs and target the most needy student populations.student populations.

Strengthening the Court Reporters’ Educational System

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