The Training Course

 

Before providing TypeWell transcription services, a candidate must first complete the TypeWell training course.  Interested candidates should check out The Job page under the Start link above, before deciding if they want to take the training course. 

TypeWell training is provided in a distance learning course, which has been designed to retain the quality of in-person training while providing the convenience and low cost of remote training. 

The course teaches the trainee how to listen to lectures and discussions and rapidly type a meaning-for-meaning transcript using speed-typing techniques with the TypeWell software.  After the course, further real world experience is crucial.  Transcribers should gain at least 50 hours of solid experience providing communication access services before providing advanced services like transcribing math, science, or remote lectures.  The training course has three components: 

1.  Interactive software

The course includes an interactive computer program, installed from a CD onto a notebook computer.  (See the Tech link above for computer requirements.)

Our unparalleled software uses an adaptive teaching assistant to provide instant feedback and customizes practice activities to the individual trainee's strengths and weaknesses.  It is the best combination of constant teacher's advice and private practice. 

The fun, light-hearted training software keeps motivation high. 

29 comprehensive lessons cover everything from abbreviations to auditory processing to on-the-job social interaction (some topics covered: chunking, ergonomics, logistics, deafness facts, teaming, voicing, ethics). 

The course provides graduated practice for transcribing as the lessons advance from simple content to dense college lectures.  Automatic reports are generated with every lecture practice for the trainee's review of progress in ten separate skills of transcribing. 

2.  On-line account

The course also includes a personal on-line training account for each trainee that is accessed after each lesson, from any computer with internet access. 

The on-line account explains everything step by step as the trainee moves through the training process.

There is a flexible but firm automatic schedule system which monitors, encourages, and alerts the trainee and supervisor as needed to keep the trainee's learning progress on track.

Update reports are sent to the trainee's supervisor during the course, making on-site support and encouragement possible.

3.  Live teacher

A personal teacher is assigned to each trainee.

This teacher is in touch with the trainee regularly via email and phone.  This personal teacher provides support, encouragement, and regular focused feedback, as only an expert human teacher can. 

Length of Training

The 29 lessons in the training course take most trainees between 35 and 60 hours to complete.  Most lessons take between 1 to 3 hours, depending on the material covered and the individual trainee's learning rate.  The course can be completed in as few as 18 days of nearly full-time work, once the course start date arrives.  It is more usually completed in 10 - 12 weeks of part-time work. 

Depending on availability one's course start date may be as soon as a week after registering.  However, training start dates can be in high demand so check for available training start dates before planning your schedule. 

An important point: while the schedule of work on the lessons is flexible, it is not entirely self-paced.  Many individuals have difficulty completing tasks that are totally self-paced.  Other responsibilities take one's time, and self-discipline is not always up to the task of keeping on schedule for a distance learning course.  Our regular schedule requirement helps the trainee to follow through and complete the training.

Skills learned in each lesson build on what was learned in previous lessons.  It is important to keep the trainee's skills growing steadily, and not have long gaps between lessons.  A gap of more than a few days between lessons could cause recently-learned skills to fade, and not provide an adequate base for the skills in the next lesson.  So, lessons must be turned in to the trainee's online training account every 2 to 4 days.  If the trainee must schedule a vacation in the middle of the training course, or has an unscheduled emergency, there's a way to make extra time for one assignment, as long as all the other assignments are turned in on time. 

 

Next read the qualifications required of a TypeWell transcriber.