USDA Graduate SchoolUSDA Graduate School

Graduate School Distance Learning Options

GS Connect: Distance Learning

With today’s ever changing, online focused educational system, the Graduate School has made a huge investment in their online training programs.  The program is called GS Connect.  GS Connect is geared to training managers and individuals through a distance education program through both live and independent training options.

GS Connect

GS Connect offers three different training platforms for interacting with their students.  These classes use a wide range of multimedia options such as video and audio streaming, simulations, application sharing and more.

GS ConnectGS Connect Live is their online, real time, instructor led classes.  These courses use the latest innovations in Internet communications to provide an experience that is much like that a student would have in a classroom environment.  The session has live video of the instructor using Voice over the Internet (VoIP) or a conference call, using your computer’s speakers or a headset.  The conference call option allows you to call into the class using your phone.  As a student , you are able to interact with the class and the instructor through a chat room option.  If you miss a class, you don’t have to worry because the classes are archived where you can review them at any time.  Using video, polls and group projects, the courses provide a wide range of learning styles for just about any student.

GS ConnectThe second class option is GS Independent.  This style of study is provided via multimedia presentations that you can view anytime, anywhere.  The same instructors who lead the GS Connect courses, teach in these sessions and will interact with students by answering questions through e-mail and they facilitate discussion forums.  The content in the courses are separated out into easy to manage lessons that you can review as much as you need to, taking things at your own pace.  The instructors will also show you how to use software, forms and manuals through simulations as needed.

GS ConnectThe third option is GS Connect Premium.  The GS Connect Premium product tailors training to your specific needs as an organization.  Then with that customized content, they can provide either classes at their campus, on site at your location or live online events that can be streamed online to your employees to save on travel costs.  The courses can be created by their trained instructional designers or you can have your content used in the training program.  If you see a course that you like, but want it tailored to your group, they can do that as well.

GS Classic

But that’s not all that the Graduate School programs offer.  They also have their proven, traditional education and training courses that have been in use for over 70 years.  These courses eliminate the need for a classroom teaching environment and location, offer the same high quality education and allow you to learn on your schedule, at your location and how fast you want to learn it.  These courses are available in three different formats.

The first option is GS Classic Printed.  These courses consist of workbooks and textbooks that contain everything needed for the course.   There is no need for travel to a central location and no need for a computer or the internet.  It’s a flexible, portable option with a large amount of courses available.

The second option is GS Classic CD-ROM.  Most of these courses are text based learning, just like you would find in the GS Classic Printed, however the media is delivered on a CD-ROM instead of in printed format.  You will need a computer to access this information but you don’t need access to the internet.

The last option is GS Classic Online.  As expected, these courses are accessed through the internet, providing the same text –based courseware, accessible on your time schedule.  These courses don’t usually contain audio or video, like the GS Connect courses do.

Learning when, where and how you want to, provides you the best opportunities to continue your education.  So no matter how you need content delivered, the GS Connect courses offer a wide range of options.

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