Cerritos College Online Speed Building Program Information  Fall 2009
 

If you haven't already been there, please go to www.cerritos.edu/crcc and read the announcements for Fall 2009.

Cerritos College Online Speed Building Program works with the Stenograph University.  You will need to purchase access to Stenograph University as a Cerritos College speed student.  The cost will be approximately $85 per semester.  You will find a plethora of practice materials once you begin your speed class.  Some of the materials will be assigned; others you can investigate and add to your practice program.  Speeds 60 to 110 words per minute will also use the Skill Building textbook and audio files by Carolee Freer for homework and practice.  Speeds 110 to 130 will also use the Speed Building textbook and audio files by Carolee Freer for homework and practice.  Speeds 140-150 will also use the Jury Charge book.  Speeds 160-170 will also use the Courtroom Testimony and Jury Charge books.  Etc.  The information will be in your individual class syllabus.

Traditional in class on-campus courses in the lower to mid speeds, the instructors drill in class as warm-up on the textbook material that has been pre-practiced as homework.  In our online classes, the homework will be pre-practiced and you will have links to the very same audio material for dictation at the appropriate speeds.  (Just like going to class!)  In class on campus we give one test per speed per class (spread out among the types of material we are testing on for that speed: Q & A, Jury Charge, literary,  2-voice and multiple voice.)  In our online classes, you will also receive two to three test opportunities per week at your speed. 

Your Stenograph University Access remains active as long as you remain at Cerritos College in good standing.  If you drop your class, you lose access.  If you remain active as a student (not dropped from class)

To Purchase your Stenograph University Access: 
Method 1: 

Contact Stenograph directly as follows:

They should be able to get you set up very quickly.  Approx. cost $85 for a semester of access.

Method 2: 
Contact Cerritos College Bookstore.  For classes CRCC 162abcd and CRCC 164abcd, you will be purchasing  "Cerritos College Online Speed Building Access"  There is a bookstore markup, but if you are on financial aid and only have bookstore vouchers, you may need to go through the bookstore so the access is available for you to purchase there as well. 

Misc. Info:
CRCC 162abcd (speeds 60-90 wpm) will be in Speeds 1 on Stenograph U.  Your instructor will be Karen Pulvers.

CRCC 164abcd (speeds 100-200 wpm) will be in Speeds 2 on Stenograph U.  Your instructor will be Karen Pulvers.

Lower speed students DO NOT need to be connected to the computer and using a CAT system to transcribe tests.  We do want to transition everyone to CAT by approximately 100 wpm (except first-time transfer students).  Lower speed students may "type" their transcriptions into Word until you build a CAT dictionary and get set up on a CAT system, which everyone should be working toward. 
CRCC 119a - dictionary build  
CRCC  119b - programming your dictionary
CRCC 119c - formatting transcripts for court and depo
9a and 9b - ProCAT classes
10a and 10b - CATalyst classes

To use CAT to write to your computer:

If you  have a Stentura 200, 400, 500 SRT (student realtime) and a serial realtime cable, you will likely need a USB to serial port adaptor if the computer you are connecting to does not have a serial port.  Your writer most likely came with a serial cable.
(Serial realtime cable only is product number 30549, $40.00, and can be purchased at this link:  Elan and Stentura Realtime Cable with Adapters

What you most likely need is the USB to serial port adaptor to go along with your serial realtime cable.  (See below.)
 

If you have a Protege and you want to connect to any software at all other than Case CATalyst, you will need a serial realtime cable and a USB to serial port adaptor to connect to a computer that does not have a serial port.  

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What Class Do You Belong In?

Beginning Theory students sign up for CRCC 140a and 141a. 
Following completion of Theory and Theory Review:
162abcd = 60, 70, 80, 90 wpm
164abcd = 100-200 wpm

Second semester Theory students sign up for CRCC 140b and 141b

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Getting to the State Exam

There are three ways to get to the state Certified Shorthand Reporter examination in California.  You need to pass that test and obtain a California license to work as a judicial reporter in the courts or to take depositions. 
Getting to that test also requires a high school diploma or GED and all felony or misdemeanor charges (dropped or not) must be reported to that agency on the application.

The three ways are:
1) Attend a school that is approved by the Court Reporters Board and pass their qualifier examination  (several requirements must be met to allow a student to sit for qualifiers.)
2) Pass the National Court Reporters Association RPR examination
3) Work as a non-certified reporter for a one-year period or longer
      (Actually 4 - you can pass an approved out-of-state test ((see CRB website for list))

Cerritos College is a Court Reporters Board approved school (as well as a National Court Reporters Association approved school).  HOWEVER, no school in California can qualify students for the state exam online.  The qualifier examinations must be sat for and passed in person.   So the online program itself is not approved by the Court Reporters Board or National Court Reporters Association; but you will be taking your classes from a school that has an approved program. 
So if you plan to complete the program online (which it is entirely possible to do), you will have to go by options 2 or 3 to get to the state exam.  This is true for ANY school in California at this time.
The online program is geared toward the National Court Reporters Association RPR examination.  The options you have are to a) use options 2 or 3 to get to the state exam; or b) transfer into the on-campus program and attend class on campus (if not this one, at another approved school near you) once you have reached approximately 180-190 words per minute in speed so you can complete the  requirements to sit for the qualifier exams.  Your class hours would be calculated in to meet Court Reporters Board requirements.  Your academics would be included in the process.  You will essentially be a transfer student into the on-campus program of the school you will attend in person and all of your speed classes and academics should be counted by the school you transfer into. 

You also have the option to pursue the path of becoming a captioner, which does not require a state license; a hearing reporter; a rapid-text entry operator, a CART reporter, and a variety of court reporting careers that do not require a state license.  A state license is required only to work in court or take depositions.  Other paths along the way include learning enough and getting a department certificate to become a proofreader for court reporters and/or a scopist for court reporters.
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Description of the Program

Cerritos College is a public community college. 
You have the option of earning an AA degree or college certificate in Court Reporting;
You have the option of not earning an AA degree or college certificate in Court Reporting and just acquiring the skills to go to work or pass skills certification tests;
You have the option of earning department issued certificates as you take the classes to become a court reporter/captioner/CART reporter;
And you have the option of putting your program together to get you to the CSR examination, the RPR examination, or just getting the skills to go to work. 
The Court Reporting Program at Cerritos College has been in existence 30 years and has turned out many fine court reporters, scopists, proofreaders, rapid-text entry operators, CART reporters, entertainment reporters, etc.
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Benefits of Working Online

This program is 100% online.  You never need to come to the campus.  You may do your coursework during your available time during the week.  At this time the classes do not meet at any specified times; all coursework is done individually.  You also communicate with others in your class through chat and discussion. 
The benefits are that this puts your opportunity to succeed directly into your hands.  Your instructor is there for assistance and to guide you and check your work. 
If you sign up for academics with a "mandatory orientation", please contact your instructor to make arrangements to get the information if you truly are unable to attend due to geographical distance, etc.
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Things You Need to Know and Consider

It takes a lot of discipline to work online and stick to your plan and do your work.  It certainly can be done.  Most of the real work in court reporting is between you and your machine and your focused practice time. 
You will need a good Internet connection and a basic understanding (or local assistance) of how computers work.  You will need to get and learn a CAT (computer-aided transcription) software.  (Classes are available online.) 

When you sign up with Stenograph University as a Cerritos College student, you will get  subscription access to Stenograph University and all of their practice and lecture materials.  You do need to know that if you leave school, your access to Stenograph will be cut off.  Only students in good standing are permitted to access the Stenograph University site.  

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How to Get Started

First, enroll in classes.  Speed students will then need to purchase access to Stenograph University.  They will then send you a user name and password to access the materials.  New!  All students will be entering their class each and every time initially through TalonNet.  See Message Board.  Then from your course site, you will click on the Stenograph U tab to go directly there.  The reason for this is to track attendance at Cerritos.  Please go through TalonNet instead of directly to the Stenograph University site once the semester has begun!

If you need assistance, contact your instructor (but not before the start of the term) or send general inquiries in an email to vmorgan@cerritos.edu.

Subject:  CRCC 16Xabcd, Yourname, Question 1

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How it Works

All online classes at Cerritos College go through TalonNet, our course management system.  You will find the TalonNet link on www.cerritos.edu.  You enter your student no. and birthdate to log in.  You will then see a list of your courses.  You will click on your course (for example, CRCC 1162abcd).  There will be course information in TalonNet.  Once you have received your user name and password from Stenograph (which you need to arrange for week 1 of the term), you will use the link on your TalonNet course site to go to Stenograph U and then you will log in there using your Stenograph user name and password.  Your class materials will be waiting for you.  There you will find assignments, tests, practice material, lectures, discussion and communication areas, etc.  Your instructor will post in TalonNet a class syllabus that will guide you through exactly what you need to do.  That is your agreement with the instructor and will specify exactly what you need to do to get an A, B, etc.  You may also sign up for the classes pass/no pass if that option is available.
Please note:  It is important to sign in each time through TalonNet because the site keeps statistics of your attendance.
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Software (CAT - Computer-Aided Transcription)

For our beginning students in speeds and theory, you do NOT need a CAT software at the start! You will be typing your tests much like you typed your timed writings in Theory.  We will have some instructions for you as to format for Q and A and straight matter and how to submit your tests (and if required, your notes.)  You should probably sign up for CRCC 119a, dictionary build (also online) as soon as you have your CAT software ready to go.  We highly recommend building a dictionary from scratch so you have your own personal dictionary.  However, you will also be allowed to use a pre-built dictionary if that is how you wish to proceed.  If you bring a pre-built dictionary, in 119a you will be hooking up realtime and writing a list of approximately 12,000 words to see what translates and what does not.  When you build a dictionary yourself, the process is a little quicker and more accurate, but it can be done either way.  CRCC 119b is the class where you enter punctuation, speaker id's, Q and A symbols, auto includes, etc., into your CAT software and it is at that point that you will be ready to begin transcribing your tests using your CAT system instead of typing.

For everyone else (after a sufficient time to get everyone going), you will need to purchase a student version of CAT software.

Our school has long used and endorsed ProCAT.  ProCAT student software is $99.  You would then build your dictionary by hooking up your writer and writing the words that come up on the screen.  Then you will continue to build and maintain your dictionary throughout your career as a court reporting student and as a court reporter or captioner.  To purchase ProCAT, contact Maggie Cline, (949) 589-4242. 

Several of our students also have Case CATalyst by Stenograph.  Student software is $499.  To purchase CATalyst, contact Stenograph Corporation (800) 323-4247.  You may contact Nick Ridge at ext. 6261. 

You may also use Eclipse, StenoCAT or any other software that you have previously been using.  Our process will accommodate you so that you may participate online with your CAT software.  You will either use your CAT software to create a pdf of your transcript to send to your instructor, or if your software does not come with that ability to create pdf's, you can use a free software such as cutepdf to accomplish the same result.  http://www.cutepdf.com/

New information:  I am now told that several CAT softwares will work on a MAC as long as it can boot up in Windows!
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Writers

You will need a computerized writer (not necessarily for beginning students - but you will need to move to a computerized writer soon!)  Any student writer that connects to the computer will likely do, though some of the older models are more difficult to work with and you will have to work with your software vendor to make sure newer writers are accommodated in your software updates. 

By far the biggest manufacturer of student writers is Stenograph.  You would be fine with a Stentura 400 or 500 SRT.  You would be okay with a Stentura 200 SRT (the version that connects to the computer, though this model has no battery).  You would be great with a Stentura Protege, sold at a student price.  You do NOT need a professional writer with all the bells and whistles while you are going through school. 

Now, a couple of considerations:  With Proteges, you will need a realtime serial cable to connect to any software other than Stenograph's CATalyst. 
Stenograph:  Student USB Serial Realtime Cable Kit (order number 37746) to hook to a laptop with no serial port (see below).  (Only hooks to Stenograph CATalyst software, but you can buy adaptors if necessary for other software)

If you have a laptop or desktop that has no serial port (writers connect to the serial ports with serial realtime cables), you will need a USB to serial port adaptor (there are two kinds -- NOT the kind for PDA!).  So you will most likely need both a realtime serial cable and a USB to serial port adaptor to use software other than CATalyst.   You will need a realtime cable with Stenturas as well.

If you have a Protege, you can write into CATalyst with USB connection, but not to any other softwares if you use any. 

With the Stenturas, you will also need a USB to serial port adaptor and a realtime cable to hook up to that laptop even with CATalyst. 

Paperless Writers:  The jury is still out on whether students should have paperless writers.  We don't think so.  Most of the new writers (professional and student version) give you the option of writing paperless or with paper as you simply remove the ribbon cartridge to go paperless. 

Testing Process

For our beginning students in speeds (even the middle to high speeds), you do NOT need a CAT software at the start.  You will be typing your tests much like you typed your timed writings in Theory.  We will have some instructions for you as to format for Q and A and straight matter. You may be required at times to scan your notes to send to your instructor or to write your rough into the testing window using your CAT software or GlobalCAT.  When you complete your transcription, you will be instructed whether you can submit it in the file format it is currently in or convert your file into pdf format and send it to your instructor as instructed.  The testing process will be gone over with you by your instructor.

For our students who desire to use CAT:  (Info from Fall 2008-this process may be modified for upcoming semesters, including Spring 2009 based on what was learned about how the process worked previously.)
a) if you have CATalyst, you will write your test into the test window and then send your rough.  You will then complete your editing and create a pdf (with timestamps) and submit the pdf completed transcript to your instructor through the weekly assignment tab.
b)  if you have a software other than CATalyst -- NOT a problem!  You will realtime your test into your software, copy and paste your rough transcript into the test window and then send your rough.  You will then complete your editing and create a pdf (with timestamps) and submit the pdf completed transcript to your instructor through the weekly assignment tab.
(You will be following the specific instructions of your instructor.  We have been modifying the process as we find out what works better.)  This process subject to modification by each individual instructor.

You will be given a specified time to complete each test and tests MUST be transcribed immediately.  Your instructor will specify in their syllabus whether you must submit two or three tests per week for grade points.  We understand not all tests are going to pass. 

Your tests will be available during a specified time window and you figure out when during that time you have the time to take your test.  You get one shot at it!  Once you have opened a test, you cannot open it again.  Two tests minimum will be released to you each week.

Grading procedures will be explained by your instructor.

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Requirements for Each Speed Level  

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Tutorial   not ready yet

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Orientation   not ready yet

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Library Only Students

Cerritos College Court Reporting on-ground students in the day, night and/or weekend program will have the added benefit of being able to participate in Stenograph University for a plethora of practice dictation online.  (Online class students will already have the library available to them.)  There is Q &A, jury charge, and literary material in most speed groups, and there is 4-voice dictation in the 100-140 library and more is being added this year. 

In order to participate in the library, Stenograph is charging a semester fee.  The fee will be approximately $85 per semester.   If you decide you would like to participate in the Stenograph practice library you will need to do the following:

Send an email to Vykki Morgan at vmorgan@cerritos.edu indicating you would like to participate in the Stenograph library.  Indicate your name, student no., class you are registered in on campus, email, phone, and address.  Ms. Morgan will forward your information to Stenograph and either they will contact you to arrange payment or you will receive information on contacting them directly to arrange payment.  That is all it takes!

Library only is for our on-campus students.  You will be doing your work for grading and passing tests in your on-campus class.  The library is just a great opportunity for more practice material.  Remember, the online students enrolled in the online classes are actually taking a class and must do their homework, practice, tests, TC's, etc., to continue active in the class.  If an online student ceases to be active and is dropped from the class, they lose their access to Stenograph University materials.  Likewise, if you cease to be an active student enrolled in our on-campus class, you will be dropped from the class and you will lose access to Stenograph University materials.  The agreement is that all students participating in Stenograph University are active students.

Library only students will NOT take tests online.  You will take tests in your speed class on campus.  (Just as online class students will not take tests on campus; they will only take tests online.)
On-campus students are on track to sit in qualifiers for the CSR examination. 
(Online class students are on track to take the RPR examination given by National Court Reporters Association.  Online students may not be qualified to attend the CSR as qualifiers must be taken and passed in person; however, see above for the three ways students may get to the CSR examination.)

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Online Theory Students 
 

Online Theory students are in a separate part of our program that does not go through Stenograph University.  Your online instructor will be working directly with you.  You will be logging into the TalonNet system (see Vykki Morgan Message Board) and there you should see your classes, CRCC 140a and CRCC 141a  (second semester 140-41b).
There you will find your syllabus, assignments, discussion, chat, quizzes, etc.   All of your coursework will be accessed through the  140a Class Web and 141a Class Web links on the left-side navigation.  There you will find your lectures and the actual assignments that you will be completing.  It is very much like being in class.  The presentations are made with visuals and voice.  you will see an example during the orientation, which is ALL online.  It's just like being in class in almost every way.  You will be mailing your notes to your instructor so everything can be checked.  When the semester is about to start and when you have successfully signed up for the class, you will receive a welcome email with further instructions from your instructor and that should get you started.  The first week is mostly about exploring the website and the course, then it's off to the races to learn the lessons and get through the first half of the book by the end of the first semester!  You need a stenotype machine from the very beginning.  You may work with a manual machine that does not write electronically to the computer.  You will want a computerized writer as soon as possible, though, as we have interactive Theory tutorials that will help you through Theory if you can obtain a computerized writer.  To email your instructor directly, vmorgan@cerritos.edu   Please put:  CRCC 140a (or whatever class it is), your name, and then the subject, such as Question 1. 

Example:

Subject:  CRCC 140a, MyName, Question 6