Ithaca, NY--Busy communications professionals now have an opportunity to earn continuing education credits online, thanks to a new partnership between Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communication and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Two courses, each lasting two weeks and earning its participants one CEU, will be taught by Diane Gayeski, professor of organizational communication, learning, and design in the Park School. Gayeski is also CEO of Gayeski Analytics, through which she has led more than 300 strategic communication projects for clients worldwide.

"ROI and Beyond: Building and Demonstrating the Value of Communication" will be held from March 20 to April 1. "Online Learning and Collaboration: Managing Your Personal and Organizational Virtual Knowledge System" will run April 17 to 29. The fee for each course in $375 for IABC members and $450 for nonmembers.

"The courses will be held asynchronously to allow students to interact with their peers and with me at any time, based on their convenience," Gayeski says. "This partnership with IABC is a wonderful opportunity for the Park School to leverage faculty expertise so that busy practitioners can keep up to date on developments taking place within their professions."

Enrollment for each course is limited to 25 participants, who are required to have a valid e-mail address and Internet access. Participants must also have software that will read Microsoft Word documents and PowerPoint slideshows as well as Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files.

"Once enrolled, learners will be e-mailed a syllabus and a set of instructions," Gayeski says. "In general, participants will be expected to spend about 10 hours reading posted materials and entering into online discussions about professional experiences. The format offers individual coaching and feedback from an experienced professor and consultant as well as from fellow professionals."

Detailed information on the classes is listed below. For more information and to register, visit the IABC website at www.iabc.com/education/learning.htm.

"ROI and Beyond: Building and Demonstrating the Value of Communication"
March 20 to April 1
Today more than ever, communicators are challenged to prove their value. While many professionals are beginning to calculate the actual and potential return on investment of their communication projects, this measurement technique is just the beginning. Communication systems have ongoing strategic value as intangible assets that provide competitive advantage to organizations.
Topics covered in this course include:

• When, why, and how to calculate cost/benefits and ROI measurements (and when not to).
  
• How to use proven models and templates to pitch communication systems as long-term intangible assets.
  
• How to create value chains and integrate communications with business initiatives such as the balanced scorecard and corporate social responsibility.
  
• Strategies for protecting and leveraging your intellectual and business properties and creating an income stream for communication.

"Online Learning and Collaboration: Managing Your Personal and Organizational
Virtual Knowledge System"
April 17 to 29
The Internet has emerged as a primary tool for organizational collaboration and learning, and for individual professional development. However, just because we have e-mail, web meeting tools, and online courses doesn't mean that we necessarily know how to effectively leverage these tools. Communication professionals need to understand how to select and implement online tools such as groupware, virtual meeting spaces, and e-learning software, both as a user and a designer.
Topics covered in this course include:

• How to identify and select popular online tools for collaboration, learning, and decision making while looking at actual examples from organizational applications.
  
• Techniques for structuring and moderating online meetings and courses, maximizing interaction and attention.
  
• Pitfalls to avoid when selecting and implementing online group tools.
  
• Leveraging new mobile computing and communication technologies such as cell phones and PDAs.
  
• How to become an effective online learner yourself, using models and samples from actual professional development sites.

The Roy H. Park School of Communications has offered degrees in communications for over 50 years, including majors in television-radio; cinema and photography; film, photography, and visual arts; organizational communication, learning and design; integrated marketing communications; and journalism. Over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all over the world study with faculty renowned for their excellence in teaching, professional competence, and scholarly research.

IABC is a global network of communication professionals committed to improving organizational effectiveness through strategic communication. Established in 1970, IABC serves more than 13,500 members in 67 countries, 100 chapters, and 10,000 organizations.