OCTOBER 28, 1998
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T&D EXTRA is an information service of Training & Development
magazine, published by the American Society for Training &
Development,
www.astd.org. **************************************************************
THIS WEEK:
1. Back in the Spaceship Again
2. Great Moments in Distance Learning
3. Working Life
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BACK IN THE SPACESHIP AGAIN
October 29 is a big day for 77-year-old John Glenn. Glenn--the first
American to orbit the Earth back in '62--is returning to space as a
payload specialist, and if you're wondering what kind of training he's
been through over the past few months, chew on this. Among other
things, he has
* learned how to wriggle in and out of a 90-pound launch suit
* practiced crawling in and out of a space vehicle's cramped cabin
* simulated shuttle bailouts over water
* prepared for medical research experiments
* practiced emergency exits from the spacecraft
* learned how to use a laptop computer.
Glenn was first chosen as an astronaut in 1959. What turned him on to
flying in space decades ago? Glenn says it's his love of learning new
things.
(Source: Florida Today Space Online,
www.flatoday.com/space) ___________________________________________________
GREAT MOMENTS IN DISTANCE LEARNING
* Advertisements for correspondence studies appeared in the early
1700s in the United States.
* In the 1880s, New York's Chatauqua College granted degrees to people
who had completed correspondence work and attended summer institutes.
Colleges in Europe also offered courses to distant learners.
* In the 1880s, Thomas J. Foster started home-study courses in mine
safety that were broadened (in 1890) to become the International
Correspondence Schools.
* In the 1890s, Australia's University of Queensland offered an
external degree program.
* In 1892, the term distance education appeared in the University of
Wisconsin catalogue. That's considered to be the first use of the
phrase.
* In 1892, Pennsylvania State University offered correspondence
courses in agriculture--an initiative that preceded a nationwide
expansion of technical correspondence instruction.
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WORKING LIFE
Homicide usually grabs the headlines when it comes to workplace
violence, but far more common are bites (about 1,000 a year);
squeezes, pinches, and scratches (about 2,000); and 10,000 hits,
kicks, and beatings. In fact, government 'bean counters" keep track of
and document on-the-job biting, pushing, and scratching.
(Source: Working Life,
www.astd.org/virtual_community/td_magazine) **************************************************
T&D EXTRA point of contact is Donna Abernathy,
dabernathy@astd.org.
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