Professional development

Virtual Learning

Internal Auditing's Role in Organizational Ethics
begins May 28, 2008, at 5 p.m. ET, with four sessions.

Value-added Business Controls: The Right Way to Manage Risk
begins June 2, 2008, at 6 p.m. ET, with seven sessions.

In recognition of the time and budget constraints many internal audit departments currently are facing, The IIA's Educational Programs department is launching virtual seminars. By accessing a seminar online, there's no need to worry about travel arrangements or taking time off of work. "It's a convenient and cost-effective way to enrich your career by learning about the latest hot topics in internal auditing," says Cyndi Summers, IIA director of Education Strategy.

A virtual seminar is similar to a traditional class - you still can interact with your instructor and classmate, and you have readings and assignments during the sessions. To participate, you simply use buttons to respond "yes" or "no," and you can even show laughter, applause, or that you've left the room. Text chat can be used to send longer messages to the class or the instructor. For group exercises, virtual breakout rooms are set up and the teacher can visit them to check on your progress. When the project is complete, everyone returns to the main classroom to share results.

Terri Freeman, CIA, IIA internal audit director, recently had the opportunity to participate in one of the seminars and says she enjoyed the experience. "It was convenient because I could attend the classes anywhere that I had access to the Internet," she explains. "Also, it's nice to have a less expensive option to physically attending a seminar when the budget is tight. And because I'm spending less, I can take more classes."

"All of the learning objectives we can accomplish in a bricks and mortar classroom can also be achieved virtually, even if approached differently," says Lisa Hirtzinger, IIA director of Curriculum Development and seminar teacher. "It was easier than I thought to build relationships and rapport with the virtual participants, which was a welcome surprise. Whether tech savvy or new to the virtual world, participants seem able to easily adapt."

To register for a virtual seminar, visit GEAR or call +1-407-937-1111. Registration closes several days before the seminar begins to allow enough time to ship the headset to participants.