USITT and ESTA Launch INNOVA for Online LearningUSITT and ESTA announce INNOVA, a platform to provide online learning to professionals in entertainment technology and design. INNOVA, launching in April, will offer on-demand training in a wide variety of disciplines and levels and will include renewal credit courses for the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) and American Institute of Architects (AIA). Both non-profits have been seeking to offer constituents educational opportunities that allow them to learn at their convenience. A survey of ETCP certificants received an overwhelming response with a clear preference stated for training that could be accessed from anywhere at any time. The thousands of current ETCP certificants have found gaining the required continuing education credits difficult and expensive, involving significant travel costs and lost wages. By joining forces on INNOVA, USITT and ESTA hope to create a central online learning hub for the industry and they invite other organizations to utilize the platform to provide educational opportunities for their constituents. INNOVA will feature a mix of offerings including sessions created by some of the industry's best known educators, recorded panel presentations from industry conferences, and a series of short public service features. All INNOVA content will be reviewed by groups of subject matter experts (SMEs) for technical quality, content accuracy and, in the case of ETCP and AIA credits, relevance to the certifications. For those interested in providing content to INNOVA, please contact innova@usitt.org. The public service features will include informational presentations on each of the American National Standards developed under ESTA's Technical Standards Program. Of interest to students will be tips on writing resumes and cover letters. INNOVA is a win-win for the entire industry. Convenient continuing education will be available to all, trainers will receive a royalty for every download, and the income received by USITT and ESTA will be reinvested back into the programs so important to the industry. Visit www.innova.usitt.org for more information. 
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