| Court reporting is the process of transcribing the | | | | relevant to the courtroom e.g. terminology, legal |
| spoken word during court hearings, official | | | | issues and language etc (discussed below). |
| proceedings and live events. The field itself is quiet | | | | Text-books and Equipment generally required |
| steady in its growth, growing with the national | | | | Many institutions require that students provide |
| average (according to the bureau of labor | | | | their own stenograph machines however some |
| statistics) and the work itself is now supported | | | | institutions make such machines available for |
| with technology which reduces time and effort | | | | blended / classroom courses for internal testing |
| and improves results. This does not mean that | | | | and training. |
| the court reporter is becoming less important; on | | | | There is generally an online knowledge resource |
| the contrary, court reporters trained in the latest | | | | available for students to access in order to read / |
| transcription techniques and possessing the | | | | save information related to courses (including |
| required knowledge base on a variety of subjects, | | | | reading and training material as well as referencing |
| are needed now more than ever as the judicial | | | | material and practice tests & exercises). |
| system and media industry (which requires a large | | | | Equipment requirements for training |
| amount of transcription work as well) grow larger. | | | | Stenograph machine (Stentura 400SRT, Stentura |
| Online court reporting schools are either | | | | 200SRT or 400SRT, or other comparable |
| accredited or non-accredited institutions which | | | | real-time capable writing machine). |
| offer students the opportunity to receive the | | | | A good computer (Desktop or laptop) with the |
| technical training and education necessary to | | | | following accessories and software; |
| pre-qualify them for certification. Education and | | | | - The Windows XP or Vista operating system is |
| training traditionally takes from two to two and a | | | | usually required to run CAT software |
| half years to complete, however, with a self | | | | - MP3 player / converter software as well as |
| paced study, especially through online court | | | | Office Tools (Word, PowerPoint and Adobe |
| reporting schools which offer the full range of | | | | Raeder) |
| training courses online, this education, especially at | | | | - CD-RW drive, USB ports and Head-Set |
| the associate level, can be completed in a little | | | | - Fast internet connection (Cable / DSL) |
| over a year. Self paced study gives prospective | | | | Subjects on which typical courses are offered and |
| students the time they need for their jobs and | | | | for which a variety of textbooks may be |
| family and social lives while studying when it suits | | | | recommended; |
| their busy schedules best. Most courses are | | | | - Medical terminology |
| blended i.e. they are offered in a combination of | | | | - Legal terminology |
| both traditional and online teaching classrooms and | | | | - Court procedures and Judicial reporting |
| workshops. | | | | - Transcription |
| Online / blended Teaching Methodology | | | | - Language and Grammar |
| Typically, lectures are pre-recorded and delivered | | | | - Stenography |
| in the format of PowerPoint presentations, | | | | - Short-hand |
| webcasts, video clips etc while 'live' transcription | | | | - Voice writing |
| exercises are conducted over the internet as well | | | | - Broadcast Captioning |
| as in periodic sessions conducted in traditional | | | | - CART and CAT Systems |
| classroom environments. The exact methodology | | | | References: |
| differs from institution to institution and | | | | Wikipedia[dot]org |
| prospective students should look up several good | | | | CourtReportingFAQs[dot]com |
| online court reporting schools to find their 'best fit'. | | | | TextStreamInstitute[dot]com/realtime[dot]html |
| There are several online courses available that | | | | Education-Portal[dot]com/articles |
| offer everything from simple certification in | | | | e_Overview[dot]html |
| transcription skills to Associates and Bachelor's | | | | NationalCourtReportingInstitute[dot]com |
| degrees which cover comprehensive subject | | | | fees[dot]htmnvra[dot]orgncraonline[dot]org |
| areas in paralegal studies. Although a full degree is | | | | Resource Area: |
| generally not required, it is preferred as it | | | | DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW |
| especially prepares reporters for the courtroom | | | | and may or may not reflect specific practices, |
| by improving their knowledge base and | | | | courses and/or services associated with ANY |
| proficiency. | | | | ONE particular school(s) that is or is not |
| Online Court reporting education: General | | | | advertised on |
| Objectives | | | | Copyright 2009 - All rights reserved by Media |
| The primary objectives of online court reporting | | | | Positive Communications, Inc. |
| courses include training students in transcription | | | | Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an |
| techniques (the use of stenographs, short-hand, | | | | ezine or website provided the article is reprinted in |
| computer aided real-time transcription and the use | | | | its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and |
| of modern tools) as well as educating prospective | | | | ALL links remain intact and active. |
| reporters in subject matter that they are | | | | |