Today’s students have plenty of online and in-class programs to choose from for a court reporting education. But are online programs as effective as traditional classroom-based programs? Read on to learn what other aspiring and experienced court reporters see as the pros and cons of both options.

Most court reporting education programs contain two main components: court reporting theory and speedbuilding. Students also typically take classes such as English grammar, medical and legal vocabulary and ethics, and must pass written exams as well as speedbuilding exams to earn their certification. Some students such as Megan Doney and Melissa Mandell have taken both in-class and online classes and see the value in both. Still others such as Cathy Jardim swear by the training they received in a traditional classroom setting.

“In an ideal world, I’d do all of my training in person. Court reporting requires you to learn to use your brain differently and it can be tough at first,” said Mandell of Merrill Deposition Services, “You need a lot of support from your instructor and fellow students, especially when you’re starting out. The more you have, the more you’ll be inclined to stick with it.”

Mandell completed her theory classes in the classroom and is enrolled in an online speedbuilding class. She loves the flexibility of the online program, although she cited another important aspect of the traditional classroom. “Having to show up in person makes you more accountable and keeps you on schedule. It’s a little easier to put off your work in an online class, even though the teacher keeps tabs on you,” she said. “Checking in via email is not the same as having to answer in person.”

Mandell also valued the “real world” stories her instructor shared to provide students with a sense of the work world they were entering. “I don’t think the stories would have come across as effectively in an online setting,” she said.

Doney, also of Merrill Deposition Services, completed her theory training by attending an in-person class after work. “I don’t know if I would have lasted if my initial classes were online,” she said, “It would have been frustrating without having a teacher there in person to help me get accustomed to the coursework and equipment.”

Like Mandell, Doney is now enrolled in an online speedbuilding class. While she likes the flexibility of the online class, she feels it’s effective “largely because the teacher is so communicative. He provides detailed commentary on daily lessons in a way that you feel like he is talking to you,” she said.

Cathy Jardim, an expert court reporter who has handled high-profile work such as speeches for President Carter and President Reagan and the Monica Lewinsky deposition, attended a traditional court reporting school. “We went to school every day from 9 to 3, with a lot of classroom time spent on English grammar classes, medical terminology, legal terminology, etc. You built your speed at the same time,” she said.

Jardim noted that today’s court reporting programs seem to emphasize English grammar less than in years past, a trend she views with concern. She credits her strong command of the English language as a key aspect of her successful career.

“People have this notion about court reporting that you can make a lot of money – you just have to learn how to type fast. It’s much more than that,” she said. “It’s not just about capturing the word. It’s about getting it onto the page correctly.”

Jardim agrees with Doney and Mandell about the value of in-person training. “The rigor and routine of in-person training is more demanding and therefore more effective. I think going to a formal program where you see your teachers every day and take daily English classes is hugely important to having a successful career.”

Online or in-person?

The line between the two is becoming blurred by technology. It’s becoming easier and easier to show up “in person” via web conferencing, online meeting software and other tools. The most important factor in learning, based on our contributors’ insights, is achieving that person-to-person interaction that creates a richer learning experience.