Introducing IKE University

Introduction

The first orange IKE device went out the door in July 2016. Part of buying an IKE back then included on-site training from one of IKE’s pole experts. It allowed our customers and users to learn the ins and outs of being successful with IKE fast. And speed was always paramount. In this industry, when a project starts or is awarded, everything needs to happen fast. So our trainers were always ready to be at our customer’s location in a moment’s notice. Fast, high-quality training has been a core part of the IKE Experience ever since. Then the year 2020 came around. The pandemic forced us to re-evaluate how we trained our customers when we could not be on-site with them. The result: IKE University.

What is IKE University

IKE University is a web-based learning platform that introduces self-paced, online learning to a well-practiced training regimen to allow our users to learn the basics of IKE, get their questions answered, and ultimately become IKE Certified. Everything a user needs to know to get started with IKE can now be learned and tested online. All a user has to do is log in and get started.

Online Coursework

From there, they can get started on the coursework available or assigned to them. For most users, this starts with the IKE Field Trainer Course, where users can learn the basics of using IKE in the field. The course was designed to cover all the necessary detail while helping users progress quickly and ultimately get started using IKE quickly. As one early Field Trainer user put it, “The content was detailed and the videos make it really easy to understand how the IKE tool works”

Once the basics are nailed, IKE University brings our users lasting benefits. Users that complete certain coursework are awarded an IKE Certificate. Once IKE Certified, users join an exclusive class who have been tested at using IKE in the best way possible to collect data and complete projects. IKE Certified users expertly combine knowledge of the tool, the industry, and optimal workflows to bring value to any organization they are working with.

Live Sessions with Trainers

Once the online learning is complete, the next piece of IKE University begins. Users connect with an IKE trainer either in person or via web meeting. There they get answers to any leftover questions and discuss project-specific detail before project kickoff.
Beyond IKE

In addition to the basics of using IKE, users will find courses, lessons, and webinars taught by industry experts that allow them to expand their industry knowledge beyond IKE to topics such as:

• Pole load analysis
• Staking and Line Design
• Equipment Identification
• Industry Trends

The idea of this coursework is to make industry knowledge accessible. Anyone working in Telecom, Utilities, and Engineering can grow their knowledge whether they have been working for 30 years or just started.

Conclusion

Rather than the pandemic forcing us to create workarounds for our training that hurt our customers, it forced us to create a better way of training. Now, as the world re-opens, IKE University provides our customers a three-pronged approach to training made up of IKE-specific online coursework, live sessions with IKE trainers, and expansive industry-focused learning that helps them complete projects and grow their careers.
As IKE University continues to grow, we will be continually adding new courses and more powerful features. Head over to our IKE University page to learn more!