GIA Launches New eLearning Accredited Jewelry Professional Program

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Jan. 30, 2009 – The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) today unveiled a new, online, multimedia format for its distance learning courses in gemology and jewelry sales. GIA is offering this advanced education technology, known as “eLearning,” to students effective immediately for its Accredited Jewelry Professional (A.J.P.) diploma program.

GIA’s eLearning features video for hands-on demonstrations, interviews with experts, instructor lectures and “see it for yourself” segments. It uses voice capabilities to give proper pronunciation and explanations from specialists. It presents a truly in-depth learning experience – people can read, hear, see, and be more interactive with the subject matter than ever before.

Donna Baker, GIA president and chief executive officer, said the change to eLearning takes advantage of the latest Web-based applications to create a multifaceted learning experience that integrates text and images with video, audio, slideshows, animations and interviews.

“As GIA revolutionized the industry and gemological education 78 years ago by delivering home-based gemology courses, we're doing it again today with Web-based eLearning. We believe this is the future of all GIA’s distance learning,” said Baker.

“This is yet another way we are fulfilling our mission on a global level,” Baker added. “GIA is charged with maintaining an international standard, and one way to do this is by providing jewelers with expert gemological training. Delivering our courses via the Internet makes the same high-quality information more readily and consistently available to people everywhere, and encourages the standardized, professional development of the jewelry industry worldwide.”

GIA plans to extend this eLearning capability to all its Distance Education courses as the Institute develops the multidimensional instructional content required for each GIA eLearning course.

Duncan Pay, GIA Course Development director said, “The Institute has a long-established pedigree for providing superior Distance Education. This eLearning is a logical extension of our existing text-based services. As digital media capabilities have expanded, we have been able to add our large collection of videos and images to the eLearning experience.”

“We started rolling out eLearning with the A.J.P. because it is an important introductory gem and jewelry program that teaches the essentials of product knowledge and sales information for diamonds, colored stones and jewelry. The benefit is that people can earn the prestigious GIA A.J.P. diploma via eLearning for the same low price as before, at their convenience via a computer, with a greatly enriched curriculum that offers an easier-to-obtain and better retained education,” said Pay.

GIA customized a learning management system platform for its eLearning that allows students to access all coursework, materials and lessons online in a media-rich, easy-to-use environment. All questionnaires, including an un-proctored final exam for the A.J.P. program are also delivered online with students receiving immediate feedback. This not only enhances the ease and convenience of taking courses, but also ensures quicker completion.

At the same time, eLearning comes with full GIA support so that a student can reach a personal instructor or staff person as needed via phone, email or in person. Print materials for the A.J.P. courses will remain available for purchase upon request. The printed course materials for Jewelry Essentials and Diamond Essentials each cost $40, and $50 for the Colored Stone Essentials course, plus shipping and handling charges and applicable sales tax.

To see a demonstration of the GIA eLearning system, visit www.gia.edu/elearning. To learn more about GIA eLearning, call GIA Admissions at (800) 421-4250, ext. 4001.