Robins’ Distance Learning Center gets upgrades to better serve students Published Feb. 14, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78th ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, GA -- What to know: Robins Air Force Base's Distance Learning Center can accommodate teleconferences with groups of up to 24 people. To schedule a teleconference at Robins' Distance Learning Center, call Chad Langford, an administrator in the DLC at 926-3528, at least one day in advance. Robins Air Force Base's Distance Learning Center has made upgrades to its classrooms to make getting educated a better experience. New computers, monitors and visual aid equipment for the center's two classrooms are some of the main changes to come about at the center, which is located in Room C17 in Bldg. 301 West Wing's Bay C. Ergonomic chairs were also included in the center's updates to make learning more comfortable for students. The changes came about in September and October of 2007. Gary Schwartz, a budget analyst in the Training and Professional Development Division of the Directorate of Personnel, said the nearly $60,000 in upgrades were funded by the center to replace its obsolete resources. Chad Langford, an administrator in the DLC, said the upgrades make the center a state of the art facility. "We did the push-to-talk microphones for the students to be able to talk back and forth when students are on the satellite courses," he said. "We provided new tables, new chairs, a new projector and a new speaker system." Having the most up to date technology gives the center what it needs to provide satellite capabilities for up to 40 college and other work-related courses the facility offers at any given time, Mr. Langford said. "We used to have a lot of problems with the audio system that we had in our (classroom) because it was old," he said. "We had to swap out the boxes a lot, but it seems like the new system we have, with it being more up to date, is going to be a more reliable system so we won't have so many problems coming out of the system." Mr. Langford said about a year ago, new computers were placed in the classrooms for instructors to conduct web-based seminars. The new equipment has enabled the center to accommodate groups up to 24 people for teleconferences, Mr. Langford said. Shannon Lewis, a training technician in the division, said the updates aren't the last for the DLC. The center's staff plans to modernize its video library. "Right now, we have about 1,200 taped courses (at the center) and they're on VHS tapes," Mr. Langford said. "It's older material and outdated. We have books and courseware that go along with the tapes." Mr. Langford said the center plans to get better materials to offer students. Ms. Lewis said a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place in the near future to celebrate the center's new features.