By Bob Conklin
ASNT’s Learning Programs Department now offers a broad array of new educational opportunities for members, including on-demand e-courses, video recordings of ASNT conference presentations, equipment demonstrations, and three monthly webinar series: Innovation in NDT, Management of NDT, and NDT Applications.
The webinar series are designed with all NDT practitioners in mind, whether you’re an entry-level technician wanting to expand your knowledge of NDT or an experienced manager wishing to stay abreast of the latest NDT developments. Topics range from improvements in NDT methods to revolutions in digital techniques to the management of NDT programs.
As of 1 March 2021, the live webinars have attracted nearly 1200 attendees, with many more accessing the free videos of the presentations posted to the ASNT Learn website after each webinar, as well as on-demand versions of each webinar for attendance credit.
Attendee Response
Attendee response to the webinars has been very positive with a nearly unanimous response of “yes” to the survey question: Would you recommend this webinar to a colleague?
“Being my background has been involved with film radiography, I realized [from this webinar] how much more I have to learn concerning new technology for radiography,” said Gary E. Bass, an ASNT NDT Level III and metallurgical engineer at Chromalloy, following the 14 January 2021 webinar on computed radiography.
David W. Ivey, a Level III radiographer who attended the 3 December 2020 webinar on navigating the regulatory “minefield” of industrial X-ray machines stated, “This was an eye-opening experience! I have been a radiographer for 20+ years, and never knew a lot of this information even existed. I was asked to be the RSO [radiation safety officer] for our company, and I think I’ll take the offer, just to start getting things right in my facility. Thank you!”
Comments have been just as complimentary regarding presentations on other NDT methods and techniques, including use of robotics and drones for inspections, total focusing method, air-coupled ultrasonic testing, eddy current arrays, and next-generation NDE 4.0. Also well-received have been a number of management topics, such as financing NDT equipment, avoiding the “imposter syndrome” in management positions, and implementing best practices for the delivery of virtual presentations—especially useful as workplace restrictions and social-distancing guidelines are still in place for many.
Earn Recertification Points
Each webinar is one hour long, including time for Q&A. Attendees receive one contact hour credit per webinar and 0.35 recertification point toward ASNT certification renewal, as applicable. Each webinar enables users to download an attendance certificate and easily upload recertification points using the ASNT Learn education platform. Webinars are priced at US $49 for members and $99 for nonmembers. Site licenses are also available for multiple attendees from one organization. (Contact Bob Conklin at bconklin@asnt.org at least one day prior to the webinar to make the arrangements.)
NDT Applications
The NDT Applications webinar series covers the basics of NDT techniques—new and old—and the challenges associated with inspecting different materials. Hosted by Antionette (Toni) Bailey of TB3 NDT Consulting LLC, this series provides hands-on knowledge for inspectors ranging from trainees up to Level IIIs.
“It has been great introducing some of the best NDT presenters to our audience,” Bailey said. “This [NDT Applications] series has provided viewers with hands-on demonstrations such as modern UT and ET scanning techniques, advanced RT image review options, and excellent MT and PT indication interpretations. We hope more viewers can join us to learn techniques that will enhance their knowledge and provide education that could improve their in-house technique development.”
Innovation in NDT
The Innovation in NDT webinar series is hosted by longtime ASNT member and former ASNT Director at Large Flynn Spears of Alban NDE. In this series, worldwide subject matter experts talk about wide-ranging topics from emerging NDT technology to revolutions in digital techniques to the next generation of NDT inspection.
“It has been an honor to participate as webinar host for the Innovation in NDT series in the promotion and furtherance of our NDT methods and capabilities,” Spears recently stated in email correspondence. “This communication medium continues to show ASNT’s ability to remain fluid and viable as the key organization for the establishment and dissemination of all information related to the creation, education, and use of nondestructive test methods in keeping with our society’s strategic plan and mission statement.”
Management of NDT
The Management of NDT webinar series is co-hosted by the Nondestructive Testing Management Association (NDTMA) and moderated by Marybeth Miceli, NDTMA Executive Director and former ASNT Director at Large. This webinar series is designed to provide management-level personnel with enhanced learning to improve leadership skills and business acumen in NDT operations. Attendees learn ways to grow their business, improve communication, manage back-office functions more effectively, prepare and manage the M&A process, and more. NDTMA members have an added benefit of bypassing the registration fee by entering a Promo Code available from Miceli at marybeth@ndtma.org.
“This collaboration between NDTMA and ASNT is a great way to help management-level professionals and business owners worldwide be more effective leaders,” according to Miceli. “It’s a great value-add for our member companies who can access the webinars free of charge.”
Look for New Webinars
New webinars are added frequently, so readers are encouraged to check ASNT Learn regularly at pathlms.com/asnt. Webinars are also posted on-demand for those who can’t make the designated webinar. Section leaders may wish to play the recordings to supply additional technical content at their section meetings. For attendance credit for webinar recordings, go to Past Webinars for Credit under the Courses tab on ASNT Learn. You can also access the schedule of upcoming webinars for all three series from the Events and Learn tabs of the ASNT website at asnt.org. Webinars are generally held on the second, third, and fourth Thursday of every month at 3 pm ET.
ASNT Learn is always on the lookout for cutting-edge topics in NDT to add to its schedule. If you are interested in presenting a webinar, contact Bob Conklin, Educational Materials Developer, at bconklin@asnt.org or 800-222-2768, ext. 275.
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Bob Conklin is the Educational Materials Developer for ASNT. For 10 years prior to this role, he edited a variety of ASNT training publications, including the Personnel Training Publications series of Programmed Instruction and Classroom Training Books. A graduate of The Ohio State University with a Ph.D. in English studies, his background includes teaching positions at DeVry University, Capitol University, and Columbus State Community College. He has also enjoyed teaching Train the Trainer, Math of NDT, and Technical Writing for NDT courses.