Why is ISS the best scoping course?
That’s easy!
Internet Scoping School is the best scoping course because it’s all-inclusive.
So what’s included in the cost of our training course?
- Reduced price on Case CATalyst software key. Includes a year service contract and Audiosync capability.
- FREE access to all updates or bonuses that we add in the future.
- A listing in our exclusive online student directory.
- Lifetime access to our “Students ‘n Grads” Facebook group that includes 24/7 access to endless tips and hints to help you with your studies and marketing yourself as a graduate, and access to daily help from the head instructor at Stenograph.
See the pattern here? LIFETIME. We will never limit your course access to one year, and we will never ask you to pay for updates or anything else beyond your course tuition fee.
Internet Scoping School is the best scoping course because it’s the most thorough.
Just how thorough is the course?
Did you know Internet Scoping School has two to three times the content of other courses? We cover everything — from notereading to transcript production to marketing, ethics, ergonomics, commonly made mistakes, actual software training — again, everything a new scopist needs to know to not just do the job but to be successful and make money. The course includes medical terminology, punctuation, legal terminology, a thorough section on running Case CATalyst software, and much more!
Which course do you think will best prepare you for a career in scoping?
Internet Scoping School is the best scoping course because we offer scopist-specific, hands-on CAT software training and LOTS of practice.
The ISS course includes step-by-step instructions including software commands and shortcuts, as well as how to ensure accuracy when editing. We don’t just ask you to read your manual or watch the videos on the software’s website — those instructions are meant primarily for court reporters, not scopists.
After each lesson in the software training, you’ll get a practice file to practice the new commands you’ve learned. I’ve worked with a broad group of reporters myself over many years as a scopist, and I’m happy to pass on the methodologies I’ve learned that help tremendously when it comes to editing transcripts for a variety of writing styles and reporter preferences.
We also include a large — and growing! — selection of files written by over a dozen different reporters. You’ll get to practice on those files to increase your speed and familiarity with the software commands. Answer keys are also provided so that mistakes are caught early — before they become bad habits.
Long story short, Internet Scoping School is the best scoping course because we offer lots and lots of hands-on practice. We know from over 42 years of scoping experience, and teaching experience since 1998, that it’s not just the theory but the practice that will prepare you to make money as a scopist quickly after graduating. You won’t graduate from ISS nervous or scared or confused about where to start. You’ll know exactly what you’re doing.
Internet Scoping School is the best scoping course because we screen our prospective students.
Internet Scoping School asks all prospective students to enroll in our free intro course (containing a 25-question mini Word Skills Test) before enrolling in any portion of our school. The next step is enrolling in Industry Fundamentals™, which contains our 100-question Word Skills Test.
Those who discover they have poor word skills are advised to either seek another profession, or if they still desire to go into scoping, understand that they’ll need to do some intensive English preparation. We provide honest feedback and suggest resources to help with refreshing your skills.
Of one thing we’re certain: Someone who doesn’t have good word skills is highly unlikely to succeed as a scopist. We refuse to take your money and train you for a profession if we determine you will more than likely fail. We’d rather help you make sure you’re a good fit for the course FIRST — before you fork over your tuition.
How does ISS compare to other courses costwise?
Although the cost of ISS is higher than some other online courses, it is also the most comprehensive, so it is the best value for your training dollar. The reasons I laid out above also contribute to the higher cost. Would you rather save $500 on your initial tuition but get cut off from the course after a year unless you reenroll? Or would you rather pay a higher fee up front for a much more thorough course, lifetime access, support, and updates — and know beyond a shadow of a doubt you have everything you need to succeed, no matter how long it takes?
The choice is easy.
I have also had students who came to me even after taking other training courses. Many felt ill-prepared to begin their scoping businesses, felt they had not learned the best scoping techniques, and then enrolled in Internet Scoping School. I felt relieved and so very gratified when they told me Internet Scoping School was much more thorough than those they’d taken previously — and they felt it was well worth the extra investment — and they had already paid for training once!
That’s taking it from the horse’s mouth!
Internet Scoping School is the best scoping course because the instructor has more experience — both in actual scoping AND in teaching scoping.
I began my scoping career in 1979, when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. I’m dating myself here, but the point is, I have many years of experience in the profession.
I started out typing from dictation, but shortly thereafter the first CAT software came out and I began to do computer editing. I have worked with countless reporters over the years and interfaced with many scopists as well. The wealth of knowledge I have gained has been invaluable to my own scoping career, and I believe it benefits the students of my course as well.
They turned over the training to me since I took time and was patient with the trainees. But I ran into a problem: They were sending me people to train who had lousy word skills and weren’t qualified to be scopists. (It would be like me trying to succeed at math. No way!) So I took it upon myself to develop a screening test for applicants, as well as conducted a thorough, hands-on training program with new hires. Since then, I’ve conducted seminars at national and state conventions, reporting schools, and taught my own online program.
For many years, I was NCRA’s and Stenograph Corporation’s scopist source; if you have a question about scoping, they’ll send you to me.
I always take time to answer questions and encourage other scopists. I really enjoy teaching and sharing my knowledge and experience with others.
How much experience does Linda have promoting the scoping profession?
Below I have cut and pasted the “professional service” section from my résumé. Because I love the scoping profession and want it to be the best it can be, I have been very involved in professional improvement. I am the only instructor who has taken time away from my business and making money to donate my time to serving my profession. This is something I would want in an instructor because I believe in it so strongly. You won’t find any other scoping instructor with a résumé quite as extensive as mine!
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
- member Court Reporters Forum ’94-’97;
- member Scopist Section Management Committee; ’95-’97;
- president SCOPE national scopist association ’96-’97;
- member Verbatim Reporters’ Forum ’97-’02;
- member NCRA (National Court Reporters Association) Scopist Task Force ’94-’99;
- member NCRA Scopist Certification Subcommittee ’95-’97;
- associate member NCRA and Montana State Court Reporters Associations ‘-92-present;
- speaker at state court reporter conventions in Wyoming, Montana, Washington, and Texas;
- speaker at NCRA National Convention ’95, ’96, ’00, ’02; ’05;
- speaker USCRA (United States Court Reporters Association) National Convention ’05;
- chair NCRA Scopist Day Planning Committee ’96-’98, Cochair; ’99;
- coordinator NCRA Scopist Booth ’95-’05;
- edited on-site daily copy Kansas City, KS 4/98;
- Lander, WY, 5/99, 1/00 and Spokane, WA, 5/05;
- author “Scope It Out” column in Montana CRA state newsletter, “The Nugget,” ’97-’00;
- editor “Scoping” column for the Journal of Court Reporting ’97-’05;
- instructor/ administrator Internet Scoping School (www.scopeschool.com) ’99 to the end of time!
I was also a scopist at the Academy Awards ’08-’00. AT least one ISS grad still scopes the Oscars every year. (See pictures on the ISS Facebook page). I fell on ice the third year and ended up having surgery, and that was the end of my galavanting all over the country!
How qualified is Linda to train on CAT software?
I was for many years certified by Stenograph Corporation to train on Case CATalyst software. Reporters expect their scopists to be current and knowledgeable on software so that they can help them with questions, so this is essential to your success as a scopist.
A recent graduate of BeST said on Triple Threat Job Scoping Board that “I can only speak for BeST, their coverage of software in general is pretty cursory…’” Not so with ISS! We have a very thorough training section on Case CATalyst software.
What contacts does Linda have in the reporting profession?
Due to being involved on scopist committees with NCRA, I have made many contacts with NCRA staff. Because of speaking at several national and state conventions, as well as being the editor of the “Scoping” column for the JCR, my name is very well known. With visibility tends to come credibility. I use my reputation and standing in the profession to the benefit of my students and graduates wherever possible. I often get referrals from reporters I don’t even know, and I am happy to pass reporter contacts on to my group.
How do graduates of the course and professionals in the field feel about ISS?
ISS has been up and running since 1999. It was the first Internet-based scopist training course and is still the leader in the field. Please visit our Testimonials page to see what graduates have to say about ISS and also our Recommendations page to see how professionals in the field feel about ISS.
We also highly recommend visiting our public Facebook group and chatting with some students to get their personal opinions.
More Questions?
See more frequently asked questions about Internet Scoping School.
