Nw E Learning Conference

E-Learning Strategies for E-Learning Strategies for Allied Health Programs:Allied Health Programs:

Michael ShepardMichael Shepard

Whatcom Community CollegeWhatcom Community College

E-Learning CoordinatorE-Learning Coordinator

Hybrid Physical Therapy Assisting ProgramHybrid Physical Therapy Assisting Program

Whatcom Community CollegeWhatcom Community College

•Founded in 1987

•7,000 Students per quarter

•3,500 FTE per quarter

•Average student age is 29

•15% of students in

Professional/Technical Programs such

as Allied Health

Allied Health at WCC

• Nursing RN program• Physical Therapy

Assisting Program F2F and Hybrid

• Medical Assisting• Massage• IBEST - Integrated Basic

Education and Skills Training

PTA Program History

• F2F program started in 1994

• Local and statewide workforce shortage for PTAs

• 2003 Business community approached WCC to create an online program

• 2006 Hybrid Program created, accredited and 17 students enrolled

• Students from AK, ID, Eastern WA

Physical Therapy Assistant Hybrid Program • Currently 29 enrolled

in Hybrid program• F2F program runs

concurrently• Meet 3-4 weekends

per quarter @ WCC for hands on training, skills assessments and testing

• 9 Quarter program

2008 Governor’s Award for Workforce Best Practice

Program ChallengesProgram Challenges

• Lack of faculty support for online teaching and use of technology in classroom

• Heavy reliance on text based e-learning

• Lack of multi-media resources especially for lab skills

• Feeling that WCC was behind the curve

From a BlackBoard student discussion board:

“I was interested if ya’ll would like to draft a letter to the folks at the schoolwho have the ability to authorize the creation of some additional sources/methods of online learning . . . Such modifications will appealto different learning styles while providing an enhanced, more well-rounded learning experience for all.”

Macro Level Problem SolvingMacro Level Problem Solving

• One-on-one interviews with Allied Health faculty followed by evaluations of online classes and individualized training

• Collaborate with other schools• Research available technologies and best

practices• Create online resource and collaboration site• Provide departmental and individual eLearning

support to faculty

My Goals

• Faculty deserve eLearning support • Lab sciences are right for online/hybrid• WCC will dramatically increase online/hybrid

offerings in Proff. Tech and Gen. Ed. courses• Online/Hybrid students deserve a parity of

college services– Online academic advising– eTutoring– Multimedia and collaboration– Online office hours

Student Centered ImplementationStudent Centered Implementation

– Primal Online Anatomy – American Speech Sounds for Healthcare

Professionals– iTunes U videos– Taping Lab skills videos – Impatica PowerPoint Compressor– Student Ning page for Clinical Internships– Anatomy and Physiology and Chem eTutoring

– http://screencast.com/t/DzgcPidT7 http://screencast.com/t/2YZC6TOpp

Faculty and Student Centered Faculty and Student Centered ImplementationImplementation

• Quality Matters training• Lecture capture by adding audio narrations to

PowerPoints• Faculty Resource and Training Center• Faculty Showcase of technology use• Wiki Pages for campus and PTA clinical

students• Weekly eLearning professional development

opportunities

What’s Ahead

• Continue Filming Lab Skills Videos for all hybrid lab science classes

• Medical Assistant classes online/hybrid 2009• Hybrid Chem 221 prerequisite • Continue research for implementation of hybrid

Registered Nursing Program for 2010-2011 • Enable increased lecture capture ability • Electronic Medical Records Software for PTA• Certify courses using QM rubric• Electronic course evaluations• Online office hours and guest speakers w/ Elluminate

Thank You

Questions?

Michael Shepard

eLearning Coordinator Whatcom CC

[email protected]

360.383.3275