Distributed Power, Distributed Power, Distributed Learning:Distributed Learning:

Strategies for Providing Online Strategies for Providing Online Education for Public Health Education for Public Health

Professionals in the Digital AgeProfessionals in the Digital Age

Nancy J. Allee, Helen Look, Deborah Lauseng, and Gillian Mayman

Public Health Informatics Services & AccessUniversity of Michigan – Ann Arbor

May 23, 2004

The MI-INFO Project The MI-INFO Project

This grant funded project is a collaborative effort This grant funded project is a collaborative effort to provide a series of information and computer to provide a series of information and computer literacy online training modules to give public literacy online training modules to give public health professionals the skills for effectively health professionals the skills for effectively finding, evaluating, and using information in the finding, evaluating, and using information in the digital library environment.digital library environment.

This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health,

under contract No. NO1-LM-1-3513.under contract No. NO1-LM-1-3513.

Working with our Working with our Training PartnersTraining Partners

Developing support from the managersDeveloping support from the managers

Having face-to-face meetings to promote Having face-to-face meetings to promote the projectthe project

Establishing liaisonsEstablishing liaisons

Providing value added services during Providing value added services during financially difficult timesfinancially difficult times

Online ConvenienceOnline Convenience

Administer skills assessmentAdminister skills assessment

Register for classes onlineRegister for classes online

View your classes and add/drop classesView your classes and add/drop classes

Email class remindersEmail class reminders

Initial Course OfferingsInitial Course Offerings

Best Evidence in Public Health Best Evidence in Public Health

Searching for Health Statistics Online Searching for Health Statistics Online

News & Current Awareness News & Current Awareness

Searching & Evaluating Information on the Web Searching & Evaluating Information on the Web

Finding Public Health Resources on the Web Finding Public Health Resources on the Web

Searching PubMed Searching PubMed

Presenting Data Using Excel and PowerPointPresenting Data Using Excel and PowerPoint

Feedback from Feedback from Public Health ProfessionalsPublic Health Professionals

What did you like best about this class?What did you like best about this class?

““Access to instructors for questions”Access to instructors for questions”

“ “Good to learn from others”Good to learn from others”

““Got many helpful tips to use [web Got many helpful tips to use [web resources] more effectively….”resources] more effectively….”

Comparison of Comparison of Teaching EnvironmentsTeaching Environments

In PersonIn Person

Interact with audienceInteract with audience

Adjust pacing/contentAdjust pacing/content

Known technologyKnown technology

2-5 hours preparation2-5 hours preparation

2 hours teaching2 hours teaching

OnlineOnline

No live feedbackNo live feedback

Strict structureStrict structure

Uncertain technologyUncertain technology

10+ hours preparation10+ hours preparation

10+ hours creation10+ hours creation

Benefits of Benefits of Online InstructionOnline Instruction

Self-pacedSelf-paced

24/ 7/ 365 access24/ 7/ 365 access

Unlimited participantsUnlimited participants

Convenience for busy professionalsConvenience for busy professionals

No geographic constraintsNo geographic constraints

Online Learning ModulesOnline Learning Modules

An online learning module may consist of:An online learning module may consist of:– Handouts Handouts – Links to additional resourcesLinks to additional resources– Web pagesWeb pages– Screen capture videos Screen capture videos – Multiple choice quizzesMultiple choice quizzes

Screen Capture VideosScreen Capture Videos

Licensed Software: Camtasia Studio from Licensed Software: Camtasia Studio from TechSmithTechSmith

Requires the software and a microphoneRequires the software and a microphone

Provides full motion screen recordingProvides full motion screen recording

Supports all the popular video and Supports all the popular video and animation standards animation standards – Flash output (cross platform compatible, Flash output (cross platform compatible,

standard plug-in)standard plug-in)

Presenting Data Presenting Data Using ExcelUsing Excel

Multiple Choice QuizzesMultiple Choice Quizzes

A way to evaluate what has been learnedA way to evaluate what has been learned

Responses are recorded into a databaseResponses are recorded into a database

The correct answers and explanations The correct answers and explanations are providedare provided

EvaluationsEvaluations

Results of skills assessmentResults of skills assessment

Feedback from the classesFeedback from the classes

Usage Statistics with WebTrendsUsage Statistics with WebTrends– web analyticsweb analytics

Next StepsNext Steps

Onsite training for partnersOnsite training for partners

Fully developed web modulesFully developed web modules

Considering certification/continuing Considering certification/continuing education optionseducation options

Partnering with NLMPartnering with NLM

Documentation of lessons learned and Documentation of lessons learned and effective strategies for providing online effective strategies for providing online educationeducation

Contact InformationContact Information

MI-INFO Project Web SiteMI-INFO Project Web Site– http://www.sph.umich.edu/mi-info/http://www.sph.umich.edu/mi-info/

Contact InformationContact Information– Nancy Allee Nancy Allee nallee@umich.edunallee@umich.edu– Helen Look Helen Look hlook@umich.eduhlook@umich.edu