Design Decision #1 – Why use an online training resource?
For this blog post, the design challenge, the literature guiding my approach for this design decision, the unanswered question prompting this, and where to explore to inquire into this question will be discussed.
For the past five years, staff in the dental health programs at our college participate in face-to-face training annually. To ensure that staff are prepared to work in the clinical and laboratory settings, training includes Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), emergency protocols, and infection prevention and control protocols. However, not all staff participate in the one-day training sessions due to work or family obligations. To bring staff who work in different locations and who have different schedules to a central location cause administrative aggravation and scheduling difficulties which can be costly (Brown & Bullock, 2014). So, how can dental health staff be trained and prepared when they are not able to attend face-to-face training?
With the continued developments of technology, workplace safety training can be changed positively and has the potential to address accessibility by offering an alternative delivery method through online learning formats and resources (Becker, Bohnenkamp, Domitrovich, Keperling, & Ialongo, 2014; Bruce, 2008; Strazewski, 2005). Offering an online learning option for new and existing employees could help them “complete their safety training in an efficient, convenient and cost-effective manner” (Bruce, 2008, p. 64) “where they are, without disrupting their workflow” (Strazewski, 2005, p. 38) and family life, and as a result, have learning outcomes which are “not significantly different” and are “comparable to or better than to those achieved by in-person trainings” (Becker et al., 2014, p. 226).
This digital learning research consulting project will provide the answer to the following overarching question: How to design an interactive online module that can be used in the annual training and preparedness of dental staff in the clinical and laboratory settings?
To inquire into this question, research articles on the design aspects of effective online training modules and advantages of using e-learning (just-in-time) opportunities will be examined.
There will be more design decision posts to come.
The illustration is created by the author.
References:
Becker, K., Bohnenkamp, J., Domitrovich, C., Keperling, J., & Ialongo, N. (2014). Online training for teachers delivering evidence-based preventive interventions. School Mental Health: A Multidisciplinary Research and Practice Journal, 6(4), 225-236. doi:10.1007/s12310-014-9124-x
Brown, M., & Bullock, A. (2014). Evaluating Plato: Postgraduate teaching and learning online. The Clinical Teacher, 11(1), 10-14. doi:10.1111/tct.12052
Bruce, R. (2008). Online from Kazakhstan to California. Occupational Hazards, 70(6), 61-65.
Strazewski, L. (2005). Online safety training. Rough Notes, 148(6), 34-38.