Distance Education for the Fire Service

WSFCA- 08 | WI Dells

Distance Education

for the Fire Service

WSFCA | March 2008

What is Distance Learning?

• Student/instructor are separated• Interact via computers and/or technology• Modes of delivery:

– Web, videotape, correspondence, video-conf, CD

• Asynchronous/Synchronous

WSFCA | March 2008

What Distance Learning is not.

• Easier for the instructor• Initially Time saving• For uncommitted• Cost saving is in delivery not

development• End all answer• Staff reducing tool

WSFCA | March 2008

Advantages of Distance Learning

• May be Asynchronous– Instructor not present when student is.

• Economy of scale• Can be available 24/7• Can be available outside station• Sharable content• Instructional design support available

WSFCA | March 2008

Brief History

• 1892: UW The term “distance education” • 1906: UW New Media - Record Album• 1906-7: The University of Wisconsin-Extension

founded• 1978 the University of Cincinnati 's Open

Learning Fire Service Program • 1980’s: EMS lectures available from key sites

around Wisconsin• Present: Badger Net/WISC Net

– Schools around the state sharing resources

WSFCA | March 2008

Examples

• EMT audio conferences 1980’s• CD Courses/Simulations – NFA CDs

• NIMS course on line - FEMA

• Pod casts – Firehouse.com

• Web Cast – Fire Engineering

WSFCA | March 2008

Some Department using Distance Ed

• Video Conferencing– Madison Fire– Green Bay Fire– Elk Grove Village, IL– Town of Fisher, IN– Poudre Fire Authority,

Fort Collins, CO– Orange County Fire

Authority, CA– Toledo Department of

Fire and Rescue, OH

• Web Based Ed– Madison Fire– Dane Co. ALS Services– Raleigh Fire

Department, NC– Peoria Fire Department,

AZ– Hall Co. Fire

Department, GA

WSFCA | March 2008

Madison's Experience

• Blackboard– EMT basic refresher

content

– ICS training

– Harassment

• Video Conferencing– Meeting

– Paramedic Education

– Guest Speakers

– Company training

• CD/DVD training– EMS– Fire

• iTrain (Moodle)– EMS– Fire– Information resource– Professional development– Recruit Academy– Community Education– Collaboration/Partners

WSFCA | March 2008

Moodle Course Management System

Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning

Environment • Activities• Roles• Forums/messaging • Quizzing/Surveys • Activities tracking • Grading of coursework • Web-based or blended course delivery • Open source

WSFCA | March 2008

Open Source

• Collaborative group working together

• Community of people/experts

• Community of experts that develop software “give it away for free”.

WSFCA | March 2008

Moodle (iTrain) demonstration

WSFCA- 08 | WI Dells

WSFCA | March 2008

Needs Analysis

• Student Goals/Abilities

• Content

• Philosophy

• Organization– Culture– Resource• Infrastructure• Staff abilities• Support

WSFCA | March 2008

Instructional Design

• Approach– Self– Collaborative– Mix

• Structure– Objectives– Content– Method– Assessment

• Dialogue– Interaction

• Economy of Scale– # of student served

• Support Services– How

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Secure Track-able Login

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Content

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Web Sites

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Media

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Glossary

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Quiz

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Flash Cards

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Grades

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Reports/Tracking

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Roles

WSFCA | March 2008

Reusable

• Multiple classes

• Review & Update– New info– Student feedback

• Sharable

WSFCA- 08 | WI Dells