Jim:
Please share with us the rpimary reasons why you hold that belief. Thank you kindly.
Satrohan
I have never held that online would replace on ground.
Quite amusing example, Jim; but true nevertheless. Personally, I would not engage any practitioner who is a graduate from an online program when the consequences of error are beyond my level of tolerance.
Satrohan
Not ALL content for all courses.
Hands on means hands on. I agree, how could a surgery course be taught completely online? That is what externships are for. I would not even want my teeth cleaned by a graduate from a 100% online college, let alone my bypass!
Quite true, Gordon; nevertheless, the hybrid model will certainly be of benefit for perfromance-based instruction. One possible solution includes:
Completing the lecture content online
Completing theory-based assessments online
Completing simulations and other technology supported learning components online
Completing the lab exercises on-site
Completing exams on site
Satrohan
Certain courses do not seem appropriate for online learning such as surgery. I realize that you can show surgical methodologies, but it also requires hands-on experience. I don't think I want to have surgery from a doctor that took his/her entire study online!
I believe that psychomotor skills can be effectively taught using an on-line environment by exhibiting the movements for the student to replicate and then critiquing the actions of the student as they repeatedly perform the action (via a video conference). However, I do believe some students can learn faster if their instructors were to physically move the student’s body to perform the movements.
Daniel:
The availability of the equipment and the ability to operate them is a required condition. Question for you:
Can you teach psychomotor skills effectiveley using the delivery technology you have mentioned?
Satrohan
I believe that any course can be taught online with the appropriate technology. Videos, Powerpoint presentations, and audio file can be incorported into any course to supplement the required reading, provide that both the instructor and the students have the equipment to participate.
We are in the process of creating an alternative medicine medical school. This is an important question for us and one which we are debating. Central to the practice of our specialty is interpersonal interactions involving observational and perceptual skills that go beyond what can be accessed in an on line environment. There are also confidentiality and HIPAA regulations that are problematic in an on line environment. On the other hand, we believe that much of our regular course content could lend itself to on line training. One of our concerns is if we adopt an on line model for much of our training, what will be the public perception of the quality of our program? Is there still prejudice out there against a medical school that adopts an on line training format?
Satrohan wrote: Is a simulated environment an adequate substitute for hands-on experience? Assume that the learning outcome is psychomotor based.
Melissa's response: A simulated environment isn't always an adequate substitute for psychomotor skills, but it is possible to have a course online that would be designed to give student hands-on experience. The experience could be gained by completing work in a virtual environment. For example, I have worked with instructors to design virtual computer labs for courses teaching about computer hardware and software. Some of the labs involved students removing, replacing, and reconfiguring computers and then creating lab reports about the process.
The question (I believe)isn't whether it can be done or not, but how can it be done. If it doesn't fit for the course or if their isn't adequate time to prepare, do not teach the course in an online environment.
Melissa:
Please share with us your thoughts on this question.
Is a simulated environment an adequate substitute for hands-on experience? Assume that the learning outcome is psychomotor based.
Satrohan
Satrohan wrote: Are there some courses that cannot be effectively taught online? Justify your answer.
Melissa's response: I believe any course can be taught in an online environment depending on the technologies available. There are some courses which are better suited to an online environment and others which take more creativity to present effectively in an online environment. It all goes back to the competencies of the course. If the competency can not be meet in a simulated online environment, then the course should be a hybrid course.
Stephen:
A hybrid course goes much more beyond administering tests in an online environment. The content of a hybrid course is usually delivered through several modes; for example:
Face-to-face Instructor-led
CDs
DVDs
Online
Satrohan
I believe that a course in medical transcription, for example, should not be taught online. I feel the regular classroom is the place where this type of course should be taught. The part of the course that includes tests on medical terminology, however, could be done online. Is this what you refer to as a hybrid course?
Bonnie:
Let's take your ideas a bit farther. Do you think that demonstrations are enough to support learning objectives that are performance-based?
Satrohan
As was mentioned above, though, technology would allow students to view your demonstrations online. Depending on the delivery system, synchronous delivery would even allow for instantaneous questions and feedback.
Wow! Videocam monitoring! That was really creative. I guess we're only limited by the technology available.
Kimberley:
Having studies Finderprint identification when I was very young, I can attest to the fact that the "oerformance-based" aspect of learning this Subject has to be achieved through practical experience. The same applies to all learning objectives that are perfromance driven.
Satrohan
Yes - there are several classes which I don't feel would translate well in an online environment. Currently, I teach crime scene technology on ground at a local university. Many of these classes require the classroom to be effectively taught. For example, fingerprinting techniques is not something you can learn via the internet. It takes hands-on experience, practice, and most of all, observation from the instructor to ensure you are performing the procedures correctly.
