- Email: [email protected]
Continuing education credit through the internet
ontinuing education credit ~ ~'.~:~N:i~:~: (CEC) over the Internet? ~. . . . . Absolutely! Professional ;~ organizations and for-profit ~i~:;, , companies are devising ~'~N methods by which CEC will ~;i~ be offered over the Internet, and the quality is improving. This column discusses some advantages I see for earning CEC through the Internet. Individual motivation. Offering continuing education over the Internet offers some very appealing benefits, one of which is convenience. Let's say I have an interest in learning about functional improvement measures, and an Internet continuing education course is offered on this topic for 1-hour credit. I simply choose the time for learning that best fits my schedule. The program is presented with spoken words a n d video graphics, either pictures or text. In addition to convenience, I can learn at my own speed. If I have difficulty understanding a particular passage, I can simply "rewind" the audio section and listen to it again, or I can go back and review the text a n d pictures. I also can pause the audio, contemplate what I have heard, and possibly even pose questions to the presenters that will be addressed at a later time. These questions also will be used to identify areas that need further elaboration or explanation in the program. Learning by Internet, I am able to take a break a n d relax, have dinner, watch television with my daughter, and then return to the "class" without missing any important information or risking any penalties for being absent. The choice is mine. Because the topic is one I have great interest in or need to know, I am motivated to complete the coursework.
Individual choice, The flexibility of online education reduces my need to combine learning with "vacationing" or "networking." Internet capability makes learning much easier and less stressful. Rather than s p e n d i n g valuable time bringing me up to speed, national meetTCM 42
N..... ber/D.....ber1997
ings can focus on providing additional tools necessary for building a n d maintaining a successful career. National conferences. Because of CEC by Internet, national or regional conferences may evolve from events that emphasize attending to obtain CEC into meetings that serve other functions, such as networking, socializing, and business development. I would prefer to attend a conference at which I could meet and interact with 20 case managers who share a common need or concern. Perhaps we are attempting to implement a computer networking system in our offices; during a period of an hour and a h a l l each individual can describe strategies for success or share failures. I may not receive CEC for a meeting of this kind, but it would be an extremely valuable learning experience for me from a business and professional standpoint. Also, participating in a class about basic use of the Internet, Windows 95, or Windows NT 4.0 would be beneficial. Once the pressure is removed from attending conferences to earn CEC, the tasks we need to know that are best learned in a group setting can emerge. Ethics. The area of ethical decision making is evolving and may be one of the initial programs for CEC through the Internet. Practitioners have a significant need to know if they are engaging in a professional practice in violation of an ethical standard. Unfortunately, specific guidance and/or information in this area often is not readily available. The opportunity to have a continuing education program on ethics with a specific practice situation would be possible through the Internet. For example, the Board for Rehabilitation may sponsor a continuing education program on ethics for certified rehabilitation counselors. Individuals taking the course may present hypothetical ethical dilemmas and ask for guidance from the ethics committee. Their examples could be published for future learning or reference.
E-mailMe! What do you think about this emerging trend? E-mail your comments to [email protected] and let me know your opinion on this form of obtaining CEC.
Professional advancement. One advantage of this continuing education method is it allows case management leaders to provide relevant, recent, and comprehensive education about emerging topics. For example, if a trend is emerging in case management services for Medicaid recipients, a program could be assembled quickly and made available on the Internet. If a presentation is to be delivered at a national conference, preparation may take 6 to 9 months! Furthermore, presentations on the latest emerging trends are often difficult to plan that far in advance. Coordinating a national conference-scheduling speakers, topics, and rooms; printing brochures; and obtaining CEC approval--is time-consuming and requires significant planning.
Audio/video integration. Another advantage of presenting continuing education over the Internet is the ability to integrate audio and video material. How many of us have attended workshops at which the speaker was too far away, the audio system was poor, and the visuals were not readable? With the Internet, sound and visuals can be of the highest quality and you control the pace! If you want to go slower and review, no problem.
Printing capability. Another CEC advantage is you can print any of the text you see on the screen. How many times in a presentation has the speaker talked too fast or removed an overhead or a slide from which you only had time to copy down the first line or two? O n the Internet you can download the text to your computer and print it later for review and study. Of course, each continuing education program will have specific rules on printing and use of the associated text. Typically, printing text off the Internet is allowed if it is for personal use and is not copied or used in any commercial
endeavor or disseminated to others. Check with each website or article for specific guidance.
Who will develop CEC programs for the World Wide Web? Quite frankly, many of the programs already are developed and on your computer, such as the programs you use to create presentations for an overhead projector. Interested individuals simply could update their materials, develop a "notes" section for each slide, and present the entire program through E-mail to a CEC sponsor for review and consideration.
Web TV. Web TV is an emerging Internet tool with the potential for continuing education. Although Web TV is an unusual name, I gave very little thought to this n e w "technology" until I had an opportunity to see it in a local audio/video store. It is essentially a small computer that connects to your telephone and your television. The hardware (without the TV) costs approximately $300. The Web TV "computer" is activated by dialing a local Internet service provider and logging on; the incoming video from the Internet then is displayed on your TV. I saw Web TV on a 27-inch TV with a 3:2 ratio screen. Viewing quality was excellent. Web TV also has a small keyboard that communicates by infrared to the "computer." You simply can sit in your comfortable chair or at the conference table and view the continuing education
If the continuing education program is accepted, the sponsor will assume responsibility for finalizing it for web access and obtaining appropriate audio (perhaps paying a professional speaker) or asking the author to narrate the presentation. The author also could negotiate a royalty contract with the CEC sponsor.
class, pausing when you choose and progressing at your own pace.
would have the advantage of viewing a well-organized presentation distributed over the Internet.
Classes for professional organizations. Professional organizations can offer continuing education programs that allow "interaction" between members and the presenter. These programs can be delivered by the Internet to large screen televisions with a local "instructor" to guide the class in discussions. That is, with Web TV technology, the class could be attended by local association members who
A group leader could be selected to serve as both a monitor and facilitator for learning. For example, a class on ethics could be presented using the structured content of the website continuing education class. If a participant has a question at any point, the group leader could press the pause button, and the question could be discussed.
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The only career opportunity on the market mandated by Federal code. For Free info on complete training, marketing and support, Call: 1-303-766-1111 Disability Associates, Inc. PO Box 460058 Aurora, CO 80046-0058
J
N . . . . . ber/D . . . . her 1997
TCM
43
In addition, questions from the audience can be typed in and forwarded by E-mail to the coordinators of the continuing education class. These questions w o u l d allow the authors/presenters to modify the presentation content to answer that particular question in future viewing. This process incorporates the advantages of a small group learning process with audiovisuals and high-quality content.
This learning process is accomplished without travel to distant cities, overnight stays, travel costs, and the expense of bringing in outside speakers. Also, rather than viewing continuing education dasses on the computer monitor, many companies choose to purchase a Web TV and use the office television for multiple viewing purposes: videotapes, regular television, and information through the Internet.
CEC for Small CI,,s~=
Sponsors of continuing education programs may want to obtain permission to present programs from national conferences on the Internet. Many conferences offer case managers multiple meetings and presentations, all of which they cannot possibly attend. Placing these presentations on the Internet is another w a y to reach a practitioner who is interested and has a need to know!
Continuing education programs also can be targeted for a specific office staff. Perhaps four or five individuals in the same company need to better understand augmentative communication devices. Their employer can schedule a time w h e n they are available. As a group, they can view an Internet continuing education class that allows time for discussion, complete the appropriate forms, obtain CEC, and more importantly, achieve additional competency.
TCM 44
N. . . . ber/December1997
Summary In summary, CEC by Internet offers m a n y advantages, including the conve-
nience of learning at y o u r own pace, reduced stress during the learning process, and ease in learning topics you are interested in and need to know. Continuing education by Internet uses the highest quality audiovisual technology a n d provides the opportunity to print presentation materials. This approach to continuing education appears to be an emerging trend that certainly will become prevalent in professional advancement, gl
Randall L. Thomas, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, certified rehabilitation counselor, and certified life care planner. He is president of TecSoiutions and vice president of the National Life Care Institute. He has an active practice in the area of life care planning and vocational consultation and treatment of patients with chronic pain. Reprint orders: Mosby-Year Book, inc., 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 631463318; phone (314) 453-4350; reprint no. 68/1/86157
Individual choice, The flexibility of online education reduces my need to combine learning with "vacationing" or "networking." Internet capability makes learning much easier and less stressful. Rather than s p e n d i n g valuable time bringing me up to speed, national meetTCM 42
N..... ber/D.....ber1997
ings can focus on providing additional tools necessary for building a n d maintaining a successful career. National conferences. Because of CEC by Internet, national or regional conferences may evolve from events that emphasize attending to obtain CEC into meetings that serve other functions, such as networking, socializing, and business development. I would prefer to attend a conference at which I could meet and interact with 20 case managers who share a common need or concern. Perhaps we are attempting to implement a computer networking system in our offices; during a period of an hour and a h a l l each individual can describe strategies for success or share failures. I may not receive CEC for a meeting of this kind, but it would be an extremely valuable learning experience for me from a business and professional standpoint. Also, participating in a class about basic use of the Internet, Windows 95, or Windows NT 4.0 would be beneficial. Once the pressure is removed from attending conferences to earn CEC, the tasks we need to know that are best learned in a group setting can emerge. Ethics. The area of ethical decision making is evolving and may be one of the initial programs for CEC through the Internet. Practitioners have a significant need to know if they are engaging in a professional practice in violation of an ethical standard. Unfortunately, specific guidance and/or information in this area often is not readily available. The opportunity to have a continuing education program on ethics with a specific practice situation would be possible through the Internet. For example, the Board for Rehabilitation may sponsor a continuing education program on ethics for certified rehabilitation counselors. Individuals taking the course may present hypothetical ethical dilemmas and ask for guidance from the ethics committee. Their examples could be published for future learning or reference.
E-mailMe! What do you think about this emerging trend? E-mail your comments to [email protected] and let me know your opinion on this form of obtaining CEC.
Professional advancement. One advantage of this continuing education method is it allows case management leaders to provide relevant, recent, and comprehensive education about emerging topics. For example, if a trend is emerging in case management services for Medicaid recipients, a program could be assembled quickly and made available on the Internet. If a presentation is to be delivered at a national conference, preparation may take 6 to 9 months! Furthermore, presentations on the latest emerging trends are often difficult to plan that far in advance. Coordinating a national conference-scheduling speakers, topics, and rooms; printing brochures; and obtaining CEC approval--is time-consuming and requires significant planning.
Audio/video integration. Another advantage of presenting continuing education over the Internet is the ability to integrate audio and video material. How many of us have attended workshops at which the speaker was too far away, the audio system was poor, and the visuals were not readable? With the Internet, sound and visuals can be of the highest quality and you control the pace! If you want to go slower and review, no problem.
Printing capability. Another CEC advantage is you can print any of the text you see on the screen. How many times in a presentation has the speaker talked too fast or removed an overhead or a slide from which you only had time to copy down the first line or two? O n the Internet you can download the text to your computer and print it later for review and study. Of course, each continuing education program will have specific rules on printing and use of the associated text. Typically, printing text off the Internet is allowed if it is for personal use and is not copied or used in any commercial
endeavor or disseminated to others. Check with each website or article for specific guidance.
Who will develop CEC programs for the World Wide Web? Quite frankly, many of the programs already are developed and on your computer, such as the programs you use to create presentations for an overhead projector. Interested individuals simply could update their materials, develop a "notes" section for each slide, and present the entire program through E-mail to a CEC sponsor for review and consideration.
Web TV. Web TV is an emerging Internet tool with the potential for continuing education. Although Web TV is an unusual name, I gave very little thought to this n e w "technology" until I had an opportunity to see it in a local audio/video store. It is essentially a small computer that connects to your telephone and your television. The hardware (without the TV) costs approximately $300. The Web TV "computer" is activated by dialing a local Internet service provider and logging on; the incoming video from the Internet then is displayed on your TV. I saw Web TV on a 27-inch TV with a 3:2 ratio screen. Viewing quality was excellent. Web TV also has a small keyboard that communicates by infrared to the "computer." You simply can sit in your comfortable chair or at the conference table and view the continuing education
If the continuing education program is accepted, the sponsor will assume responsibility for finalizing it for web access and obtaining appropriate audio (perhaps paying a professional speaker) or asking the author to narrate the presentation. The author also could negotiate a royalty contract with the CEC sponsor.
class, pausing when you choose and progressing at your own pace.
would have the advantage of viewing a well-organized presentation distributed over the Internet.
Classes for professional organizations. Professional organizations can offer continuing education programs that allow "interaction" between members and the presenter. These programs can be delivered by the Internet to large screen televisions with a local "instructor" to guide the class in discussions. That is, with Web TV technology, the class could be attended by local association members who
A group leader could be selected to serve as both a monitor and facilitator for learning. For example, a class on ethics could be presented using the structured content of the website continuing education class. If a participant has a question at any point, the group leader could press the pause button, and the question could be discussed.
Disability Consultant Assist others who are applying for disability benefits. A lucrative and rewarding field. Work from home Full or Part time No Experience needed Unlimited Income Potential Low start-up No fees or royalties Earn up to $4000 a case Free travel, and more...
The only career opportunity on the market mandated by Federal code. For Free info on complete training, marketing and support, Call: 1-303-766-1111 Disability Associates, Inc. PO Box 460058 Aurora, CO 80046-0058
J
N . . . . . ber/D . . . . her 1997
TCM
43
In addition, questions from the audience can be typed in and forwarded by E-mail to the coordinators of the continuing education class. These questions w o u l d allow the authors/presenters to modify the presentation content to answer that particular question in future viewing. This process incorporates the advantages of a small group learning process with audiovisuals and high-quality content.
This learning process is accomplished without travel to distant cities, overnight stays, travel costs, and the expense of bringing in outside speakers. Also, rather than viewing continuing education dasses on the computer monitor, many companies choose to purchase a Web TV and use the office television for multiple viewing purposes: videotapes, regular television, and information through the Internet.
CEC for Small CI,,s~=
Sponsors of continuing education programs may want to obtain permission to present programs from national conferences on the Internet. Many conferences offer case managers multiple meetings and presentations, all of which they cannot possibly attend. Placing these presentations on the Internet is another w a y to reach a practitioner who is interested and has a need to know!
Continuing education programs also can be targeted for a specific office staff. Perhaps four or five individuals in the same company need to better understand augmentative communication devices. Their employer can schedule a time w h e n they are available. As a group, they can view an Internet continuing education class that allows time for discussion, complete the appropriate forms, obtain CEC, and more importantly, achieve additional competency.
TCM 44
N. . . . ber/December1997
Summary In summary, CEC by Internet offers m a n y advantages, including the conve-
nience of learning at y o u r own pace, reduced stress during the learning process, and ease in learning topics you are interested in and need to know. Continuing education by Internet uses the highest quality audiovisual technology a n d provides the opportunity to print presentation materials. This approach to continuing education appears to be an emerging trend that certainly will become prevalent in professional advancement, gl
Randall L. Thomas, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, certified rehabilitation counselor, and certified life care planner. He is president of TecSoiutions and vice president of the National Life Care Institute. He has an active practice in the area of life care planning and vocational consultation and treatment of patients with chronic pain. Reprint orders: Mosby-Year Book, inc., 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 631463318; phone (314) 453-4350; reprint no. 68/1/86157