This document summarizes e-learning strategies for allied health programs at Whatcom Community College. It discusses the history and challenges of Whatcom's physical therapy assistant hybrid program. It outlines the e-learning coordinator's goals of providing faculty support and increasing online and hybrid offerings. Specific strategies implemented include developing multimedia resources for online courses, training faculty in online teaching best practices, and continuing to expand lab skills videos and hybrid course offerings. The goal is to improve the student experience and increase access to allied health programs through online and hybrid learning.

1. E-Learning Strategies for Allied Health Programs: Michael Shepard Whatcom Community College E-Learning Coordinator Hybrid Physical Therapy Assisting Program

2. Whatcom Community College Founded in 1987 7,000 Students per quarter 3,500 FTE per quarter Average student age is 29 15% of students in Professional/Technical Programs such as Allied Health

3. Allied Health at WCC Nursing RN program Physical Therapy Assisting Program F2F and Hybrid Medical Assisting Massage IBEST - Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training

4. PTA Program History F2F program started in 1994 Local and statewide workforce shortage for PTAs 2003 Business community approached WCC to create an online program 2006 Hybrid Program created, accredited and 17 students enrolled Students from AK, ID, Eastern WA

5. Physical Therapy Assistant Hybrid Program Currently 29 enrolled in Hybrid program F2F program runs concurrently Meet 3-4 weekends per quarter @ WCC for hands on training, skills assessments and testing 9 Quarter program

6. 2008 Governor’s Award for Workforce Best Practice

7. Program Challenges Lack of faculty support for online teaching and use of technology in classroom Heavy reliance on text based e-learning Lack of multi-media resources especially for lab skills Feeling that WCC was behind the curve From a BlackBoard student discussion board: “ I was interested if ya’ll would like to draft a letter to the folks at the school who have the ability to authorize the creation of some additional sources/methods of online learning . . . Such modifications will appeal to different learning styles while providing an enhanced, more well- rounded learning experience for all.”

8. Macro Level Problem Solving One-on-one interviews with Allied Health faculty followed by evaluations of online classes and individualized training Collaborate with other schools Research available technologies and best practices Create online resource and collaboration site Provide departmental and individual eLearning support to faculty

9. My Goals Faculty deserve eLearning support Lab sciences are right for online/hybrid WCC will dramatically increase online/hybrid offerings in Proff. Tech and Gen. Ed. courses Online/Hybrid students deserve a parity of college services Online academic advising eTutoring Multimedia and collaboration Online office hours

10. Student Centered Implementation Primal Online Anatomy American Speech Sounds for Healthcare Professionals iTunes U videos Taping Lab skills videos Impatica PowerPoint Compressor Student Ning page for Clinical Internships Anatomy and Physiology and Chem eTutoring http://screencast.com/t/DzgcPidT7 http://screencast.com/t/2YZC6TOpp

11. Faculty and Student Centered Implementation Quality Matters training Lecture capture by adding audio narrations to PowerPoints Faculty Resource and Training Center Faculty Showcase of technology use Wiki Pages for campus and PTA clinical students Weekly eLearning professional development opportunities

12. What’s Ahead Continue Filming Lab Skills Videos for all hybrid lab science classes Medical Assistant classes online/hybrid 2009 Hybrid Chem 221 prerequisite Continue research for implementation of hybrid Registered Nursing Program for 2010-2011 Enable increased lecture capture ability Electronic Medical Records Software for PTA Certify courses using QM rubric Electronic course evaluations Online office hours and guest speakers w/ Elluminate

13. Thank You Questions? Michael Shepard eLearning Coordinator Whatcom CC [email_address] 360.383.3275