ETEC 561 Section VII

Dawn Burks

ETEC 561

Section VII

This section of the textbook addresses new directions and emerging technologies for IDT. For your final post, reflect on how you might apply each of the following in your current or future position in the IDT field:

• distributed or e-learning environments
• reusable design or learning objects
• rich media
•  emerging instructional technologies, such as artificial intelligence, cybernetics, Web 2.0, virtual worlds, electronic games, etc.

I will attempt to answer our blog this week considering the area of training for healthcare professionals.  As far as distributed or e-learning environments are involved, I would like to use them for their flexibility.  The flexibility allows students to study and complete training in time periods not normally available with face to face classrooms.  Hospitals are a 24/7 type of industry.  E-learning would allow for shift workers to complete competency and compliance training more easily.  There is no end to possibilities that can be used to enhance ideas or learning environments. 

Currently, more and more continuing training requirements are met with online training classes.  Distributed training or production classes could also work well within a hospital system allowing for multiple class time availability so that employees from different branches may be able to take part in the same class.  In this manner everyone learns a uniform way of completing tasks or can contribute ideas to aid in problem solving.

Reusable design or learning objects may be a more difficult tool to use.  Financially, it is wise to try to use this concept as much as possible.  Being able to use a specific learning tool outline in multiple ways contributes to flexibility as much as e-learning can.  Perhaps simulation scenarios can be used to test several different professional fields in “standard of care” exercises.

Naturally, when you think about simulators the necessity for rich media comes to mind.  It would be fantastic to have an on-line 3D “patient” that allows for clinical assessments of blood pressure, heart and breath sounds etc.  In addition, the simulated “patient” could show changes to patient condition that occur due to inputs made by the students.  Even poor decisions could be allowed to go down a natural course with a real world ending.   These situations could be invaluable learning opportunities for students prior to clinical rotations.  Currently simulators are used in the form of manikins. However if this training could be enhanced and added to by on-line simulators, the expense of these exercises could be reduced significantly. 

Some surgeons and medical physicians are already using cybernetics to assist in microsurgeries today. Just as an example http://www.davincisurgery.com/.  Web 2.0 could allow a surgeon from another country to perform surgery on a patient thousands of miles away.  Again, the possibilities are endless and I am quite excited to be embarking on this extension of my career.