SPOTLIGHT: Distance Learning

National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) takes place November 5-9, 2012. In support of NDLW, CDC LC is highlighting CDC’s efforts to improve distance learning. This month’s Spotlight features examples of web-based public health education products, and provides resources for those tasked with creating online-based curricula such as webinars, e-learning, and podcasts. Learn more about NDLW.

Examples of Distance Learning Products

Access and view the following examples of public health distance learning products. Note the variety of presentation methods for distance learning used by the contributing public health organizations

Advance Care Planning: An Introduction for Public Health and Aging Services Professionals

• An e-learning course that provides simulated conversations, worksheet to help drive collaboration, and resources to prepare public health professionals to assist older Americans with planning and documenting their final wishes

CT Healthy Homes Webinar Series

• Award winning by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), this series of archived webinars comes from the Connecticut Partnership for Public Health Workforce Development

Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention

• This e-learning module utilizes interviews with leading experts, dynamic graphics, interactive exercises, and compelling storytelling to describe what teen dating violence is and how to prevent it

Prevention and Population Health Teaching Modules

• Using standard resources including videos, slide presentations, and supplemental materials, the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR) has created a series of modules aimed at improving clinical and population-based prevention skills for all health professions students

Public Health Works

• A training series from the Public Health Foundation that provides how developers can use web streaming sessions and incorporate interactions with professionals via blog and social media between sessions; this series offered continued education and was focused on increasing the effective and efficient use of recommendations for The Community Preventive Services

Yellow Fever Vaccine: Information for Health Care Professionals Advising Travelers

• An award winning e-learning course from CDC utilizes a problem-based scenarios and an interactive timeline to engage learners while exploring the history and epidemiology of yellow fever and how to safely and appropriately use the vaccine

Quick Learn Lessons

• With advancing technology and the changing needs of learners, these short lessons, podcasts, and videos are available through a computer or mobile device, are all less than 20 minutes, and focused on public health topics

Guides for Distance Learning Product Development

Utilize these products to help in the design and development of distance learning.

Accessibility Guide for Lectora X

• Developed to present techniques and processes used to create instructionally sound, Section 508 compliant, e-learning products using Lectora authoring software

Accessible Word Documents

• Provides methods to ensure that documents created in MS Word are accessible to persons with disabilities

E-Learning Essentials

• Developed to aid in the creation of quality e-learning by identifying key instructional components and summarizing what they are, why they are important, and how to use them most effectively

National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) Webinar Archives

• Learn more about distance learning with webinars including Learning Styles: Do They Really Matter?, Virtual Worlds/Mobile Learning, Integration of Virtual Education, and Measuring Effectiveness

Plain Language Training

• The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires that federal agencies use “clear Government communications that the public can understand and use”; access the plain language training and locate other resources

Social Media Tools

• Provided by the Michigan Public Health Training Center, learn how social media tools are being used by public health organizations to connect; this course utilizes tutorials, videos and activities

Distance Learning Resources

Below are some of the valuable training and learning resources available to learn more about and the organizations are providing distance learning

• Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR) – Dedicated to advancing population health and disease prevention in the education of physicians and other health professionals, the website includes initiatives, fellowship, training and other resources
• CDC TRAIN – If you have yet to register, gain access to the nation’s largest public health learning management system (LMS) where you can register for both live events and web-based training; many offer continuing education
• Center TRT (Training and Research Translation) – Offers webinars and web-based trainings for public health practitioners focused on nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention
• EdX – Provides free public health-based courses from universities including MIT, Harvard University, and UC Berkeley
• Global Health e-Learning Center – Developed by the USAID Bureau of Global Health, this website provides a free learning on a variety of topics
• Health Educators & Learning Professionals Community of Practice (CoP) – Join this open community which complements the CDC TRAIN CoP and access resources, monthly learning series, and discuss learning development with other professionals
• MedEdPortal – Provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges, locate peer reviewed teaching and faculty development materials and assessment tools
• Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce – Access links to continuing education, certificate programs, intern and fellowship programs, and other educational resources
• Pop Med Portal – Bringing a population perspective to medical education
• Quality E-learning – Best practices and examples of quality e-learning

Page maintained by: Scientific Education and Professional Development Program Office

Information regarding training products and resources featured in the Spotlight was provided by

• TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate Integrated Network (TRAIN), a free service of the Public Health Foundation
• Educational Design and Accreditation Branch (EDAB)