Using online modules is a multi-modality teaching system: a high-touch high-tech approach to geriatric education.
Making geriatric education available to rural faculty/preceptors, students, and practitioners presents many challenges. Often the only options considered for educating those in the health professions about geriatrics are either traditional face-to-face courses or distance education programs. The purpose of this paper was to examine the use of Web-based modules or courses and other distance learning technology in concert with traditional learning modalities. The Mountain State Geriatric Education Center explored the use of a multi-modal approach within a high-touch, high-tech framework. Our findings indicate the following: it is important to start where participants are ready to begin; flexibility and variety are needed; soliciting evaluative feedback from participants is valuable; there is a need to integrate distance learning with more traditional modalities; and a high-tech, high-touch approach provides a format which participants find acceptable, accessible, and attractive. This assertion does not rule out the use of technology for distance education but rather encourages educators to take advantage of a wide range of modalities, traditional and technological, to reach rural practitioners, faculty, and students.
Gainor
Sara Jane
SJ
Mountain State Geriatric Education Center, Center on Aging, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA. sgainor@hsc.wvu.edu
Goins
R Turner
RT
Miller
Lee Ann
LA
D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods*; D018961:Educational Technology; D005246:Feedback; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019212:Multimedia / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009862:Online Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D012424:Rural Population; D012986:Software Validation; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014903:West Virginia