title: The AALAS Learning Library and its effectiveness as a tool for technician training.
abstract: Computer-based training is potentially a useful means of gaining proficiency in various aspects of laboratory animal science. The authors present an overview of the AALAS Learning Library (ALL), an internet-based training system that was established in 2003 and is widely used for technician certification training and for IACUC-mandated training. To evaluate the effectiveness of the ALL as a tool for general training and for achieving certification, the AALAS Online Learning Committee initiated a review of the online courses. The authors analyzed the numbers of users who accessed different types of courses and completed exams in those courses. They also correlated ALL usage with pass rates in technician certification exams. Results suggest that the ALL is a highly effective method of training, particularly for technician certification.
authors.affiliation: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Houston, TX, USA. jpthorn@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parker-Thornburg
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grabeel
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D017750:Animal Technicians / Q000193:education*; D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007756:Laboratory Animal Science / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012958:Societies, Scientific