title: The use of multimodal strategies for distance education in the GRECCs.
abstract: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has found distance education to be particularly valuable as a means to disseminate information to large numbers of busy learners in geographically diverse settings. Specifically, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Centers (GRECCs) of the VA have used various forms of distance learning to provide geriatrics-focused education to diverse health care providers. Such formats allow programs to be available to audiences regardless of distance or time. Although the distance-learning format has clear benefits, there are also some barriers that have hindered its wider adoption, including technical difficulties and ease of use. Organizers of distance education programs are challenged to overcome these barriers to provide a quality learning experience for the audience. The GRECCs will likely continue to be leaders in exploring innovative distance-learning strategies to accomplish their mission of quality geriatric education.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Ohio 44106, USA. Denise.Kresevic@va.gov
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kresevic
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burant
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denton
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kypriotakis
mesh_terms: D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D018961:Educational Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005843:Geography; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States; D014741:Video Recording