Western Washington Area Health Education Center
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
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WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
Continuing Education
CE Calendar
Western Washington Rural
Hospital Videoconference
Bioterrorism
Distance Learning
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health
Career Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
Continuing Education
CE Calendar
Western Washington Rural
Hospital Videoconference
Bioterrorism
Distance Learning
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health
Career Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
Distance Learning
Distance learning, sometimes called e-learning, is a formalized teaching and learning system specifically designed to be carried out remotely by using electronic communication. Because distance learning is less expensive to support and is not constrained by geographic considerations, it offers opportunities in situations where traditional education has difficulty operating. Students with scheduling or distance problems can benefit, as can employees, because distance education can be more flexible in terms of time and can be delivered virtually anywhere. Popular distance learning technologies include:
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Voice-centered technology, such as CD or MP3 recordings or Webcasts
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Video
technology, such as instructional videos, DVDs, and interactive
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Computer-centered technology delivered over the Internet or corporate intranet
Studies indicate that distance learning can be as effective as the traditional format when the methods are appropriate to the teaching tasks, there is student-teacher interaction, and the teachers provide students with appropriate and timely feedback.
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American Dental Hygienists Association - on-line continuing education from ADHA, $15 for members and $30 for non-members.
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CME-CE.com - Distance learning resource.
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CME Zone - User-friendly medical and pharmacy CME/CPE/CE on-line activities.
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Dental Resource Net - Crest provides free on-line CE courses, many formatted for Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).
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Electronic Campus - The Southern Regional Education Board's (SREB) Electronic Campus was designed for adult learners but is also helpful to high school students and recent college graduates searching for the right program. Although the site has been tailored to support colleges and universities in the southern United States, many of the tools *. You must register with the SREB to use the site, but it's free to create an account on Electronic Campus. Once there you can create a profile for scholarship searches and college recruitment or visit the "career center" for self-assessment and resources. Information about financial assistance is mostly limited to the 16 southern states affiliated with the Board. Many of the SREB programs are available on-line.
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Global SchoolNet Foundation - Home of the Global Schoolhouse, a virtual meeting place where educators, students, parents and community members can collaborate, interact, develop, publish and discover learning resources. GSN partners with schools, communities and businesses to provide collaborative educational, scientific and cultural learning activities that prepare students for the workforce and help them to become literate and responsible global citizens. Free membership program, great resources for teachers and students.
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HealthStream - on-line courses, CD-ROMs, live events.
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I Care - watch webcast videos on the I Care on-line learning forum, sponsored by Sonicare. Free CE, each course worth 1 CE credit.
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psychCME - free CE-certified activities developed by Duke University Medical School Department of Psychiatry. Activities are offered in a variety of delivery methods, including via computer and phone, and each psychCME activity offers credit for up to six healthcare disciplines.
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United States Distance Learning Link Program - Showcases distance learning institutions offering degrees and continuing education.
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University of Washington School of Nursing Continuing Nursing Education - UW offers over 30 independent study courses for completion at home or work.
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The Virtual Lecture Hall - Offers 33 different CME programs. Membership required.
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World Lecture Hall - From the University of Texas at Austin, World Lecture Hall will search registered on-line and video-taped classes in many health-related fields.
Analog Communication A communication format in which information is transmitted by modulating a continuous signal, such as a sound wave. Current TV and radio signals are analog, as are many telephone lines. See also Digital Communication.
Asynchronous A type of two-way communication that occurs with a time delay, allowing participants to respond at their own convenience. Literally not synchronous, in other words, not at the same time. Examples of an application of asynchronous communication is electronic bulletin board.
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Communication technology that uses high-bandwidth, low-delay transport technology, and multiplexing techniques. Through dedicated media connections it provides simultaneous transport of voice, video and data signals more than 50 times faster than current technology.
Audioconference An electronic meeting in which participants in different locations use telephones or or audioconferencing equipment to interactively communicate with each other in real time. The number of participants may be as small as 3 or as large as 100 or more.
Bandwidth Maximum frequency that can be used to transmit a communication signal without excessive distortion. Measured in Hertz or cycles per second. The more information contained in a signal, the more bandwidth it requires for distortion-free transmission.
Codec Coder/decoder equipment used to convert and compress analog video and audio signals into a digital format for transmission, then convert them back to analog signals upon reaching their destination.
Compressed Video A digital transmission process used to transmit a video signal. When the vast amount of information in a video transmission is compressed into a fraction of its former bandwidth by a codec, the resulting compressed video can be transmitted more economically and through existing phone lines. While compressed video requires less bandwidth, signal quality may be reduced. As a result, picture quality is generally not as good as full-motion video. Quick motions often appear somewhat blurred.
Computer-based Training (CBT) An interactive instructional approach in which the computer, taking the place of an instructor, provides a series of stimuli to the student ranging from questions to be answered to choices or decisions to be made. The CBT then provides feedback based on the student's response.
Computer Conferencing An ongoing computer conversation via text with others in different locations. Conferencing can be done in "real time," so that messages appear as they are being keyed, or it can be "asynchronous," which means the complete message is keyed and then stored for later use by the receiver or sender.
Desktop Videoconferencing Videoconferencing on a personal computer equipped with a fast internet connection (at least 28.8 Kbps modem), a microphone, and a video camera. There can be two-way or multi-way video and audio conferencing depending upon the hardware and software of participants. Most appropriate for small groups or individuals.
Digital Communication A communication format used with both electronic and light-based space systems that transmits audio, video and data as bits of information. Codecs are used to convert traditional analog signals to digital format and back again. Digital technology also allows communications signals to be compressed for more efficient transmission. See also Analog Communication.
Distance Learning A system and a process that connects learners with distributed learning resources. While distance learning takes a wide variety of forms, all distance learning is characterized by the following:
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Separation of place and/or time between instructor and learner, among learners, and/or between learners and learning resources; and
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Interaction between the learner and the instructor, among learners, and/or between learners and learning resources conducted through one or more media; use of electronic media is not necessarily required.
Electronic Bulletin Boards Information services that can be reached via computers connected by modem and/or Internet. With these services users can gather information, place and read electronic messages from other users, and download available files.
Full-Motion Video Equivalent to broadcast television video with a frame rate of 30 frames-per-second (fps). Images are sent in real time and motion is continuous. Unlike compressed video signals (which tend to be blurry), full-motion video refers to high-quality signals, similar to what is received over a tv set.
Instructional Multimedia A form of computer-based training that incorporates a mix of media as the stimulus to the student. Possible media elements include sound, animation, graphics, video, text; whatever it takes to get the instructional message across to the target audience. (See Multimedia)
Internet Courses Students participate in the class by using the Internet for all or part of the coursework. The instructor posts a Web page which contains all relevant course information and assignments. Communication between students and instructors occurs by e-mail.
ListServ Mailing list program for communicating with other people who have subscribed to the same list. Using e-mail, you can participate in listservs pertaining to your topics of interest. When you submit a message to the server your message is relayed to all those on the listserv. You receive messages from other participants via e-mail. It is similar to computer conferencing, but a listserv is asynchronous.
Multimedia Systems that support the interactive use of text, audio, still images, video and graphics. Each of these elements must be converted in some way from analog form to digital form before they can be used in a computer application. Thus, the distinction of multimedia is the convergence of previously diverse systems.
Multiplex The act of combining input signals from many sources onto a single communication path, or the use of a single communication path for transmitting signals from several sources. Advantages of multiplexing is that it doubles the capacity of television transmission and allows for simultaneous feed of independent programs for two audiences.
Originating Site The site initiating the conference or meeting that is to be distributed simultaneously with technology such as audioconferencing or videoconferencing.
Real Time An application in which information is received and immediately responded to without any time delay. See Synchronous.
Receiving Site All sites, other than the originating site, participating in a course or meeting that is distributed with technology such as audioconferencing or videoconferencing.
Synchronous A type of two-way communication that occurs with virtually no time delay, allowing participants to respond in real time. Also, a system in which regularly occurring events in timed intervals are kept in step using some form of electronic clocking mechanism. (See Asynchronous)
Telecommunication The process of transmitting or receiving information over a distance by any electrical or electromagnetic medium. Information may take the form of voice, video or data.
Teleconference Simultaneous conference to multiple sites distributed via audio (phone or other audio). Satellite videoconferences and videoconferences using compressed video are sometimes referred to as "teleconferences." To distinguish more accurately between these frequently used terms, using the term which uniquely describes the communication is preferred.
Telemedicine Use of communications technology for medical diagnosis and patient care when the provider and client are separated by distance. Telemedicine includes pathology, radiology and patient consultation from the distance.
Videoconference A meeting, instructional session, or conversation between people at different locations relying on video technology as the primary communication link. Communication is 2-way audio with either 1-way or 2-way video. The term, videoconference, is sometimes used to refer to conferences via compressed video, conferences via land lines, and broadcasts via satellite. To avoid confusion, using the term or phrase which uniquely describes the communication technology is recommended.
Web-based Training (WBT) A form of computer-based training in which the training material resides on web pages accessible through the World Wide Web. Typical media elements used are text and graphics. Other media such as animation, audio, and video can be used, but require more bandwidth and in some cases additional software. The terms "on-line-courses" and "web-based instruction" are sometimes used interchangeably with WBT.
Web-casting Communicating to multiple computers at the same time over internet by "streaming" live audio and/or live video. Through compression and decompression of the signal, audio and video are experienced in real time over Internet. Examples of commercial products emerging in this area include RealAudio, VDOLIve and VXtreme.
*Annotated from the Distance Learning Glossary - The complete glossary of terms and phrases from the CDC's Public Health Training Network can be found at http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/lingo.asp .
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
or
Page updated 9/02/05