Survey of Schools and Colleges of Optometry: Use of the Internet for Delivering Online Continuing Ed

1
Survey of Schools and Colleges of Optometry

Use of the Internet for Delivering On-line
Continuing Education N. Scott Gorman, O.D., M.S.,
Ed.D. Nova Southeastern University College of
Optometry Fort Lauderdale, Florida
scottg_at_nova.edu
optometry.nova.edu/ce
Results (A)
Conclusions
Results (B)
Purpose
Methods
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
plans to develop on-line continuing education
(CE) courses in 2004. It was important to obtain
information about the use of the Internet for
delivering on-line CE courses by other schools
and colleges of optometry so that effective
courses could be developed.
A mail questionnaire was sent to the dean or
president of each of the 17 schools and colleges
of optometry in the United States. The survey was
completed by the person in charge of continuing
education at each institution, and it was
submitted by all institutions (100 response
rate).
Seven (41) of the institutions reported that
they offer on-line CE courses. Eight (80)
reported that they plan to do so within three
years. The format of the courses include text
only, text with tables and/or graphics, hypertext
with tables and/or graphics, full-text journal
articles, case presentations, and Web-based
courses with CD-ROM.
No institutions reported the use of interactive
case presentations, audio and text, audio
slideshows, video lectures, Webcasts, or
multi-media. The fee charged for courses ranged
from 15 to 30 per credit hour. All institutions
offered post-course tests. The relative cost of
developing on-line CE courses varied. A visit to
each of the institutions homepages revealed that
only one has a significant on-line CE presence.
All but one institution either offers or plans to
offer on-line CE courses during the next three
years. A large majority of on-line courses are
offered by one institution. The format of the
courses at all institutions varies, and none
appear to be interactive. All courses offered by
the schools and colleges of optometry are
eligible for COPE qualification, and therefore,
they may be accepted by all 50 states to meet CE
requirements for relicensure.


Objectives of Survey
School Colleges Surveyed
Dont Deliver On-line CE
Web-Site Developers
Course Fees

• Determine which optometry schools deliver on-line
  CE courses now or plan to in the future
• Determine why schools have discontinued
  delivering on-line CE courses
• Determine URLs of CE courses or the names of the
  CMSs that are used to deliver courses
• Determine information about the course formats
  being used
• Determine the fee structures used for courses and
  examinations
• Determine methods used for testing
• Determine methods used to certify course
  completion
• Determine course completion rates
• Determine opinions of the cost-effectiveness of
  on-line course versus face-to-face course
  delivery
• Determine participants' satisfaction with on-line
  courses

Illinois College of Optometry2,3 Indiana
University School of Optometry1 Inter American
University of Puerto Rico2,3 Michigan College of
Optometry2,3 New England College of
Optometry2,3 Northeastern State University
College of Optometry1 Nova Southeastern
University College of Optometry2,3 The Ohio
State University College of Optometry2 Pacific
University College of Optometry1 Pennsylvania
College of Optometry1 Southern California
College of Optometry2,3 Southern College of
Optometry2 State University of New York College
of Optometry1 University of Alabama School of
Optometry2,3 UC Berkeley School of
Optometry1 University of Missouri College of
Optometry1 University of Houston College of
Optometry2,3 1Currrently offers on-line CE
courses 2Does not currently offer on-line CE
courses 3Plans to offer on-line CE courses within
three years

• Lack of interest by ODs
• Lack of interest by faculty
• Lack of adequate staff support
• Too costly
• Financial viability
• Lack of technology

• Staff members
• Instructors
• Information technologists
• Combination

Question Format
Course Delivery

• Multiple-Choice
• True-False
• Fill-in-the-Blank
• Short Answer

• Web-sites
• eCollege (CMS)
• Blackboard (CMS)

Course Formats
Test Administration
Seek State Board Approval

• Text only
• Text with tables graphics
• Hypertext with tables graphics
• Full-text journal articles
• Case presentations
• On-line with CD-ROM

• On-line Forms
• Printable

• 4 - All Courses
• 2 - Some of Courses
• 1 - No Courses

Test Return
Seek COPE Approval

• Downloadable
• E-Mail
• Snail Mail

• 3 - 7 All Courses
• 3 - 7 Some of Courses
• 1 - 7 No Courses

Relative Delivery Cost

• 1 - Relatively Higher
• 5 - Relatively Lower
• 1 - Unknown

Certificates of Completion
Test Pass Rate First Try
Relative Development Cost

• Downloadable
• Snail mail

• 4 - 90 - 90
• 1 - 70 - 80
• 2 - Unknown

Instructor Compensation

• 3 - Relatively Higher
• 3 - Relatively Lower
• 1 - Unknown

• 50/50
• Set Fee
• Hourly Rate

• Prep-Time and Creativity
• Pre-Time and Updates

Test Fees - 25
Satisfaction Satisfied