Going the Distance: Using Online Learning to Deliver Your Program Statewide The Montana Model

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Going the Distance Using Online Learning to
Deliver Your Program Statewide The Montana
Model

• By Debbie Fillmore CST RN MEd

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Montana
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Montana Facts

• Land Area Square Miles 145,552
• Density Persons Per Square Mile 6.2
• State Population 967,440

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Montana
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Top Ten City Populations

• Billings 101, 876
• Missoula 67,165
• Great Falls 58, 827
• Bozeman 37,981
• Butte 31,967
• Helena (State Capital) 28,726
• Kalispell 20,298
• Havre 9,618
• Anaconda-Deer Lodge 8,852
• Miles City 8,120

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Driving Distances
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New York City Traffic Signs
2007 Population Estimate 8,143,197
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Montana Traffic Signs
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NYC Traffic Jam
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Montana Traffic Jam
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Montana Traffic Jam
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The Idea..

• To meet the needs and requests of hospitals in
  the communities of Billings and Butte, extend The
  University of Montana Surgical Technology
  Associate of Applied Science degree using
  web-based delivery and face-to-face instruction.

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The Players Healthcare
St. James Healthcare Butte, MT
St. Vincent Healthcare Billings, MT
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The Players Education
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What Next??

• Before going any further it is imperative that
  you have supportive administration.
• Before going any further it is imperative that
  you have committed faculty.

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What Next??

• 1. Consult the Standards from ARC/STSA.

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A Program by Any Other Name.
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Definitions from the Standards

• Consortium
• A group of individuals or companies formed to
  undertake an enterprise or activity that would be
  beyond the capabilities of the individual
  members.

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Definitions from the Standards

• Consortium
• As defined for education, a group of similar but
  separate educational institutions that associate
  and share resources to achieve the education of
  students to fill a community need.

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Definitions from the Standards

• Branch System
• A branch campus is defined as a free-standing
  facility that provides human, physical, and
  financial resources and a comprehensive range of
  academic and clinical courses outlined in program
  curricula.

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Definitions from the Standards

• Branch System
• As defined for education, a branch system will
  most likely consist of a primary program and
  secondary extensions that serve outlying areas.

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Branch Campuses/Outreach
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What Next??

• Consult your states higher education governing
  body.
• The MUS is governed by a seven member
  Board of Regents.

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Documentation

• ARC/STSA apply for approval of a Branch System
  or Consortium. (Consortium Application)
• 2. MUS Board of Regents submit a Notice of
  Intent.

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Steps to Collaboration

• Needs Assessment
• Begin with affiliates
• Informal and formal meetings
• Consult ARC/STSA website
• Hospital Size
• Is it large enough to accommodate student
  numbers?
• Will students be able to meet the clinical case
  load requirement?

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Steps to Collaboration

• 3. Educational Facilities
• Is there an accredited University or Community
  College in the city?
• 4. Available Personnel
• Are there qualified Certified Surgical
  Technologists to serve as Site Coordinators, lab
  and clinical educators?
• Is there a Health Professions Advisor at the
  educational facility?

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The Idea..Curriculum

• Semester One
• Computer Applications Campus
• AP I Campus
• English Composition Campus
• College Algebra Campus
• Introduction to Psychology Campus
• Beginning Medical Terminology Campus
• Semester Two
• Microbiology Campus/Online
• AP II Campus
• (SUR) Intro to Safe Pt Care
  Online
• Surgical Pharmacology Online
• Surgical Lab I
  Face-to-Face Lab

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The Idea..Curriculum

• Semester Three
• OR Techniques Online
• Surgical Procedures I Online
• Surgical Lab II Face-to-Face Lab
• Surgical Clinical I Hospital Clinical
• Ethics in Health Professions Campus/Online
• Semester Four
• Surgical Procedures II Online
• Surgical Clinical II Hospital Clinical
• Surgical Internship Hospital Clinical

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Memorandum of Understanding

• This is not the same as the Affiliate Agreement.
• Responsibilities of parties
• Primary campus
• Secondary campus
• Healthcare institution
• Admission file and transcript exchange
• Course transferability

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Memorandum of Understanding

• Financial Aid
• Textbooks
• Campus access computers, library, student
  services, etc
• Lab facilities (refer to ARC/STSA Standards)

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Memorandum of Understanding

• Administrative support
• Outreach office/Coordinator
• Interest lists, applications, student contact
• Catalog information for all campuses
• AST membership (students pay a course fee)
• Certification exam (students pay a course fee)

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Memorandum of Understanding

• Budget
• Faculty are employees of primary campus (UM)
• Travel
• PR materials
• Professional development
• Equipment for lab and classroom
• Mail/phone expenses

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Assessing Student Readiness

• Are you comfortable with email, computers and
  learning new technology?
• Do you have access to a computer and the
  Internet?
• Can you commit to 10-15 hours for study each
  week?

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Assessing Student Readiness

• Are you comfortable working independently?
• Are you good at managing your time?
• Do you think the work will be easier than a
  real class?

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Assessing Student Readiness

• Are you comfortable communicating in writing and
  can you articulate your thoughts well?
• Are you proficient at typing?
• Are you comfortable asserting yourself in a group
  and asking questions?

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Assessing Student Readiness

• Are you comfortable reading lecture materials
  rather than hearing them?
• Do you believe that high-quality learning can
  take place without face-to-face interaction?
• Has there been a program you wanted to take but
  could not fit it into your schedule?
• Does exploring new things appeal to you?

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Program Application
Students from all sites submit program
applications by November 1 of each year.
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Student Selection

• Specific application rubric used for evaluation
• Student numbers selected
• 10 on Butte campus
• 12 on Missoula campus
• 10 on Billings campus

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Site Orientation
Before the semester begins, we travel to each
site and orient the students to program
expectations.
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Delivering the Courses
Didactic courses are delivered web-based (online).
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Delivering the Courses
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Delivering the Courses

• A Blackboard Learning Unit
• Unit objectives and reading assignments
• PowerPoint presentations
• Documents that accompany reading
• 4. Lecture notes/study hints

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Delivering the Courses

• Unit exams are administered paper/pencil with the
  Site Coordinator as proctor
• Students are required to post a photo/bio the
  first week of classes
• Students are required to email weekly to inform
  me of progress. Email is part of the course
  grade.

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Delivering the Courses
Lab and clinical courses are conducted in local
facilities.
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In Conclusion.

• Students from all three sites receive their
  Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical
  Technology from The University of Montana in
  Missoula.
• All students travel to Missoula for
  administration of the Certification exam and to
  attend graduation.
• The development of Branch Campuses/Outreach
  Programs will help your state meet the healthcare
  needs of hospitals in rural areas.

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Go For It!

• Do not get discouraged by others.
• Be patient. It can take at least 5 years to get
  all aspects established.
• It is all worth it!!

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Contact Information

• Debbie Fillmore CST RN MEd
• UM College of Technology
• 909 South Avenue West
• Missoula, MT 59801
• 406-243-7860
• debbie.fillmore_at_mso.umt.edu

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Come and Visit!
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References

• Graphics
• http//montanagroups.com/p1.htm
• http//www.raisingcountrykids.com/2008/05/montana-
  traffic-jam.html
• http//twitpic.com/466qa
• http//www.nps.gov/archive/glac/gallery/plow2006_0
  516.htm
• http//www.mfmr.org/programs/images/clip_image002.
  jpg
• http//www.stjameshealthcare.org/
• http//www.cot.msubillings.edu/
• http//imagecache01a.allposters.com/images/pic/DAN
  POD/US24-CHA0032Grizzly-Bear-Statue-at-University
  -of-Montana-Missoula-Montana-Posters.jpg
• http//terra.brainsideout.com/public/images/conten
  t/wallpaper/montana-road-01.jpg
• http//rehab.uthscsa.edu/images/Residency/applicat
  ion.jpg