Public Health, from a distance
Apr 25th, 2005From the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, this paper on training public health professionals through distance learning.
Distance education provides several advantages to students. " The Internet is enabling us to address these educational challenges, bringing learning to students instead of bringing students to learning. It is allowing for the creation of learning communities that defy the constraints of time and distance as it provides access to knowledge that was once difficult to obtain&lrquo; (Web-based Education Commission, 2000, p. i). The Distance Education Training Council (2003) reported decreasing lost work days, travel and living expenses associated with a traditional program, and the flexibility of distance study as important benefits of distance learning. In addition, the students are able to set their own pace and schedule for learning, and experience learning in a one-on-one setting. Additionally, distance education can help address the growing need of training the public health workforce. In the Institute of Medicine report Who will keep the Public Healthy? , it advocated for distance education as a method " …Enabling workers to continue in their work responsibilities by completing self-paced coursework, this approach reduces the burden overworked and understaffed agencies feel as their staff members participate in educational programs&lrquo;
Did you enjoy this article?
