The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #54887

Molly M. Eggleston, MPH, CHES, Center for Public Health Practice, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 3109 Forbes Avenue, Suite 210, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, 412-383-2230, mme@pitt.edu, Carol Washburn, EdD, Center for Instructional Development & Distance Education, University of Pittsburgh, 4227 Fifth Avenue, Room 820, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, and Joanne Thompson, CHES, Pennsylvania & Ohio Public Health Training Center, Ohio State University School of Public Health, 320 West 10th Avenue, Room M101, Columbus, OH 43210.

The Center for Public Health Practice of the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, developed a “Web-based Self-Instructional Orientation to Public Health for Faculty and Practitioners” in 2001-2002 with funding from a cooperative agreement between ASPH and HRSA. The orientation, PH101, responds directly to assessed needs of the public health workforce. It provides a basic orientation to public health for academics, students and practitioners. PH101 raises awareness of the fundamentals of Public Health – our history, legal basis, core functions, and essential services.

There are many “Public Health 101” products, yet there remains great interest in and demand for PH101. The course has been well received by over 250 users, and would be recommended to others by the majority of users. Particularly popular are narratives submitted by public health professionals illustrating their use of one of the ten essential services of public health.

The web-based, self-guided format is accessible and attractive to many users -- among respondents to the end of course survey, 51% strongly agreed and 39% agreed that “PH101 was a satisfying way for me to learn new material.”

PH101 is an appealing, practical and valuable product truly designed for a multi-state, practice-academic audience. Results from Year 1 evaluations yield many lessons learned for the development and implementation of online courses for the public health workforce.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Identify course format preferences for online courses as identified by PH101 Online users. 2. List an advantage and a disadvantage to offering free CEU for an online self-guided tutorial.
• Assess PH101 Online's attempt to teach the ten essential services of public health through the use of contributed stories.

Keywords: Distance Education Development, Workforce

Related Web page: www.pophtc.pitt.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Blackboard software
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.