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

Abstract #65231

Ann Duttera Council, MPH, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1525 Clifton Road, #106, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-727-5132, acounci@sph.emory.edu and Rebecca Filipowicz, MPH, MS, CHES, Career MPH Program, Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, 1525 Clifton Road, Suite #118, Atlanta, GA 30322.

The learning environment in the 21st century is a dynamic and multifaceted arena. The advantages of distance learning to the public health workforce are well understood, and yet this learning environment has not been fully embraced. One of the barriers to on-line learning is a lack of knowledge and a sense of comfort for instructors in developing a distance-based course. The knowledge for this presentation comes from the accumulative experience of Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health Career Masters Public Health (CMPH) program. The CMPH program at the Rollins School of Public Health is a full distance based program offering a 42 credit Master of Public Health to mid career professionals. Based on four years of experience, the CMPH program has learned from failures and achievements what is needed to create a successful on-line learning environment. In this presentation, instructors will be provided with tips and strategies for developing and implementing a distance-based course from its inception to its completion. These strategies have been provided by several different key players of the CMPH program, each bringing a different perspective to the on-line teaching environment: instructor, instructional designer, graduate assistant and other program personnel. The focus of the presentation is to provide direct and specific strategies in the following areas: transitioning face-2-face courses to on-line courses, managing an on-line course, creating assessments and evaluations, building community from a distance, and profiling the on-line student.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe three differences in course development and instruction between traditional and on-line courses.
• Identify 5 strategies for teaching in the on-line environment covering the following areas: transitioning face-2-face courses to on-line courses, managing an on-line course, creating assessments and evaluations, building community from a distance, and profiling the on-line student.

Keywords: Distance Education Development,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment