219342 Assessing outcomes of an online training Web site: A retrospective survey of training participants

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 10:56 AM - 11:08 AM

John W. Wallace, BS , North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Lorraine K. Alexander, DrPH, MPH , UNC Center for Public Health Preparedness, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Rachel A. Wilfert, MD, MPH, CPH , North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Jennifer A. Horney, PhD, MA, MPH, CPH , North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Pia D.M. MacDonald, PhD, MPH, CPH , North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Through its Training Web Site, the North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness (NCCPHP) in the North Carolina Institute for Public Health at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health has offered short online modules in public health preparedness topics since 2003. The site currently offers over 175 trainings on various public health topics including disaster preparedness and response, field epidemiology, and new/emerging disease agents. Module evaluation results demonstrate intent to incorporate newly-acquired knowledge into performance of job duties by a high number of learners, but assessing the actual impact of training is not possible in these immediate post-completion evaluations. In order to help evaluate the impact of trainings on individual and organizational behavioral change, NCCPHP conducted a survey of the site's high-volume users as defined both by total numbers of completed trainings as well as overall period of habitual site use. We will discuss results of the survey, including reported impact of trainings on individual job performance, agency programs, and organizational policy.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the methodology used to conduct an evaluation of an online distance learning system. 2. Discuss the self-reported impact of an online distance learning system on individual and organizational behavioral change.

Keywords: Distance Learning, Professional Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in content development and management of this project since 2003.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.