I'm exploring the possibility of my business delibvering on-line or e-learning in a range of topics to industry- not emergency services at this stage.

Who has had experince with them (as an end user)?

What's your thoughts?

Would you pay to undertake this type of delivery, and if so, how much would you consider reasonable?

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Luke I think it would be a great idea for your business. You could work it 80% on-line 20% hands on. two full weekends maybe ?
A large public company would pay $25000 or more for 20 staff (eg CFA paid 45000 for 18) all depending on coarse and recognition by state and national goverments
You're right about the $. Traditionally face-to-face is very expensive. Clients need to factor in cost of instructors, cost of venue, cost of meals, wages for staff attending, etc.

If a lot of the theory could be knocked over with on line leanring and then reinforced and expanded in the hands on sessions, I think many will go for it.

As Debbie has also said, the hours can often be knocked over quicker with on line delivery. The downside to any on line delivery though, is the loss of interaction with other participants and the instructors.

As Justin said, need to pick the topic carefully....
I have done quite a few NIMS, FEMA, Military, and college courses online. Some where great and others not so great. It would really depend on the topics you would be offering. Online class are ok but they lack the classroom debates and discussions that lead to a better understanding of many subjects. If you have a question or don't understand something pertaining to the online class you do not have the help available as you do in a classroom setting.
It would depend on how the classes are set up. The biggest problem I see in some online work is the fact that someone with a little "puter savvy can work around having to watch a video for example before answering the questions at the end of the chapter. I see this a lot with online CE's. Of course they are only cheating themselves. There are some people though, which do not have the "snap" to be able to handle online stuff. These people must have the personal interaction in order to learn.

I personally like online work. I just never liked sitting in a classroom. With online classes, it's all you. It takes dedication. There is the loss of interaction between instructor and student, but if I don't understand something, I find I am able to retain more if I have to research the answer myself. Here in Texas, there are several online Fire Academies where the book work is done online, tests are done online and submitted electronically. The practical is done at one time, (usually a week long).

One thing I might suggest, is to have an outlet for students to ask questions either for the instructor, or maybe others taking the course. This sometimes is a beneficial adjunct to learning.
What made some of them great and not so great?

Was it the content, the layout, the way it was presented?
I did one subject online with Swinbourne, for my Cert II. One of the little 'Noddy' subjects that you know exist in that course. It was an 'OK' effort at putting a subject togehter, but without having done the actual manual side of it, a person would not have really known what was what. As you've said in this thread, the subjects would have to be carefully chosen.

The loss of interaction with an instructor is not something that impresses me . That interaction, with the peronalising of the presentation, the 'war stories' to emphasise points is what can make a course. However, this is always assuming that the instructor is a good one! Something else that isn't always the case...

I suppose I'm a bit ambivalent about the concept. I've done the recent one in the FF field, I've done them in the past in the computing field. If the person doing the course wants to learn, then they can be good. If the person doing the course is just after the 'bit of paper', then that is bad, fudging is easier..
training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp "This is the site address for the training"
http://www.dogpile.com/clickserver/_iceUrlFlag=1?rawURL=http%3A%2F%...
As many of you have stated. It all depends on what e-learning you are engaging in. I personally like videos. For example, Last week at our weekly meeting we talked about buckling up. As we all no, it is a a rule in many of out depts. But why are ppl still not buckling up. One guy from our dept. said, " it is hard to put an scba on while buckled up on you response to the call, and many agreed that it is. So I was surfing the web one day and found a good video on www.firevideos.net on procedures to buckling up and mounting your scba on the move. So next meeting we will show this video and then go out to the rigs and practice. First we will work on technique without your bunker gear on. Just so some people get the hang of it, and then suit up and practice with full ppe. Stay safe everybody and keep on training. In this line off work you never have learned or practiced enough.
Some skills can be taught. Even some that seem to be hands on. I operate a training webstie, FullyInvolvedFire dot com (sorry have to spell the dot com in case the forums block links). Anyway, on my site I have developed Incident Command Simulators to help teach command and control skills. In addition I have a complete working virtual pump panel to teach apparatus operator. To generate interest it has to be useful, you have to offer documentation of completion, and it has to be universal. Feel free to email me with any questions or comments. Be sure however, that before you launch your site it is fully tested, there is tons of content and you have a marketing plan. It all sounds kind of simple, but it is lots and lots and lots of work. Done right, its great! Good luck and let me know if I can help!

Capt. Ryan Christen
www.FullyInvolvedFire.com

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