Hi all
I teach paramedic science to 3rd year students on campus and a degree conversion program to employed diploma qualified paramedics off campus/online. With both courses I use a learning management platform and the incorporate the use of the virtual classroom for the online group. The virtual classroom sessions are recorded therefore the online students are able to view the lectures and discussions at their leisure. Anecdotally I have found the use of this media has improved student retention and participation in learning activities. Although I believe the pedagogy for online student needs to be altered in comparison to the pedagogy for the on campus cohort. Informal student surveys relating to the incorporation of the virtual classroom has provided very promising results which is now in the process of being formally researched
I am new to higher education joining the discipline 3 years ago after 22 years as a paramedic and 10 years as a clinical instructor mentoring the paramedic graduates through their first 12 months of employment as a paramedic.
Clickers are also used with our discipline for the on campus cohort with very positive results in both improving GPA and in student feedback. Although I have no included them in my sessions as yet.
