Thanks to the TAACCCT grant (also called JobTrakPA), Northampton Community College Program Manager and instructor, Terry Rives has a remarkable opportunity to help students determine whether or not a health care career is the right choice for them. And, it’s not costing the students anything! Here’s how NCC uses blended learning solutions for health.
Situation
Rives offers the Health Careers Core Curriculum option to students recruited from a variety of age groups and life experiences. In Health Careers Core Curriculum, students work through HealthCenter21 online content at their own paces. They are introduced to the field of health care via foundation and health care careers content through core
curriculum. Rives describes it as an offer of “skills training for high school age and adults returning to work or considering a career change or are unemployed and looking for a new career path.” It is used to introduce people to the field. It’s good in terms of self-exploration and choosing a career path. The course is all online and self-paced.
Solution
Rives describes the HealthCenter21 online program this way, “Having a teaching background and being an instructor, I was EXCITED about the program. What a fabulous resource! Lesson plans and everything! It’s a really good tool to augment what’s already here.”
And for adult students, “It’s a really good experience to get their feet wet before going back to school after being out for 10 years or more. It helps ease fears of going back to school, rather than jumping back into the classroom right away. It’s a confidence booster.”
Northampton Community College is also using the HealthCenter21 solution at the credited level. Rives shared that “Instructor Karen Stone, who teaches the credited medical assistant course, could not say enough good things about the program. And her students felt that the program just reinforces what they are learning in class and helps them study.” When contacted, Karen Stone had this to say, “Students in the Medical Assistant class are able to sit for the RMA exam at course completion. I use HeathCenter 21 as a supplement to the text book we use.”
Results
Let’s allow one of Rives’ students sum it up. Student, Michele Arnenz-Venetz, says:
“I have just finished the Healthcare Careers Core Curriculum course and I wanted to share my experience with this course. I could not believe how much I learned about so many different aspects of the medical field. The course was so user friendly and allowed you to cover different modules at your own pace and at times that work into your schedule. After taking this course I realized what really interested me and what I was really not interested in doing. Because I really focused on taking this course, I learned so much needed information that I will use in my future medical classes. I couldn’t believe how much I knew when I started taking my classes. This course was a foundation for me to build on while in my classes. The exposure to the medical information put me ahead when starting my schooling. I just can’t tell you how much I enjoyed and learned from this class of modules. I am so glad that I took this class and I would highly recommend that anyone going into the medical field should take this. I would love to see courses like this for all career options. It is a Win-Win situation, either you build on the information you learned in that career or you may find out this is not the career for you! I also have to tell you how wonderful Terry Rives is; she is a real asset to making this course work so well. Terry was there for me anytime I needed help with something and to make sure that everything was going well. My whole experience with this course was truly amazing and so informational. Thank You!”
For the full case study, click here.
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