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Problem:
CED opportunities are primarily available to health care professionals living in proximity to special training centers/universities The project will develop, implement, evaluate Internet-based distance-learning continuing education/development programs directed at individuals who provide EI services.
Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1: Develop Internet-Based Early Intervention Training as a distance-learning program for individuals who provide EI services/support to children with developmental disabilities/special health care needs.
Objective 1: Develop, implement and evaluate five distance-learning courses with potential EI providers.
Objective 2: To disseminate the curriculum to a large variety of potential users.
Methodology:
This project targets the following training areas:Culturally Competent Early Intervention,Typical and Atypical Infant, Toddler and Family Development, Centered Early Intervention Family,Team Collaboration,Transition Planning from Early Intervention to School. To refine and clarify objectives, course competencies, and instructional methods, focus groups directed at EI professionals, consumers and families will be utilized. Courses will be designed, implemented and evaluated for effectiveness against a set of pre-determined knowledge and performance criteria. The program will be mounted in WEB CT an online course management system. No special software is required to use Internet-Based EI Training; courses are accessed through an Internet browser. A variety of instructional design methods and materials will be used to optimize student learning/mastery, transfer/application of learning and satisfaction. Including small units of text with embedded links to supplemental materials and relevant web sites, graphic displays for visual content, illustrative and interactive video clips, audio recordings, online quizzing that provides immediate automated grading with feedback, illustrated case studies, threaded discussions to promote class interaction, exercises with online forms for participants to submit, downloadable child assessment/observation tools and more.
Coordination:
Project members include: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center/New England Index at UMass Medical School, 15 state/agency partners serving as field test sites, IDEA Infant & Toddler Coordinators Assoc., Federation for Children With Special Needs, the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Ctr, the Institute for Child Health Policy at the University of FL, and the Assoc. of University Centers on Disabilities. ROCKMAN is independent evaluator.
Evaluation:
A series of pre and post evaluation protocols will be administered to all participants. Protocols are designed to assess learner outcomes, usability, attitude about computer-aided instruction, previous experience in taking distance-learning courses, proficiency in using computer technology, and expectations and satisfaction with the breadth, scope, utility and complexity of the course material.
Experience to Date:
Project plan including objectives, person responsible and timelines updated and completed to reflect preliminary problems in staff recruitment and software development delays. Mary A. Moran, Ph.D. and early childhood education and intervention expert has been appointed as Project Manager. Dr. Moran will be working closely with Charles Hamad, Ph.D., Principal Investigator and with Richard Fleming, Ph.D., Director of Instructional Design at the Shriver Center. Regular team meeting ensure continuous communication about all phases of the project. Marianne Thea Barnard has been hired as a Research Assistant to help with the research phases of this project. The Shriver Center course development protocol used to plan all phases of course development. To further refine and clarify objectives, course competencies, and instructional methods, a series of telephone interviews and Internet surveys have been completed. Learning objectives and instructional strategies developed. Course development management protocol successfully shifted from IntraLearn to WebCT ROCKMAN ET AL OUTSIDE Evaluator for this project has planned and beginning to implement the first phase of the evaluation
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