The most recent of its funding priorities, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Education and Training Program (WETP) Advanced Training Technology (ATT) program provides funding to grantees for the development of computer-based training products aimed at improving the health and safety of hazardous materials workers, emergency responders, and skilled support personnel. More and more, distance-based learning and electronic training methods are becoming an integral part of hazmat training programs, using a wide variety of multimedia tools, including interactive DVD modules, virtual reality simulations, interactive TV, and videoconferencing. Visit the NIEHS WETP Advanced Training Technology program(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/program/att.htm) to learn more.
The Advanced Training Technology submenu also includes the Learning Methods and Technologies webpages. The Learning Methods and Technologies webpages provide information on innovative training methods and useful information on technology being used in hazardous waste worker training.
In recent years there have been enormous technological advancements in computer-based technologies and applications. These ATT include a wide variety of electronic learning (e-learning) components. Distance learning, electronic classrooms, interactive TV, multimedia, computer-based training, computerassisted training, virtual reality training simulations, CD, CD-R, DVD and video teleconferencing, among others, have and are being developed and advanced to support expanding training needs and requirements.
NIEHS intends to build on its program experience in environmental safety and health training by stimulating creative Small Business Innovation Research proposals to create ATT products that will support high quality health and safety training for hazardous materials workers, emergency responders, and skilled support personnel. To further enhance our ability to move toward commercialization of ATT products relevant to model safety and health training for hazardous materials workers, emergency responders, and skilled support personnel, this initiative focuses on the development of technology driven commercial products using the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.
In 2007, NIEHS WETP awarded $797,186 to six small businesses for the development of electronic learning technologies for the safety and health training of hazardous material workers and emergency responders. A description of each project is listed below:
WMD/HAZMAT Protection Training for Health Professionals(86 KB) This e-learning course for WMD/HAZMAT Protection Training (PROTECT) for Health Professionals performing as skilled support personnel (SSP) will provide much needed assistance in recognizing hazardous materials and understanding their effects, properly identifying items of protective equipment, gaining knowledge of how to don (put on) them correctly and how to perform essential roles and responsibilities in a hazardous environment while wearing protective equipment.
Responding to HazMat Incidents Interactive Case Studies Phase II(85 KB) The specific aim of the Phase II project is to complete the design and develop a full interactive virtual experience that will reduce the risk faced by First Responders when dealing with incidents involving hazardous materials.
Online ELearning Courses for Hazardous Material Workers Phase II Second Year(86 KB) The objective of this proposal is to develop a curricula of role specific online e-Learning courses that meet the needs of a diverse workforce of Hazardous Material workers in the transport modalities of: highway, marine, air, rail, and International.
Incident Command and Emergency Responder Role Training for Health Professionals(86 KB) This e-learning course for Incident Command and Emergency Responder Role Training (InCERT) for Health Professionals performing as skilled support personnel (SSP) will provide much needed assistance in understanding the roles and responsibilities of emergency responders, the Incident Command System (ICS) structure and where and how they fit within it.
HAZMAT Training for First Responders in Rural Areas An Online Intelligent Tutor(85 KB) South Dakota Health Technology Innovations, Inc. (SDHTI) proposes to create a computer-based training program called HAZMAT Training for First Responders in Rural Areas: an Online Intelligent Tutoring System to train rural area first responders.
Elearning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response(84 KB) inXsol LLC will undertake research to establish the technical/scientific merit and feasibility for the design and use of an affordable, stand alone simulation-based training tool to supplement instructor guided training for hazardous materials health and safety that can be tailored to meet the local needs of cities and states.
Distributed HAZMAT Training Using Adapted Gaming Technology(85 KB) Forterra Systems proposes to study this proposition by developing a typical training scenario and environment using gaming technology, performing an instructional design, conducting user tests with the target audiences, and analyzing the results.
In 2006, NIEHS WETP made 6 awards totaling $849,616 (4 new SBIR Phase I awards, 1 STTR Phase I award and 1 SBIR Phase II award). Summaries of these awards, given for the development of innovative "e-learning" products for worker safety and health training, are listed below:
Mobile Just-in-Time Training of Skilled Support Personnel(124 KB) The proposed STTR project exploits a new training paradigm called just-in-time training (JITT) made possible by advances in distance learning and cellular telephony.
Safety E-Minders(13 KB) Safety E-Minders is a system that will increase retention of inclass and/or online training information using current technologies to reinforce and remind students of the most critical messages and keep the workers and community safe and healthy.
"Lessons Learned from Graniteville" DVD(14 KB) The DVD will provide peer instructors with an interactive tool to facilitate small group exercises on responding to a freight train derailment involving hazardous materials.
Online E-Learning Courses for Hazardous Material Workers (Phase 2)(53 KB) The objective of this proposal is to develop a curricula of role specific online e-Learning courses that meet the needs of a diverse workforce of Hazardous Material workers in the transport modalities of: highway, marine, air, rail, and International.
3rd Annual Innovations in e-Learning Symposium June 5-7, 2007
The 3rd Annual Innovations in e-Learning Symposium took place June 5-7, 2007, at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. The CEHD (College of Education and Human Development) Instructional Technology Program at George Mason University and Defense Acquisition University cosponsored the symposium.
Workshops and symposium session presentations are now available for download.
Best Practices for Accessible Flash Design(http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/public/hasl_g et_blob.cfm?ID=787) (951 KB) May 2004. 21 pages. This document is designed to establish a basic framework with which to approach accessible design in Macromedia Flash.
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