Biostatistics for the Health Sciences: Online Delivery

1
Biostatistics for the Health Sciences Online
Delivery

• Jessica L. Thomson, PhD
• USDA Agricultural Research Service
• (formerly with the LSUHSC SPH)
• April 24, 2006

2
Project Goal

• To convert graduate level introductory
  Biostatistics course from traditional classroom
  setting to online delivery

3
Asynchronous Delivery

• Moodle course management system (open source
  software)
• Course components
• Narrated lectures (PowerPoint and Camtasia)
• Narrated calculator examples (TI-emulator and
  Camtasia)
• Animated worked exercises (Flash)
• Quizzes (Half-Baked Hot Potatoes)

4
Additional Component

• Purchased by School of Public Health (SPH)
• Necessary to continue with SPH courses in
  distance learning format (aftermath of Hurricane
  Katrina)
• Elluminate software
• Synchronous
• Weekly question-and-answer sessions
• Weekly tutoring sessions

5
Login Screen
6
Front Page
7
Components
8
Website Features

• Participants list of enrolled students
• Edit profile edit user profile
• Forums list of available forums
• Quizzes created using Moodle
• Resources imported files (e.g. created outside
  of Moodle)
• Courses available via Moodle
• Search forums

9
Website Features (continued)

• Upcoming events reminder of course events
  posted to calendar
• Calendar color-coded depending on applicability
• Latest news chronological order of recently
  posted forums and course events
• Recent activity items recently added to course
  website
• Online users currently logged in

10
Outline (Specific to Course)

• Lectures
• Created in PowerPoint
• Narrated and produced using Camtasia
• Calculator examples
• Created using TI-emulator (Flash program
  simulates use of calculator free download)
• Narrated and produced using Camtasia

11
Outline (continued)

• Worked exercises
• Designed to replace in class blackboard worked
  exercises
• Created using Flash
• Animated and interactive
• Quizzes
• Taken multiple times not graded
• Practice for exams
• Created using Half-Baked Hot Potatoes software
  (freeware)

12
Course-specific Survey

• Designed specifically for Bios 6221 online
  section of course
• Questions concerning components of Moodle and
  course
• No questions concerning instructor and course
  material (SPH course evaluation)
• Voluntary but not anonymous (bonus points awarded)

13
Background Information (26 students)

• Affiliated school
• Public Health 54 (14)
• Graduate 31 (8)
• Nursing 15 (4)
• Computer used
• Home 77 (20)
• Work, shared work, both home and work 4 (1)
  each
• Other (Learning Resource Center, laptop with
  public wireless internet access) 12 (3)

14
Background Information (continued)

• Computer platform
• Windows 92 (24)
• Macintosh 8 (2)
• Internet connectivity
• Cable alone or in conjunction with dial-up, DSL,
  wireless card, work, and/or wi-fi 42 (11)
• Dial-up alone or in conjunction with DSL and/or
  wireless card 19 (5)
• Wireless card alone or in conjunction with wi-fi
  23 (6)
• Wi-fi alone 12 (3)
• DSL alone 4 (1)

15
Background Information (continued)

• Experience with distance learning
• Little to none (0 or 1 course) 77 (20)
• Moderate (2 to 4 courses) 19 (5)
• A lot (more than 4 courses) 4 (1)
• Website/course management proficiency
• Very poor 8 (2)
• Adequate/use improvement 42 (11)
• Proficient 50 (13)

16
Course Environment Component

• Easy maneuverability of course website
• Yes 96 (25)
• No 4 (1)
• Liked layout of course website
• Yes 92 (24)
• No 8 (2)
• Found course calendar useful
• Yes 89 (23)
• No 12 (3)
• Found course forums useful
• Yes 89 (23)
• No 12 (3)

17
Lecture Component

• Found narrated lectures helpful
• Yes 89 (23)
• No 12 (3)
• Found narrated lectures easy to access
• Yes 100 (26)
• No 0 (0)
• Experienced difficulty accessing/listening
• No 69 (18)
• Yes 31 (8)
• Have suggestions for improvement
• No 69 (18)
• Yes 31 (8)

18
Calculator Examples Component

• Found narrated calculator examples helpful
• Yes 89 (23)
• No 12 (3)
• Found narrated calculator examples easy to access
• Yes 96 (25)
• No 4 (1)
• Experienced difficulty accessing/listening
• No 85 (22)
• Yes 15 (4)
• Have suggestions for improvement
• No 50 (13)
• Yes 50 (13)

19
Worked Exercises Component

• Found animated worked exercises helpful
• Yes 100 (26)
• No 0 (0)
• Found animated worked exercises easy to access
• Yes 100 (26)
• No 0 (0)
• Experienced difficulty accessing/listening
• No 96 (25)
• Yes 4 (1)
• Have suggestions for improvement
• No 85 (22)
• Yes 15 (4)

20
Exams Component

• Format preference
• In person 15 (4)
• Online 85 (22)
• Experienced difficulties with online format
• No 62 (16)
• Yes 39 (10)
• Have suggestions for improving submittal process
• No 65 (17)
• Yes 35 (9)

21
Difficulties Encountered/Suggestions for
Improvement

• Internet connectivity
• Majority occurred early in semester and directly
  related to after effects of Hurricane Katrina
• Future course offerings will REQUIRE high speed
  internet connectivity
• Course environment
• Students indicated simply not using all available
  components
• Lectures
• Downloadable for listening offline (maybe)
• List duration of each lecture (excellent)

22
Difficulties Encountered/Suggestions for
Improvement (continued)

• Calculator examples
• Relate to problems in book (excellent)
• Add play/pause/stop buttons (excellent)
• Worked exercises
• Include audio (possibly as introduction)
• Exams
• Internet connectivity and reliability (previously
  addressed)
• Streamline submittal process (already in progress)

23
Component Enjoyed Most

• Independent study (self-paced, work from home 16
  students)
• Repeatability of lectures, calculator examples
  and worked exercises (7students)
• Accessibility (anytime, anyplace 4 students)
• Excellent website (2 students)
• Audio calculator examples (1 student)
• Awesome worked exercises (1 student)

24
Component Liked Least

• Lack of physical contact with instructor and
  other students (9 students)
• None in words of one student, all good (6
  students)
• Online exam testing/submission process (3
  students)
• Need for self-motivation (3 students)

25
Recommendations

• Continued use of Moodle course management system
  (well received by both instructor and students)
• Continued use of Elluminate (or some other
  synchronous online delivery software) for
  synchronous question-and-answer sessions
• High speed internet connectivity for both
  students and instructor
• Students should be moderately proficient in
  website and course management software use

26
Summary

• Project was successful, despite problems caused
  by Hurricane Katrina (e.g. internet connectivity)
• Problems were resolved quickly and with minimal
  disruption to students
• Course will be offered again in online format

27
Acknowledgements

• Louisiana Board of Regents SELECT grants program
  (LA-DL-SELECT-18-04/05
• Jennifer Hayden (LSUHSC SPH), Ray Whiting (LSUHSC
  SPH) and Demetrius Porche (LSUHSC SoN)
• Bios 6221 students of Fall 2005 semester