 Top Five Reasons Why You Should Consider Moving to Digital Things
By Bill Rowe, Director of Content Development
Most things I look back on and appreciate. I suppose that is part of the normal life-cycle. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the transformation of the CPR and first aid training industry from the early, tight control of large charitable organizations, through the pioneering efforts of early entrepreneurs, to the broader and more innovative approaches we see today.
But… there are certainly things I do not miss…
Take CPR skills verification. Hopefully many of you missed the era of printing out the perfect thermal paper skills strip on a Laerdal Recording Annie manikin. If you had a mechanically sound manikin to actually do this on, the follow-up documentation was to carefully fold up the strip, staple it to a paper skills verification form, and then store it in an overflowing file cabinet with all of the other forms, exams, rosters, checklists, and applications.
That’s not the end of it. You’ve never lived until a VCR eats up your commercial VHS tape of a program video. And, please don’t ask about how to do make-up training for the one person who was unable to make it to a training class.
As a card-carrying member of the non-digital generation, I understand the apprehension many feel about adopting newer “high-tech” methods of doing things. Change is hard to appreciate, especially when you are well-versed in the current methods, but, what if it actually can make your life much better?
To help, I thought I would focus on the benefits of changing to the digital options available to you today with ASHI, MEDIC First Aid, and EMS Safety training. So here is my top five list for considering a move to more digital approaches.
1) Organized User Data
Regardless of whether you teach for a fee or within your organization, accurate and reviewable data of your students and customers can provide you a gold mine of convenience and opportunity. Quick and easy communication is available to you for reminders, follow-up, or dealing with issues. Sorted data that can be reviewed and analyzed can provide you with the ability to make sound decisions for streamlining and growing your operations.
The online class roster function within Otis provides you the ability to easily manage customer, class, and student information.
2) Easier Video Use
If you haven’t noticed yet, the DVD displays in the big box stores are getting quite small as more and more people are looking for online options for watching movies and TV shows. It appears that the useful life of DVDs is coming to an end, and that will be true for CPR and first aid training program DVDs as well. You will still have the option for the foreseeable future, but consider changing now for the convenience of no longer having to have a DVD player or drive, or dealing with cumbersome DVD menus, especially during class.
The Otis platform offers a much more convenient and effective approach to showing video segments in a classroom. Utilized through the Desktop Video Player on laptops and the Instructor App on mobile devices, you can now stream video content directly or download it to your device for use in remote settings. With capable devices, you can show videos wirelessly on smart projectors, monitors, and TVs. Imagine walking into a classroom with just your phone required to play program videos.
The system also allows you to create custom playlists designed to include whatever supplemental video content you would like to add to core content. And, best of all, it’s already included in your existing program packages for use for up to five instructors.
3) More Flexible Learning
Necessary for skills-based learning, especially for new learners, is a solid grasp of the underlying key concepts and basic organization of the content being covered. This information provides a solid foundation on which to build practiced hands-on skills.
Well, it can actually be self-directed through an online learning platform.
Blended learning in CPR and first aid is an approach in which cognitive learning is done online, by oneself. Good online learning platforms, such as the one accessed through Otis, can provide this information in an interactive way, using video, animation, and exercises, to enhance comprehension and retention. This online learning can be followed by, or blended, with a face-to-face session in which hands-on practices and team-based exercises can be focused on.
Blended learning provides a much more efficient approach to training. All of the core ASHI and MEDIC First Aid training programs allow for a blended learning approach.
4) Immediate Access to Changed Content
The front-end process for CPR and first aid guideline development has now changed from a once-every-five-years approach to ongoing updates in which guideline changes occur individually when they are ready.
The effect on training content will be significant as changes to content will have to be reflected as soon as possible after release. Printed training materials such as Instructor Guides and Student Books will require printed addendum sheets until inventories are used up and new, updated materials are printed. Training Centers and instructors will have to keep pace with communications about change and make sure they are using the latest materials.
Or, you can go digital. Updated versions of online program videos and printed materials are immediately available to all. No need to hassle with the latest printed addendum or purchasing an updated replacement DVD.
5) Cost Savings
Digital solutions provide you multiple ways in which to lower the cost to you and your customers when providing training.
Digital training materials don’t create additional costs for shipping and storage. Inventory management is instantaneous. Outdated materials don’t need to be used up or scrapped.
Time savings from doing things such as replacement cards, expiration reminders, and class scheduling is remarkable.
The online portion of blended learning can easily be worked into busy schedules, reducing the interruption to other priorities. The face-to-face sessions in blended training are much shorter than traditional training and can significantly reduce the costs involved in getting a group of students together.
Making the Leap
The digital tools that are available to you right now can help make you more efficient and effective in the training you provide, and there is so much more coming. If you haven’t made the leap yet, join me. If I can do it, anyone can.
Still apprehensive because of what you don’t know?
We’ve got you covered. Contact one of our technical support representatives at 800-447-3177 for a free guided tour of these and other helpful Otis functions. The support representative can help you learn more about Otis and its features, show you how it operates, and answer any questions you may have.
Thanks again for being out there and doing what you are doing.
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