2011-2012
Award Winner: Nicki Bly, Program Coordinator, Instructor, Highline Community College
For the development of a Hybrid/Online Polysomnography Technician Program
Nicki Bly accepting the Leadership and Innovation in eLearning award at the 2012 Assessment Teaching and Learning Conference in Vancouver Washington.
Elearning Award Nomination:
This nomination is for Nicky Bly, Program Coordinator of the Polysomnographic Technology program at Highline. The program she developed uses a hybrid model that allows students to participate in this lab-intensive training from across the state.
Polysomnography
Polysomnography is the study of sleep disorders. Over the last 10 years, health care providers have begun to recognized links to common medical problems. For instance, sleep apnea can lead to expensive, life-shortening cardiac problems. Early research has indicated that sleep disorders may be the root cause of some ADD symptoms in children.
Polysomnographic Technologists work with physicians in state-of-the-art medical facilities to diagnose and treat sleep disorders. The technician typically receives a physician’s order, conducts the study, then works with the physician to interpret the results of the study. There are currently 32 labs in the state, and a lack of qualified candidates for doing the work.
The program
Nicki Bly was asked by a consortium of sleep labs to develop a program to train technicians in 2004. Because a program would need a full (and very expensive) sleep lab, the employers were interested in seeing one program that served students across a wide geographic area.
The program at Highline has two options:
• A 3-quarter-long certificate, delivered online, with weekend labs 5-6 times per quarter. Students complete an internship close to home.
• A 7-quarter AAS degree. The first year develops a foundation in respiratory therapy, and is delivered face-to-face. The second year is conducted the same way as the certificate.
Classes started in 2005, and the first class graduated in 2007.
During Fall and Winter Quarter, students take the “lecture” portions of the class online. Course materials are presented through readings, Camtasia and other videos, and interactive activities delivered via Angel. Students Skype with faculty for tutoring and other conversations. Lab work is conducted in an 8 hour block, 5-6 Sundays during the quarter.
Because dates are announced well in advance, students can plan travel around other obligations and collaborate to save money. For instance, one year four students flew to Sea-Tac for the labs, and were picked up at the airport by a local student who had a van. While students must still come to Highline, this schedule provides the flexibility for them to come to campus and still work a regularly scheduled job.
During Spring quarter, students participate in a 200 hour practicum. Through partnerships built with colleges around the state, and relationships with the state-wide consortium of labs, practicums occur close to the students’ homes.
There are four college partners: Edmonds Community College, Olympic Community College, Tacoma Community College, and Yakima Valley Community College. Each college provides:
• A local option for students to complete pre-requisites;
• Advising and other support services; and
• Coordination of the internship in their community.
In turn, these colleges are able to provide another pathway to a career for their students.
Program Benefits
The hybrid model allows students from across the state to participate.
Students are able to use the videos and Camtasia recordings during their internships. They can review before conducting a procedure, and discuss methods with their lab supervisors.
Some labs have learned of new standards and techniques while reviewing video with their students.
It’s difficult to find practitioners to teach the classes when that requires being in a specific place, at a specific time, for an entire quarter. Online courses allow Nicki to find the best current practitioners to teach classes in the program; schedule and location flexibility works well for them, too.
Nomination
Nicky Bly led the creation of this program for Highline and the partner colleges. This included creating the hybrid/online structure of courses and curriculum, building and equipping the sleep lab, and coordinating the partnerships with the other colleges.
This program creates access to a high-demand, high-paying field for students from across the state. It is a valuable model for how a program that requires significant hands-on lab activity can be implemented in a way that reduces the geographic limits on students. Similar approaches could be used for other health professions, sciences, and perhaps some trades.
For her role in making this program a model, I wholeheartedly nominate Nicky Bly for this year’s Leadership & Innovation in eLearning Award.