Idaho Preparedness Learning Management System

www.idahoprepares.com

1. Background

Both the Institute of Emergency Management and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s (IDHW) Health Preparedness Program are responsible for delivering training in Idaho under the broad category of emergency preparedness. The two agencies have partnered to implement a learning management system for use by all of Idaho’s first responders to include public health, health care, emergency management, emergency medical services, fire, hazardous materials, law enforcement, and public safety communications.

2. What is a Learning Management System?

Broadly defined, a Learning Management System (LMS) is a tool/platform that exists on a website for developing, managing, and delivering learning content. A LMS can consist of many features but three primary components that will exist on the Idaho Preparedness Learning Management System are the following:

A. Learning Center

After learners log on to the system for the first time, they can access the Learning Center. The Learning System contains several features including:

• Training Calendar

The Idaho Preparedness Learning Management System lists trainings that are available including course descriptions and prerequisites.

• Registration/Schedule Courses

The Idaho Preparedness Learning Management System allows Idaho’s first responders to register or request emergency preparedness classes on-line. Learners can either request that a course come to their community or enroll for an already scheduled course. If applicable, learners can also cancel their registration. Automatic reminder emails will be sent to all learners who are registered for a course.

• On-Line Training

Some training can easily and successfully be delivered in a self-study format.

The Idaho Preparedness Learning Management System will create, store, manage, and deliver learning content. Examples include the ability to create Idaho-specific courses that can be delivered and tracked on-line; create multiple sessions of the same course without retyping common information; provide a location for the individual instructor to house instructional material per course; allow learners to “test-out” of selected courses; and allow post-learner assessments.

B. Administration

• Tracking Training

Tracking of emergency response trainings is a highly intensive process requiring manual entry of information collected on paper into basic computer files. The Idaho Preparedness Learning Management System will provide training administrators with the access to an increased amount of information about the courses they deliver with a significantly decreased amount of manual tracking. For example, we can track usage by course, learner, and organization.

• Reporting Training

The system also generates standard reports and allows individuals to keep track of their training.

C. Library

Learners can order or access materials including books, references, periodicals, websites, articles, announcements, videos, and federal and state regulations, policies, and plans at this location.

D. Special Events

Learners can register for conferences in Idaho and schedule to attend satellite broadcasts.

E. Volunteer Center

Idahoans can learn more about becoming a public health or health care volunteer and can sign up to be a volunteer. Public health and health care volunteers include both medical staff and non-medical support staff who are interested in working with their District Health Department to help their local communities prepare and respond public health emergencies.

3. Goals

The Idaho Preparedness Learning Management System will be implemented in three phases:

Immediate

The first phase of the system will be to make the system operational. The Institute of Emergency Management, the IDHW Health Preparedness Program, and the Idaho District Health Departments will begin entering in past training data, listing new training opportunities, and registering current volunteers.

All of the Institute’s courses and scheduled classes will be available for scheduling or self-enrollment.

Short Term

Within 3 months of the operational system launch, online trainings will begin to be posted and delivered along with classroom trainings.

Long Term

Later implementation phases of the system will increase the number of users and online courses available.

4. Audience

There are approximately 45,000 learners in the following broad disciplines that will have access to the Idaho Preparedness Learning Management System .

• Emergency Management
• Emergency Medical Services
• Fire Service
• Governmental Administrative
• Hazardous Materials
• Health Care
• Law Enforcement
• Private/Public Security Guards
• Public Health
• Public Safety Communications
• Public Works

 

Idaho Preparedness Learning Management System

www.idahoprepares.com

A joint project between

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Health Preparedness Program

and the Institute of Emergency Management (ISU)