Technology-enhanced learning/distance education: Market survey of occupational health and safety professionals

A market survey of occupational health and safety professionals was perform ed to assess their interest in course work offered through distance educati on, using technology-enhanced learning methods such as the Internet or CD-R OM. A random sample of 800 active and student members of the American Indus trial Hygiene Association, the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, and the American Society of Safety Engineers from the eight-state M idwest region were queried through a mail survey. Respondents expressed a h igh likeliness (87.4%) to participate in distance education opportunities f or the purposes of continuing education and academic degree. The areas of s tudy interest selected most often were occupational health (73%), injury pr evention and control (60%), and industrial hygiene (53%). More than three-q uarters of respondents (79%) said that an on-campus component was not impor tant to their learning experience, The majority of respondents (68%) indica ted that they were reimbursed for the cost of education with significant di fferences identified by association. Occupational health and safety profess ionals are interested in distance education using technology-enhanced learn ing (TEL) methodologies for meeting their educational needs. TEL/distance e ducation, built on a tested educational approach, should be implemented and outcomes shared to increase the body of knowledge regarding these teaching strategies as they pertain to occupational health and safety professionals .