Free State Health Department satellite-based distance-learning initiative goes live

Grintek Telecom helped develop an Interactive-learning Communication and Management Network (ICAM) for the Free State Health Department, which allows the government department to provide HIV and other medical training and information to doctors, nurses, clinical staff and other healthcare workers in remote areas.

The Free State Health Department purchased a 24-hour satellite channel at a fraction of the cost of a normal broadband broadcast channel as the broadcast medium, and the ICAM system has just gone live with 40 remote classrooms, allowing the department to train up to 600+ healthcare workers at any one time. This was made possible by the type of technology used for the live broadcasts.

Says Willie Hattingh, executive manager Satellite Systems and Interactive Distance Learning at Grintek Telecom: "The ICAM solution brings traditional instructor led classroom lectures to locations around the Free State using interactive audio, video and data communications, allowing the lecturer to present and communicate with each member of the audience (the students)."

This type of real-time interactive two-way communication encourages viewer participation and enhances comprehension and information retention, making distance-learning more effective.

"The ICAM system uses various hardware and software components at the host site and the remote sites, based on the latest technology used for distance learning and e-learning," explains Hattingh.

"At the Host site the lecturer uses a Presentation Server to present the interactive training session. Audio and data communication in the form of questions, quizzes and text between lecturers and students, together with the Presentation Server, allows the lecturer to present information interactively and use a wide range of educational training aides such as Power Point, videos tapes (DVCAM or SVHS), document cameras and DVDs (Digital Video Disk). Since the system operates in a TCP/IP environment, the same platform can deliver the same live interactive content, from the same central location, to the desktop with added features such as Web browsing, application sharing and telestration."

An important aspect of distance learning is to track participation and knowledge gained by the students. The Presentation Server allows the students to 'log in' with a unique ID and the system will automatically track the responses from participants, as well as all other events that take place in the session. Studies have shown that effective learning and communication relies 13% on touch-smell-taste senses, 12% on hearing and 75% on visual gestures and stimulation. This indicates the importance of instructor-led training and where this system is perfectly suited.

Hattingh adds: "We didn't want to compromise personal interaction and we needed to keep classes interesting. We therefore put together a solution that incorporates the 'human element' - an essential aspect of learning."

Forty ICAM remote classrooms were set up across the Free State at hospitals and clinics which consist of a TV monitor, a PC satellite receiver and student response keypads allowing live interactive participation. The Free State classrooms have 15 keypads per classroom, but the system allows for up to 64 keypads per classroom.

Each trainee has a Response Keypad with a built in microphone allowing the person to talk to the presenter simply by pressing a button and asking the question, live on air. The whole audience (600+) all hear the same question and responses to the question at the same time. The system also allows for a three-way simultaneous conversation or discussion at any one time.

"Once the call key, the electronic version of hand raising, on the Keypad is pressed, it alerts the presenter that a participant(s) wishes to communicate and the person is placed in a call queue," explains Hattingh. "The presenter responds by activating the Keypad microphone. The presenter or trainer has total control, electronically, over all calls, questions and quiz events."

A Flag key also notifies the lecturer that a student is having difficulty with understanding or following the content.

He adds: "The lecturer has the facility to monitor students and events at the remote sites and remotely make adjustments to the equipment or upload new software upgrades, if required, from a central point by means of Remote Site Manager software."

Additional software applications, such as the Instructor Tools and Results Analysis Program can be installed on a PC or laptop, allowing the lecturer or presenter to prepare presentations and interpret data that was captured during a distance learning session.

The captured information from these sessions provides statistical information such as who attended, when, which questions were asked and how were they answered and which tests have been done. This information can be analysed and displayed in text or graphical format to provide proper evaluation and reliable information for reporting to management.

An added feature of the system is the ability to access and download large files (megabyte size) in one session to the remote classroom PCs. This feature is inherent in the design of the network and is easily accessible via a user-friendly Web interface.

Hattingh concludes: "This might seem like a costly exercise. Not so, as many of our clients can testify to. ICAM will cut costs and time required for training by eliminating the necessity for travel and accommodation expenses and provides much reduced time-to-market and training cycles. Training costs can be reduced by as much as 90%. It has enhanced the Free State Department of Health's services to the communities through perpetual training of its healthcare workers."