Well we can now take almost any program online. Is this a good thing or not? I'm going to share what works and doesn't work; and I'm going to focus on First Aid.
First and foremost which market does this appeal to?
- Those that live in remote areas where these courses are far and few between.
- Those that have taken the program before and need to recertify.
- Those that comprehend well on written material.
- Those that are very comfortable using computers or other online devices.
What should you look for when selecting an online First Aid program?
- Look for a nationally recognized provider; there are a few. Red Cross, Lifesaving Society, St John, Heart and Stroke are some that come to mind. Not all of them offer online.
- Make certain, and this is critically important - there MUST be a classroom portion to cover the skills and answer questions.
- The online portion needs to work; the biggest gripe from student is over complicated and buggy web portals. It's got to work for a 10 year old and a 100 year old.
- Can you exit the program and come back and continue?
- Is there a "forum" feature for questions?
- Can you contact the instructor or anyone if needed, and what is the response time?
Further Tips:
- Once you receive your link to the program, get started right away. You may be surprised how long it actually takes.
- If you are taking First Aid for the first time - take a classroom course in its entirety.
Online may cause grief when you can't ask questions and get answers quickly.