EPS Elearning Production and Design for Emergency Responders

2720 Hickory Dr. • Plover, WI 54467 715-321-1800 • contact@eps411.com

Online Education for Emergency Responders:
efficient and cost effective!

Do you need to deliver training across multiple stations and shifts?

EPS rapidly converts existing classroom lectures for efficient online delivery.

I want to use classroom time for scenarios and skills practice.

We agree! Deliver lecture content online and use valuable classroom time for competency checks and hands-on scenarios.

I have ideas for online education lessons.

Tell us. We can design and deliver new lessons for your LMS, intranet, or website that are engaging, educational, and interactive.

Can I learn how to develop online education programs?

Just ask. We teach our proven production process to emergency responder educators and training officers.

Contact EPS for a FREE consultation and assessment of your organization's e-learning opportunities.

3 Books for Elearning Designers

When I first started designing and producing continuing and refresher education programs for EMTs and Paramedics I jumped right in by applying knowledge I already had about adult education and PowerPoint design.

Along the way through a lot of trial and error I have steadily improved the instructional design process we use. This process includes understanding user needs, writing a lesson script based on objectives, creating visuals that minimize text, and replacing static content with dynamic and interactive learning objects whenever appropriate. I have also been guided by three excellent books: slide:ology, Presentation Zen, and Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro.

Almost all of our elearning projects start as a PowerPoint slide deck that is converted to Flash using Articulate Presenter. Two design books that have helped me improve the quality of our PowerPoint slides are:
1. slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations
2. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)

A third outstanding resource is the free ebook you receive after subscribing to the Articulate Rapid eLearning Blog by Tom Kuhlmann. His book and weekly blog posts are must reads for any elearning designer. His principles and tips are applicable to elearning in general and not just to Articulate.

Essential Articulate Studio ‘09 has just been published. It is a how-to guide to the ‘09 version of the Articulate products. I have not read it yet, but it is on my to-read list.

What books have guided you as an elearning designer?

Posted at 7:00 am on 07/02/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Rapid E-Learning How To | +Read On

Tips to Use PowerPoint Master Slide

EPS411.com subscribers know that PowerPoint is the base tool for most elearning projects. Some elearning programs are converted from PowerPoint to Flash movies using simple tools like Articulate Presenter. Other elearning programs are story boarded in PowerPoint before custom Flash programming.

Regardless, using the Master Slide is an essential skill for any elearning designer. Making changes to the Master Slide will save hours of time that might have been spent formatting individual slides.

Terese Hereford, Content Production Direction at CentreLearn Solutions, has written a post introducing the Master Slide and how it can be used for formatting every slide. Use the Master Slide to:

Change fonts
Add header or footer information
Add a logo or water mark
Layout slide design elements

Read Terese’s post on Using the PowerPoint Master Slide.

Posted at 7:00 am on 06/30/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Rapid E-Learning How To, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

Twelve NEW Firefighter Courses at CentreLearn - June 2009

Emergency Preparedness Systems LLC provides slide development and design of interactive Flash learning objects for the firefighter continuing educations lessons that are available to CentreLearn users. EPS services include slide design, photo formatting, and creation of Articulate Engage Interactions.

Would you like EPS to perform similar services for your elearning project? Contact us for a free needs assessment and creation of a demo lesson of how we can improve your existing content.

On June 25, 2009 CentreLearn announced the availability of twelve new firefighter lessons.

F323 Protection of Evidence of Fire Cause and Origin
1. Describe firefighter’s role of protecting evidence at scene of a fire
2. Explain how to preserve evidence during suppression and overhaul
3. Discuss how to transfer scene to fire investigator

F325 Leading Groups
1. The role of a leader
2. The characteristics and dynamics of group interaction
3. Effectively leading a group versus managing a group

F327 Respiratory Protection
1. Describe types of respiratory protection and maintenance of protection
2. Discuss various environments that respiratory protection should be worn
3. Explain proper method to fit test personnel for respiratory protection

F328 Combustible & Flammable Liquids
1. Define physical properties of combustible and flammable liquids
2. Distinguish between combustible and flammable liquids
3. Explore proper mitigation procedures for combustible and flammable liquids

F329 Ethics
1. Explain and define ethics
2. Discuss the importance of ethics on incident scenes
3. Discuss the importance of ethics in the fire station

F330 Automatic Suppression Systems
1. Describe the various automatic suppression systems
2. Discuss how to handle the activation of a suppression system
3. Describe how to troubleshoot a suppression system

F331 Airbags
1. Cover the hazards associated with working around airbags in vehicle emergencies
2. Describe how to deactivate airbags
3. Describe the proper procedures for working around airbags on the scene of vehicle emergencies

F332 Fire Behavior
1. Key points of determining fire behavior
2. How fire behavior influences firefighter safety
3. How fire behavior affects the efforts of fire suppression

F333 Driving Safety
1. Describe the appropriate and safe response to emergencies
2. Discuss the importance of wearing restraint devices in emergency apparatus
3. Discuss how to reduce the number of emergency accidents

F334 Fire Investigation
1. Describe role of firefighter and company officer in fire investigation
2. Describe role of fire investigator
3. Explain fire investigation process

F335 Hoses & Fire Streams
1. Overview of fire streams
2. Overview of fireground hose lays
3. Overview of water delivery equipment maintenance

F336 Team Building
1. Describe various settings in which teams are effective
2. Discuss ways to build your team
3. Describe barriers to team function and ways to overcome them

CentreLearn offers full service internet training and distribution solutions to EMS and fire departments of all sizes. Organizational members have unlimited access to all the ALS and BLS CE lessons, Safety lessons, and fire lessons, ability to customize content production, and the ability to track user progress. Individual user accounts feature access to online discussion boards, document storage, and testing and feedback tools. To learn more visit www.centrelearn.com or call 877-435-9309.

Posted at 2:01 pm on 06/25/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: E-Learning Portfolio, EMT CE Lesson Announcements, News & Events | +Read On

Words with Multiple Meanings in Elearning

Do you wear a bonnet or are you checking the oil under your bonnet? Do you get a drink from a bubbler or a drinking fountain? Do you noodle in a boat or while giving your friend a hard time?

The English language has many words with multiple meanings. For example, where I live in Wisconsin, we refer to a water fountain as a bubbler, but in other parts of the country it is called a water fountain or a drinking fountain. Each delivers cold potable water, but are referred to by different names.

When writing courses for elearning it is imperative to not use regional or local terms. After all, you may have users from all over the country and possibly around the world. Avoid the inclusion of words specific to your region. Write using broad terms that are familiar to all readers in order to avoid confusion. Include the most comprehensive and general language to include all of your readers.

Off to get a cold soda…or a cola…or is it a pop?

Posted at 10:00 am on 06/24/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Rapid E-Learning How To | +Read On

Suicide and Alcohol Attributable Deaths

These statistics from the CDC MMWR are startling. According to the CDC report, “from 2001–2005, an estimated annual 79,646 alcohol-attributable deaths and 2.3 million years of potential life lost were attributed to the harmful effects of excessive alcohol use. An estimated 5,800 alcohol-attributable deaths were associated annually with suicide.”

As you know EMS providers frequently encounter patients under the influence of alcohol, which is often an underlying cause or contributing factor in trauma, medical problem exacerbation, and behavioral emergencies. Unfortunately training on alcohol, suicide, and depression is scant for EMT and Paramedic students.

EPS411 has produced three online CE lessons on these important topics. Browse to RapidCE.com to take just one of these courses or purchase a subscription to view all three courses and many more.
1. Disease Conditions of Chronic Alcoholism
2. Suicide: deliberate death
3. Understanding Depression

Posted at 8:00 am on 06/23/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: EMT CE Lesson Announcements, News & Events | +Read On

Radio Interview: Heat Emergencies

Listen to Greg Friese, paramedic and president of EPS411, discuss heat emergencies with Jim Hoffman, host of the Authorized Transmissions Blog Talk Radio Show.

Greg and Jim discuss types of heat emergencies, assessment considerations, appropriate treatments, and safety tips for emergency responders. It is especially important for emergency responders to prevent their own heat emergency by staying well hydrated, dressing for the weather, eating appropriately, and implementing rehab when indicated.

To learn more about heat emergencies, browse to RapidCE.com for the EPS411 Heat Emergencies Assessment and Treatment CE lesson. The lesson is CECBEMS approved for 1.0 hour of CE credit.

Do you want to implement your own Blog Talk Radio show or do you have a topic you want to discuss with Jim or Greg? Just use the contact us page to let us know.

Posted at 8:53 am on 06/19/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: EMT CE Lesson Announcements, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

Elearning Writer’s Environment

Stephen King, renowned author of multiple thrillers, such as Carrie and Pet Cemetery writes about the writing environment: “In truth, I’ve found that any day’s routine interruptions and distractions don’t much hurt a work in progress and may actually help it in some ways. It is, after all, the dab of grit that seeps into an oyster’s shell that makes the pearl, not pearl-making seminars with other oysters.”

Writing is at the core of almost all elearning instruction. Writing tasks may include writing a lesson story board, writing a narration script, or writing a lesson study guide. As an emergency responder educator or training officer your environment for writing may not be ideal, but you can create a writer’s environment in almost any setting by adhering to the following.

1. Write every day. The more you write, the better your writing will be.

2. Minimize distractions. Turn off the television and radio. Close all other programs running on the computer. Wait to write until you are able to do so for a decent period of time. I write best in increments of 30 minutes or more.

3. Pick your time. Write at the same time every day.

4. Use proper ergonomics. Sit in an office chair at a desk of proper height. Sit straight with your shoulders back, wrists aligned and legs uncrossed.

5. Write now. Remember, your main goal is to write. The secondary goal is to create a conducive environment.

In order to find the pearl in your writing, you need to get started. The dab of grit in the distractions will only add to the shine of your finished piece.

Posted at 10:00 am on 06/17/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Rapid E-Learning How To, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

EMS Boot Camp: Live Paramedic and EMT Webinar Training

EMS professionals today are faced with a number of significant challenges. They must consistently pass certification and competency exams, keep pace with rapid changes in the industry, reinforce skills and knowledge already obtained, and work within various regional and state guidelines to name just a few. So, how are paramedics and EMT’s doing this? Are educational institutes and employers successfully dealing with these issues to help their EMS staff or are they just giving them the bare essentials to get by?

The creators of EMS Boot Camp are Greg Friese MS, NREMT-P, of Everydayemstips.com, and Jim Hoffman, NREMT-P of The EMS Professional, both experienced educators and leading providers of quality EMS tips, study aides and training resources. Join them for live EMS Topic Webcasts, where they’ll discuss and dissect various EMS topics. Going beyond simple presentation style training, Greg and Jim will delve deep into targeted EMS areas to give participants a front row seat into truly understanding and putting into action specific skills while at the same time mastering the mindset needed to apply vital knowledge as EMS professionals.

This collaboration between Greg and Jim will offer a monthly webinar that will be open to all EMS professionals and paramedic or EMT students. Topics will include exams, skill sets, assessments, EMS trends and product use to name a few. EMS Boot Camp will also have guest speakers to make for exciting and engaging events.

“Access to events will be free or they will be at a minimal cost” said Jim Hoffman. “Each session will be unique and there will also be associated components to enhance the live sessions. This along with live Q&A during each session guarantees a positive experience for attendees.”

EMS Boot Camp dates and times will vary, recent and upcoming events can be seen at http://emsbootcamp.com

Interested speakers can also contact Jim Hoffman.

EMS Boot Camp

Posted at 7:00 am on 06/16/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

5 Actions Before Clicking ‘Publish’

Blogs are a powerful tool for sharing content and networking with readers that share your interests. EPS411.com is a blog for emergency responders interested in elearning (or elearning designers producing content for emergency responders).

Does your organization have a blog for distributing education content to members? Is your blog accessible to readers inside and outside of your organization?

Before you submit a post to an elearning blog, remember to complete this checklist:

1. Walk away. Write your post, edit, and take a break. Return to your post at a later time, when your mind is fresh and ready to add and delete ideas.

2. Check with an expert. As needed, validate your information with a professional in the field, when writing on technical topics.

3. Spellcheck. Use the built-in blog spell checker to look for basic spelling errors.

4. Look for misused words. Use a dictionary or an Internet resource, such as Dictionary.com, to look up synonyms or words that are commonly misused such as effect/affect or their/there/they’re.

5. Read your entry aloud. Most typos and simple editing errors can be caught by reading text aloud.

Now you are ready. Click POST to blog.

Looking for other blogs for your daily RSS reader. Check out paramedic.alltop.com and elearning.alltop.com.

Posted at 10:00 am on 06/10/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Social Media & Networking | +Read On

Say Farewell to Cliches

Is your glass half full or half empty? Look outside; is it raining cats or dogs? Do you find that there is no place like home?

Are all of the cliches in this post making you feel bent out of shape? Are you at your wits end yet? Well, anyhoo, time to hit the road, crack the whip, pay the piper. It’s plain and simple, I must put my best foot forward and write this blog post.

Cliches are words or expressions that are used so often, they lose their meaning. Additionally cliches are often negative and used to stereotype situations, people or places. Elearning and technical writing has no use for cliches. Simply, cliches can distract readers, listeners, or viewers from the content you are trying to deliver.

When writing, avoid using cliches. If you are unsure if a particular expression is a cliche, avoid using it, because chances are, it is a cliche. When editing my own and other’s writing, I delete all cliches. Cliches do not add meaning, rather they detract and often negate otherwise well written pieces of writing.

Hats off to you for making a clean sweep and deleting cliches. Now that you are clued in and know the cut and dry on cliches, your writing will be sharp as a tack.

At the end of the day, for an extensive list of common cliches, visit the clichesite.com.

Posted at 10:00 am on 06/03/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Rapid E-Learning How To, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

Why are you an EMT? Answer with Social media

Level Zero is a documentary movie about EMS in Alamdea County, California from film director and paramedic Thaddeus Setla. In the movie the EMTs, Paramedics, and firefighters essentially answer the question why are you a paramedic and what do you do. Along the way you learn that through their words and actions these people want to help and serve their community.

The production quality and design is outstanding from a professional film maker. Imagine how powerful it would be for your organization to have a series of short movies of your employees answering these questions:

Why are you an EMT or Paramedic?
What do you do for your community?

With some simple hardware, free software, and social media tools you could create a series of videos for recruiting candidates, public education, and service marketing to the government agencies that control your funding. This is what I would use to create a basic set of movies:

Flip handheld video camera for recording video and audio
Windows Movie Maker for editing clips, adding audio, and inserting titles
Simple backdrop in training room, ambulance, or inside ambulance
Post videos to YouTube
Embed YouTube html code on my websites
Announce your video with Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and other social networking tools

Look for inspiration to do your own videos, to continue your service to community, and to constantly strive for improvement in Level Zero.

LEVEL ZERO - The Movie from Thaddeus Setla on Vimeo.

Posted at 9:00 am on 06/02/2009 | 1 Comment
Filed Under: News & Events, Social Media & Networking, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

EMS Promotion using Social Media

User created content is an amazing medium for promoting your EMS service or emergency responder agency to customers. Watch the below music video by an FDNY paramedic. The combination of education, hip hop music, and career awareness is an amazing.

Many organizations adopt policies and procedures regarding development of user generated content - like videos, podcasts, blog posts - with a worst case scenario in mind. Instead consider how your organization could empower employees to positively discuss the organization’s purpose, culture, and service.

This music video makes a powerful statement about FDNY EMS. I watch this video and I think this organization makes a difference, employees have a sense of belonging to a culture that is important, and employees have energy at the end of the work day for creative expression.

Remember employees are talking about your organization using social media. How can you empower and encourage them to develop messages that are positive and as powerful as this video?

Watch and comment. Thanks.

CE Lesson Study Guides and Quiz Questions: Project Completed

EPS has just finished production of study guides and scenario quiz questions sets for thirty-four online education lessons for EMTs and Paramedics. The study guides and scenario quiz questions will be learning objects associated with streaming video continuing education content.

EPS designs and produces online education programs for emergency responders. We are capable of full lesson production or completion of individual lesson components like PowerPoint slides, Flash learning objects, professional audio narration, quiz questions, script writing, and content research.

These are the lessons that we just finished the study guide production and quiz question writing. How can EPS help you with your emergency responder training project?

Airway adjuncts and patient outcome
Bariatric patient care and transport
Blunt Chest Trauma
Bomb Blast Injuries: Suicide Bombings
Crush Injury Industrial accident
Cyanide Poisoning
Emergency Vehicles Operations
Entrapped Patients
Extrication & Patient Packaging
Eye Injuries
Geriatric Trauma: Hip Injuries
Geriatrics
HazMat EMS Response
Heart Failure
IMS for EMS
Infection control MRSA
Managing Multiple Patients EMS Operations
Medical Assessment: Syncope
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Neonatal Care and Resuscitation
NIMS: The Role of EMS
Pediatric Assessment
Penetrating Trauma: GSW
Report Writing
Respiratory & Airborne Precautions
Respiratory Emergencies: Asthma
Risk Management Refusals and Abandonment
Scene Safety
Seizures
Shock Management/Controversy
Street Drugs
Stroke
Summer Emergencies
Triage
WMD Update

Posted at 7:45 pm on 05/31/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: News & Events | +Read On

Cost Effective Elearning Tips

The Elearning Guild has just released its newest free e-book, 65 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your e-Learning Budget. Like the other titles from the elearning guild, members have contributed tips from their own experience.

EPS has contributed to other Elearning Guild e-books. Three tips we would add for emergency response organizations to maximize their elearning budget are:

Use an LMS vendor that has “off the shelf” and ready-to-go continuing education content. Instead of creating your own CE lessons use standardized lessons for most of your training needs.
Choose the delivery tool best suited to the learning objectives. Sometimes reading a PDF on a website is adequate for training. Other content may require full motion video. Choose wisely.
Ask for help before you start building content. Like anything much of what you might want to do has been done before. Other educators can share information with you - like the elearning guild books - to save you time and money.

Want to talk more about getting the most out of your elearning budget? Contact EPS and we can discuss your project needs and available resources.

Posted at 10:00 am on 05/28/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Rapid E-Learning How To, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

Learn to Overcome Writer’s Block

What to write, what to write. I can’t think of anything to write. Tap my pen. Drum my fingers on the desk. Check my email. Get a drink of water. Stretch. Nothing is coming to me.

Writing is an essential aspect of elearning design. You may be writing a lesson script, user instructions, or an elaborate scenario. All involve writing.

The best strategy for overcoming writer’s block: start writing.

Put the pen to the paper or the fingers to the keyboard and write. Even if you generate nothing but “I can’t think of anything to write. I can’t think of anything to write,” your brain begins to engage and the words and ideas will begin to flow. Rather than staring at a blank screen or a clean sheet of paper, write something.

Make an outline for your topic. Adhere to your outline as you write, but don’t feel obligated to write in a particular order or to stick to the outline. Begin writing about the aspects of your topic that most interest you, then move on to other areas that you are not as interested or familiar. Add and delete ideas as you write.

If you begin to write and are still having difficulty generating ideas, take a break. Walk away from your project and return when you are refreshed and ready to try again. Like any other habit, the more you practice writing, the easier it will be to sit down and start to write without that all too familiar writer’s block in the way.

Start writing now.

Posted at 10:00 am on 05/27/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Rapid E-Learning How To, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

Interview: Social Media and EMS

Listen to Greg Friese, president of EPS411, discuss social media and EMS with Jim Hoffman, host of the Authorized Transmissions Blog Talk Radio Show.

Greg and Jim discuss use of social media and social networking, such as Facebook, Twitter, and EMSConnect. They discuss how social media can be used to build relationships, share knowledge, and spread information. They also discuss potential pitfalls that EMS providers and managers should avoid regarding social media.

After listening use the comments area to ask Jim and Greg questions about how EMS providers and organizers should use social media most effectively.

Posted at 10:00 am on 05/26/2009 | 1 Comment
Filed Under: Social Media & Networking, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

EPS411.com added to elearning.alltop.com

I am excited to announce that the EPS411.com Rapid Elearning for Emergency Responders blog is now part of elearning.alltop.com. This will help bring our content to a wider audience of elearning designers and users.

EPS411.com readers will also find some of my favorite elearning blogs at elearning.alltop.com, like the Rapid Elearning Blog.

Visit elearning.alltop.com now and setup your own MyAlltop page. Make sure to include the EPS411.com Rapid Elearning for Emergency Responders blog. You will find other blogs of interest at paramedic.alltop.com and firefighting.alltop.com.

Posted at 10:00 am on 05/21/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: News & Events | +Read On

How to Make your LMS Webinar Demo Useful

Every LMS webinar I attend is dreadfully slow and boring. Since I am interested in the learning management systems available for emergency responders I keep signing up for LMS demo webinars.

What I have learned:

Every LMS can support SCORM
Every LMS can generate reams of reports
Every LMS can assign users to different roles and courses

Since every LMS has the same features as every other LMS why are you showing me those features?

If I was designing and delivering an LMS webinar I would follow these parameters for an awesome 10 minute webinar that would showcase these important things:

Ease of use of the end-user interface for logging in, registering for courses, completing courses, and receiving verification of training
Show short clips (10-30 seconds) of the BEST pre-loaded content
Explain how easy it is for an organization to add its own content to the LMS and assign it for completion
Tell me how you will make my organization’s content better

After my 10 minute presentation of the awesomeness of my LMS I would end by saying, “What questions do you have?”

Remember you don’t have to show me how to be an admin in your LMS during the webinar. Save that for once I become a customer. You need to show me why your LMS deserves my time and money, and more importantly the time of the users in my organization to learn from my content or your content inside the LMS.

PS. Always mute the other callers during the webinar. If I hear anyone sneeze, type, or slurp out of their coffee cup I hang-up immediately.

Posted at 10:00 am on 05/19/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

EMS Week: Recognition Videos

These are two amazing videos from ParamedicTV.com that highlight the amazing contributions of EMTs, Paramedics, Firefighters, Police Officers, and Dispatchers to their communities. Thanks to all of the emergency responders that serve their communities.

Has your agency made a video like this yet? What are you waiting for?

EMS Week Logo

Posted at 10:00 am on 05/18/2009 | 1 Comment
Filed Under: News & Events, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On

Emergency Response Organizations Using Social Media

Social media - using web based tools - to connect with organizations and personnel that share your mission or interest is an emerging technology for emergency responders. Social media tools are also used for engaging with customers.

People use social media tools - like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube - to ask their network questions, seek recommendations, and get input on new services or ideas. Personal recommendations are often more important and have greater impact than paid advertising.

In most communities patients don’t have a choice for an ambulance provider. If a patient calls 911 they get an ambulance service that is usually based on the address of the incident. Nonetheless, customers of EMS services are talking about their EMS experience with social media tools.

Has your Emergency Response organization entered the social media world? How does your organization use YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, FlickR, and other sites for sharing information and interacting with customers? What are your employees saying about your organization and its clients in social networking sites?

This slideshare presentation from John Eich of the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health was given to the National Rural Health Association. Although John’s audience was rural hospitals the concepts in this lesson apply to most emergency responder organizations. Look at John’s slides and let me know what you think.

Rural Health Discovers Social Media

View more presentations from John Eich.

In the months to come look for more information from EPS on how social media can be used for personnel training, management, and customer interaction.

Posted at 10:00 am on 05/15/2009 | No Comments
Filed Under: Social Media & Networking, Tools, Reviews, & Other Neat Stuff | +Read On