Page 5 - UFRA Straight Tip Fall 2022 - Volume 23 Issue 4

Blended learning courses allow the student to accomplish the cognitive learning online at their own pace.
For the past six-plus years, UFRA has been working towards developing different avenues for delivering our courses. This process began prior to Covid, which showed us even more why we need to offer different learn- ing platforms. The online and blended learning types of deliveries offer departments and students options to obtain training and certifications. When students are receiving most of the cognitive learning online, it allows the instructor-led portion of the course more time to focus on the hands-on skills learning.
Online courses can be delivered several ways. UFRA used Teams and Zoom during Covid to keep delivering courses. Blended learning courses allow the student to accomplish the cognitive learning online at their own pace, coming together in a class setting to learn the hands-on skills applications. Online training does allow the students to attend remotely, but much of the online training still requires the students to be in attendance unless the class is recorded for students to view later.
The blended learning courses that UFRA has already launched have seen success. The Company Officer Inspector blended learning course has been one of those successes. It is the benchmark we will shoot for with future course development.
UFRA is currently developing additional online and blended learning courses. One of the courses under development, the Volunteer Chief/ Officer training, will be on our website and is menu-driven training, meaning that the student will choose what subject they want training and information on. It will be a resource offering training and informa- tion on subjects like hiring, emergency scene management, legal aspects, grant writing, and more.
Another blended learning course in the development process is Fire- fighter I, which is one of our largest and most requested courses. The
students will get the cognitive (lectures) learning online including stu- dent activities and scenarios. With the help of our instructors and Dan DeMille (video producer), we have been producing video training for all the Firefighter I skills, training, and exam evolutions. Students will come together on skills days to learn and sign off manipulative skills. Once completed, this format will allow us to deliver more Firefighter I courses and offer students other avenues to obtain the training.
UFRA is always striving to offer the best training possible to the fire ser- vice. The introduction of online and blended learning courses is another way UFRA aims to achieve these goals.
Gary Kilgore started his fire service career with the Park City Fire Department in 1978 as a volunteer, was hired on full time two years later, and retired in 2009
as a chief officer of Park City Fire Service District. He spent most of his time as the
department’s training officer and health and safety officer.
Upon joining UFRA in 1984 as an adjunct instructor, he had the opportunity to meet and train firefighters throughout
the state. His passion has always been training and ensuring firefighters of all generations succeed. In 2010 he joined UFRA as a full-time program manager, setting up and delivering training for departments throughout the state. In 2013 his position was changed to curriculum development. His current position has allowed him to impact the training and education of firefighters in Utah.
Good Luck, Dalene!
UFRA’s instructional designer Dalene Rowley recently accepted a position over on UVU’s main campus. We’d like
to wish her well and say thank you for the hard work she put in at UFRA. Her expertise and knowl- edge of instructional design moved us for- ward in our course
design and developing online courses. She was always will- ing to help others and was a major contributor in our grant submissions, resulting in receiving both grants she helped with. Her motivation and hard work will be missed.
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