Learning through Neighbors: Networks of Preparedness & Response Emergency Management Higher Education Symposium June 4, 2014

Objectives At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to: Define learning network components Describe compartmentalization’s role in learning networks Identify the importance of sharing resources and training opportunities across jurisdictional lines

Defining Our Environment What is a learning network? A collection of organizations that coordinate compartmentalized learning both across and within discrete learning communities. What key words do we use? Communities Compartmentalized Why is this important? Separate organizations can collaborate to improve learning. Allows for simultaneous sharing and restriction of resources.

Our Model: TRAIN.org What is TRAIN.org? “The premier learning management network for professionals and volunteers who protect the public’s health” A very large learner population, covering emergency preparedness and response, public health, public safety, and all in between

A Learning Management Network (LMN) Learner-centric, open registration Decentralized administration Compartmentalized learning opportunities

Background Initially developed in 2003 Involved over 40 states and 400 public health professionals Continually improved through investment from network partners, funders, and sponsors – over $5m invested Historical sponsors: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Health Resources and Services Administration Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Public Health Foundation The agencies and organizations who use TRAIN.org

TRAIN Today More than a learning management system – a learning management network Includes 28 affiliates (learning communities) - 25 states and: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Over 800,000 registered health professionals Over 29,000 total courses from nearly 4,000 providers

Learning Communities Organizations who can build/purchase and maintain their own learning management systems. Why work together? Cost-savings / economies of scale Difference of priorities lead to across-the-board content Shared innovations Improved cross-jurisdictional communication & partnerships

TRAIN.org’s Learning Communities

TRAIN.org… How is TRAIN.org managed? Coordinated by a national non-profit organization: Public Health Foundation Agencies and organizations (learning communities) manage individual learning portals Distributed learning content across participating organizations  TRAIN Affiliate Consortium (TAC) What is the goal? A single, unified network for sharing and coordinating learning across the learning communities A prepared, resilient health workforce

Compartmentalization Need: the ability to separate information. Solution: hierarchical groups Limit who can see content and resources Allows both public and private groups What to compartmentalize? Courses, resources, discussions, users, etc.

Minimizing Learner Clutter Learners only see courses visible to the groups they are in

Maximizing Training Access

One of our most popular courses: Over35,800 Registrants !

Organic Growth Multiple learning communities Building a network and a community together Preparedness community has access to build upon itself Sharing resources & trainings necessary with smaller budgets Variety of audiences with shared interest Focus on a sector, rather than a singular organization Open registration Anyone can register Allows integration of future and experienced workforce segments Allows for sharing of costs among sector stakeholders

Normalizing National Standards Current national standards on TRAIN.org Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals Public Health Preparedness and Response Competencies Medical Reserve Corps Competencies Public Health Preparedness Capabilities

Numbers for Thought As of January 1, 2014: A public health professional, volunteer, or future professional registers on TRAIN every 4 minutes …and registers for a course every 30 seconds …for a total of 3.47 million course registrations …and completes a course every 90 seconds 76.4% of the time …for a total of 2.65 million course completions Of those 1.94 million, 43% (1.15m) include Core Competencies …a course with Core Competencies is completed every 2 minutes …representing 33% of all courses initially registered for All in all, every minute, courses completed on TRAIN teach an average of 3.8 competencies A credit is earned every minute

Lessons Learned 1.Different organizations within the same sector have slightly different objectives and needs and this benefits learning networks 2.Those organizations develop training and education resources based on those needs 3.Given a platform to share, most organizations are willing to share their developed resources 4.Once sharing is in place, organic growth of the network occurs

Contact Information Public Health Foundation Ilya Plotkin: Follow Us: Facebook.com/TRAIN.org | /PHFDC Pinterest: thephf