100% online first aid courses for educators?
A few people recently made me aware of an astonishing reality. Some of the daycare workers received their first aid training strictly online. Yes, 100% on a screen, with the only manipulation being that of the mouse.
You can do the research: several organizations and companies offer completely online training. Among these, some are specifically aimed at early childhood workers.
I was surprised to say the least to discover that such training is accepted as sufficient in the field of child care. I was even more disturbed when I heard the argument of a field trainer concerning the limits of a distance course in such a subject.
This experienced trainer detailed to me this week on QUB radio the concerns that this practice gives rise to in his mind. When he offers his classes in person, a quarter of the time is spent maneuvering on mannequins. You must exercise a maneuver, physically, to master it and be able to perform it spontaneously in an emergency situation.
Toddlers
We are told so much about how everything is done to take care of our little ones in daycare services. It seems to me that on a fundamental security issue, with potentially serious consequences, we are cutting corners.
An allergic shock, a child choking, an accident, a malaise, there are many occasions where a well-trained person will be invaluable. In larger establishments, the answer will be that at least one person on the floor has much more comprehensive training. But as long as we’re going to require a basic level of first aid from everyone involved, we might as well do it seriously.
There are two obvious problems with online training. The risk of not developing skills by limiting yourself to watching videos without practicing the maneuvers is the most obvious, as I mentioned.
But there is also the problem of the seriousness of the exercise. You have to spend a certain number of hours online and then pass an exam with a few choice answer questions. How can we be sure that the person even watched the videos carefully? How can we be sure that she is not requesting assistance from anyone else to take the exam?
In short, even for the theoretical part which is done well online, it is difficult to be sure of the rigor that will be put into it. And the certificate that comes from such training does not guarantee much.
After COVID
Over the course of two years, out of necessity we developed a host of methods for doing things without gathering together. “Everything online” has become practical and much of this learning opens up new possibilities.
However, there is a limit where the refusal to move resembles a search for ease.
By the way, I’m not suggesting you show up to a boxing match with 100% of your training obtained online.
