Twelfth International Conference on e-Learning & Innovative Pedagogies

Abstract

This research concerns the assessment of a learning app used by prospective students on the Hawaiian islands. Since Coast Guard populations and Hawaiian populations share some of the same challenges– such as geographical isolation and non-traditional student populations– we are researching a possible solution for Hawaiʻi based on the design of a Coast Guard app. Hawaiʻi has a diverse geography, seven climatic regions, two official languages, and populations that can be isolated due to geography or other factors. Thus, distance education emerged early in Hawaiʻi. The University of Hawaiʻi system, for example, utilizes two different distance learning delivery systems: The online open-source Sakai LMS; and an Interactive Television System (ITV). The latter system might, for example, broadcast from O‘ahu (population 1,360,300) to Lānaʻi (population about 3,102). Still in the proposal stage, the “My Education Channel” Coast Guard app serves as a solution to reach its geographically dispersed workforce in the Voluntary Education Program. To date, dispersed Coast Guard personnel have lacked a mechanism for virtually consolidating and centralizing training and education opportunities that are now individually stovepiped. It is hoped that the app design, if adapted to Hawaiian populations, would simplify the understanding of educational options regardless of geographical location within the islands and regardless of potential language or other barriers. Research data for ascertaining the success of this app would include comparing pre- and post-education related decisions via survey of its users. A complete list of questions on this instrument will be available and shared at the conference.