Overview

Creighton is a small Jesuit university in Omaha, Nebraska with a prestigious, 100-year old pharmacy program. The School of Pharmacy and Health Professions boasts the first and only accredited, entry-level online Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD). In search of a creative solution for producing more graduates to meet the surging demand for pharmacists, the school received a $1 million grant in 2000 to develop an online program that matched the rigors and standards of its campus pathway.

When the distance learning initiative was first launched, students used web pages loaded with text and graphics to access their courseware. Campus and distance students follow the identical curriculum, so tracking and comparing results was simple. The distance students performed at the same level as the campus students, but they were clamoring for audio, video and more powerful ways of watching demonstrations.

Technology Selection

The school needed to add audio, video and live graphics to the program’s content, but how? Armed with information including student grades, course evaluations, exit surveys and general research, the staff clearly defined the technology selection process. Students wanted to hear and see the instructor, have access to visual aids, and somehow feel more connected to the classroom experience. Faculty needed to be able to offer enhanced material without additional work or employees to record material and convert the files. The key factors were:

• Automated capture of audio, video and visuals such as presentations and whiteboards
• Automated synchronization and compression of material
• Technology invisible to the teaching staff
• Minimal space requirements in the classroom
• Easy for students to use
• Options for high-speed and low-speed Internet connections
• Reasonable price

EchoSystem Installation

Creighton’s School of Pharmacy chose the EchoSystem from Echo³⁶⁰ to add rich media to its distance course content. The solution met all of the criteria, and after an initial pilot program, a professor noted, “It worked. I didn’t have to do anything.” The pharmacy school then installed the system in three classrooms, and the ramp up was quick. Now, the instructors literally walk in and just start teaching, while the system starts and stops by itself, capturing audio, video and data and combining it into one file for student download.

The school faced some teacher resistance at first – concern about being on camera and worries about making mistakes or being evaluated. The invisibility of the EchoSystem meant that behavior did not have to change, so these became non-issues.

Improved Distance Program

The Echo³⁶⁰ solution has accomplished everything the school hoped for, while also providing some unexpected bonuses. Distance students now feel more connected to the classroom because they can see teacher body language and references to demonstrations and models. Comparison of grades has shown higher results in courses with no other changes except for the addition of the EchoSystem. The school has realized other benefits as well, including the sharing of faculty best practices, guest lectures, test and board exam reviews and course orientations.

Long-Term Plans

The success of Creighton’s distance pathway program for pharmacy has spurred plans for adding cameras to two more classrooms and a lab. And, in the 2008 fall semester, EchoSystem’s technology will be used to add a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy cohort of students participating from Alaska. Lots of exciting possibilities lie ahead for Creighton University and this breakthrough program.