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Home-Study Conundrum
Here's a topic that's been hotly-debated among many educators. Please join in by visiting my blog at http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/tech-talk/2009/08/14/home-study-conundrum/#comment-514. I've posted some 'teaser' comments by Art Riggs and Tom Myers on this controversial subject. Also check out the insightful comments by Whitney Lowe @ http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=7523&catid=251&title=home-study-ce-conundrum
Here's a sample of my contribution after several years of kicking this subject around with the above mentioned educators. Don't like to write on political issues...feel my time is better spent focusing on the stuff I love. But we've decided this issue needs finally needs to be addressed:
In 2007, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) surprised many in the massage and bodywork community with this announcement: Videos of any type could no longer be included in home-study and online courses unless NCBTMB approved instructors offer one-day workshops to monitor and test home-study participants on the techniques presented in the videos. Furthermore, home-study reading material was restricted from displaying photos or diagrams of hands-on techniques without a one-day testing seminar. Bottom line: Continuing education credits could only be granted upon successful completion of the home-study program in addition to the one-day supervised workshop if any hands-on techniques were displayed in the material.
Since 1999, the Freedom From Pain Institute® had been an NCBTMB approved provider. Over the years, participant evaluations have enthusiastically confirmed our view that high-quality reading and video programs provide a much needed service to the community. We’ve found that well-designed home-study programs often spark a passion that encourages students to further enhance their skills by attending live presentations…if their physical and/or financial condition permits. (The rest of this article appears in the links listed above.)
Please state your case and make it a fun dialogue...thx...ERIK
Here's a sample of my contribution after several years of kicking this subject around with the above mentioned educators. Don't like to write on political issues...feel my time is better spent focusing on the stuff I love. But we've decided this issue needs finally needs to be addressed:
In 2007, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) surprised many in the massage and bodywork community with this announcement: Videos of any type could no longer be included in home-study and online courses unless NCBTMB approved instructors offer one-day workshops to monitor and test home-study participants on the techniques presented in the videos. Furthermore, home-study reading material was restricted from displaying photos or diagrams of hands-on techniques without a one-day testing seminar. Bottom line: Continuing education credits could only be granted upon successful completion of the home-study program in addition to the one-day supervised workshop if any hands-on techniques were displayed in the material.
Since 1999, the Freedom From Pain Institute® had been an NCBTMB approved provider. Over the years, participant evaluations have enthusiastically confirmed our view that high-quality reading and video programs provide a much needed service to the community. We’ve found that well-designed home-study programs often spark a passion that encourages students to further enhance their skills by attending live presentations…if their physical and/or financial condition permits. (The rest of this article appears in the links listed above.)
Please state your case and make it a fun dialogue...thx...ERIK
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Comment by Bert Davich on August 23, 2009 at 3:05pm
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Wow, I really enjoyed this discussion! I feel vindicated for having advocated some of these thoughts to respected colleagues. Most of what I have learned came not from 'live classes', but DVD and home study materials like Art Riggs "Deep Tissue & Myofascial Release" which transformed my practice. I have made the decision that for me to take a 'live class' course, the course MUST include a professionally produced DVD video. (preferably not just a class recording). It is just not possible to recall everything in a class and If I take notes it reduces focus on the instruction and I end up missing something important anyway. With DVD you can watch over & over and study on how to integrate the technique(s) and concepts into your practice in a manner that will benefit your clients.
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Comment by Erik Dalton on August 19, 2009 at 6:58am
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Please view Art Riggs' article on the home-study issue. Just posted last night. Think you'll enjoy his insightful perspective... http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=7573&catid=251&title=guest-editorial-the-home-study-ce-hoax
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This is precicely the point Art Riggs, Tom Myers, Whitney Lowe, Cliff Korn and I have been trying to make. "It's layering of your existing knowledge and skill-set...not meant to take the place of live education."
Probably the most prestigious online CE course (that includes video) was developed by Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1998. Hosted by the legendary Phillip Greenman, DO, FAAO.
In my opinion, this is the format 'hands-on' home-study courses should seek to follow: http://hal.bim.msu.edu/cmeonline/start.html
I learned more from these programs that any single workshop I've attended. This is obviously not meant for those still in school but for therapists who desire to "layer" their existing skills.
FYI: Art Riggs full discussion of this topic will be posted later today @ http://www.massageprofessionals.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2887274%3ABlogPost%3A13103&page=2#comment-2887274_Comment_13576 at the bottom of the page. Tom's full-context will appear next Monday at the same site.
Meantime, visit http://massagemag.com/massage-blog/tech-talk/2009/08/14/home-study-conundrum/ for a preview of Tom and Art's comments and join in. Much thanks for an intelligent response Susan.
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Comment by Susan G. Salvo on August 18, 2009 at 11:20am
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And there so much more to consider…
When learning online, the emphasis is on “process” rather than “content.”
This strategy has enormous value in the therapeutic arena.
With the online projects I’ve currently involved with, the learner must go through a serious of tasks before he or she can progress.
Often, the learner must read, listen, or view a scenario for which decisions are made.
Then responses are rendered, depending on which path the learner has taken.
It’s quite interactive.
I think it’s just a matter of time before online and quality homestudy courses are more accepted. Let’s face it, many university classes are computer-based. About half of my master’s level coursework this semester is online.
Access to the course’s subject matter experts (SMEs) will make these courses more acceptable.
Think about it… isn't this the primary complaint of the opposition?
P.S. Most ce’s that I have attended really don’t teach me something new, it shows me a different twist or adds a layer on something I already learned in school.
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Bravo Susan...my thoughts exactly...thx ~:)
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Online courses and embedded videos are such a rich learning medium.
We started posting youtube videos in May and students/graduates LOVE them. We like the youtube format because students can post questions or comments (so they so have access to an instructor - it's called asynchronous learning).
Plus students may forget what they learned in class. With video, they can watch them over and over again to polish their skills or pick up a new technique.
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FYI Doug: I missed a very important point in your post above (heck, sometimes learning isn't about CEU credits). This is a core issue that desperately needs to be addressed. My collection consists of over 300 DVD and VHS manual therapy videos from every field but I've only used a couple of them as home-study courses.
I have a new two-DVD set in the can that'll never be offered as a home-study course due to possible containdications and the intricate nature of the work. In this "scar tissue" technique and theory video series, I've invited clients in who've suffered serious (sometimes life-threatening) surgeries for disorders such as small intestine bowel adhesions, hip replacements, hiatal hernias, episiotomies, anterior neck fusions, etc. and offer my experience in successfully dealing with these issues. Included is ongoing dialog from the client about his/her medical prognosis and benefits offered from touch therapy.
Of course, I only picked clients who experienced successful outcomes...Isn't that the way the medical profession does it?
Bottom line is: I wouldn't consider encouraging therapists to attempt duplicating these techniques without live supervision. Therefore, they will never be offered as home-study courses...even if the NCB ruling is reversed. Some videos are too complicated or delicate by nature to require manual therapist participation. It's good viewing and many experiened therapists will be able to immediately integrate the techniques...but not safe for all so they will never be offered for CEs. We must feed our passion while always considering underlying possible contradictions for the work we're presenting.
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Judging by some of your visceral work writings, I don't picture you as a meat-eater. Probably grazed from the tree tops. Seriously now...Serge Gracovetsky believes that dinosaurs were among the few creatures with no anti-gravity spring system. They truly had a pedestrian gait where energy was absorbed into the ground with each step. Of course, this is a terrible waste of kinetic energy and may have eventually led to their demise. However, he thinks that possibly their tail helped relieve some of the immense ground reaction force during each "clonky" step. Serge is an interesting and delightful guy but not one who's easy to debate...got that stubborn French Canadian personality.
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Comment by Doug Alexander on August 16, 2009 at 7:24am
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Oh, and about that "ole-timer" crack... just because I trained when dinosaurs ruled the earth doesn't mean I'm a dinosaur! Which makes me wonder... if I was a dinosaur, what type would I like to be? That is my meditation for Sunday! :)
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Thanks, Erik. I will check out the Osteopathic courses. I have always had a thirst for osteopathic training, but no great way to slake it.
Another example of how video instruction was invaluable is when I saw Erik's demonstration of shoulder girdle mobiliizations at his web site (treating a woman in front of a fireplace). I have been classically trained in joint mobilizations in which a single vector of mobilization is used at a single time. Your mobilization of this woman's shoulder opened my eyes to a whole new way of doing joint mobilization that I have tried on many joints since then.
For a brazen self-advertorial, people might want to check out my courses at http://www.MassageTherapyPractice.com
We have not sought NCTMB certification yet, but we are approved in most provinces in Canada, and heck sometimes learning isn't about CEU credits!
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