WSU labs offered online

WileyPLUS is a national publishing company that has given health science professors at Weber State University access to their online server. This means that professors have the ability to create, edit and customize their own online health labs and post them alongside WileyPLUS textbook resources. When students purchase their textbooks for Health Science 1110 and 1111 (bio-med core classes), they also get student access codes. These codes give them access to online textbook resources as well as their professor’s customized online lab. Students have the option of signing up for these labs on campus as well as online. The only difference is that students have a lab instructor for the on-campus class.
A Perkins Grant was awarded to the Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions last spring to aid the department with the recording, editing and posting of videos to WileyPLUS. The health sciences faculty is currently filming videos to explain and introduce activities and exercises for the online health labs.
The lab content includes introductory videos, interactive games, activities and exercises to aid students in the learning process.
“We have been allowed to integrate our laboratories specific for our class within their framework,” said Marie Kotter, department chair of the Health Science Department. “I believe we are the only university that is doing this with their server at this time.”
Kotter also said the bio-med core classes are challenging and the online labs are helpful when the pressure to be accepted into health programs is high.
“The courses are very challenging (and) they are required courses for the programs in this college,” Kotter said. “Because our enrollment in the health science courses is up (by) over 1,000 students both fall and spring, competition for applicants for the various Dumke College programs has also increased. This means that students must do even better in these classes to be accepted. Having this material online that can be accessed at home allows the student to redo the laboratory exercises until they understand the concept very well.”
Dr. Curtis DeFriez, professor in the Health Science Department, said the new relationship with WileyPLUS is innovative.
“It’s something that’s unique,” DeFriez said. “I don’t think anyone has ever done this before. Nobody has ever had access like this.”
Alyse Essig, a WSU senior in dental hygiene, said she thinks the online lab is a sound option.
“I think it is a great option as a lab,” she said. “I took the bio-med core class as a high school senior and had a similar lab setup. It was very helpful to have that material as an adjunct to the lecture material. I felt like concepts I had learned in class were then solemnized in participating in the lab.”
Essig also mentioned that the online lab is helpful for students who commute and have various life circumstances.
“For example … right now I live in Logan and I know there are many students that could benefit from taking this course online,” Essig said. “Whether they live far, have children, have weather obstacles or any other reasons, it is always nice to know there is another means to your goal. This course is required for admissions into most of the health science programs, and I know many students have already benefited from taking this online, like me, and it will only be improved with the new WileyPLUS material.”
Danielle Klassen, a junior in nursing at WSU, agrees with Essig that the online lab is a good option.
“I think it is a great opportunity, especially for those who are taking online courses,” Klassen said. “This will give them the benefit of staying home, managing their time between school, work and some fun.”
DeFriez discussed the purpose of the new online labs and also that the health department is trying to accommodate all types of students.
“We’re trying to provide avenues of instruction for all of our students, no matter what their life circumstance,” DeFriez said. “We’re trying to meet their learning styles as well as their life circumstance.”