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One of the frequent questions that we have been getting from EMS educators is “How will you prepare me to teach the bridge courses?” I find this to be an interesting question. Interesting in the respect that I think it hints at one of our deficiencies in Kansas EMS education. To show this question in a different light, and to expose the answer, let me reframe it a bit so that it reads “How will I become prepared to write the bridge course lesson plans?”
Put into this context, it becomes easier to see the answer, which is that you must prepare yourself to teach the bridge courses. Just as I will need to research, read, and find subject matter experts, so will the instructors who will use these lesson plans to teach existing technicians across the state. Part of being an educator, at any of the levels in Kansas EMS, is to possess the discipline and capacity to research, read, and network with people who know. EMS is a continually evolving field and those who wear the label of TO 1, TO2, and I/C must be willing to prepare themselves to teach new material.
While educators of all levels will receive the tools with which to teach the bridge courses, only they will be capable of preparing themselves with the knowledge needed to do so successfully.
Welcome to life-long learning.
The needs assessment and gap analysis documents for each level have been posted on the documents page. These have been developed based off of the surveys, focus groups, and correspondence that we have received from stakeholders. As well, the root of the needs assessment comes from the Kansas Scope of Practice document itself.
We continue to value constructive input into this process. Our next step is the development of objectives in preparation to begin writing lesson plans.
In less than 48 hours we will be posting the gap analysis for the transition project. This, of course, leads me to consider gaps. Visual images of the Grand Canyon or Canyonlands appear in my mind. Such gaps make it appear that the place where we want to be is unreachable from where we are. In fact, the feedback data includes some who hold the belief that the other side is unreachable.
Reaching the other side cannot be accomplished magically. No super hero will fly us across the gap. Yet to descend into the gap would put us in over our heads, which is a very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous place to be. So, the task is to build a bridge across the gap, creating a path from where we are now to the other side.
As course developers we will continue down the bridge building path – through task analysis, task list building, and on through the course development process. We invite you to continue to give us feedback, sharing your ideas and concerns as we engage in the process. But perhaps even more, we encourage you to lay the foundation for the bridge in your own community: talking about what will be expected, getting training dates on your calendars, and building buy-in among stakeholders.
