The Medical Assistant Student

Medical Assistant Classroom vs. Online Learning

Traditional classroom learning prepares students to anticipate, respond, and relate to situations that typically arise at their future workplace. Vocational training instructions in a classroom provides the student-teacher interaction that inspires and facilitates instant feedback. They are introduced to realistic medical office case scenarios, modern work technologies, hands-on care techniques, and clinical and administrative support systems.

Does it frustrate you when your (hard earned!) diploma seems worthless unless you have x-years of experience?

Medical Assistant Online Learning

Some students find the possibility of earning a certificate, diploma, or degree without ever stepping into a classroom to meet instructors and fellow classmates face-to-face attractive. However, earning a Medical Assistant certificate from a corner desk in your living room without direct personal contact and interaction from your instructors and peers might be a bit more challenging than imagined.

Medical assisting training focuses on learning skilled tasks and certain hands-on routines that consist of direct patient care; it also involves medical treatment modalities with specific methods, motor skills, and body techniques. Despite of high-tech IT delivery methods of sophisticated online programs distance education can hardly ever adequately simulate the problems and challenges encountered on the work place, and neither can they observe the student, and correct mistakes.

Online Learning Limitations

Online programs have their pros and cons. While they provide a certain amount of freedom, they also carry certain limitations, such as "reality!". Hardly any distance education program can throw students into unforeseen case scenarios that can typically arise at any given moment—especially those that are emergencies on a medical floor—to solidify critical skills, and practice fast decision making.

Even the best simulations and animations provided online can hardly measure up to realistic workplace scenarios experienced and discussed in a group and practiced as a team. One-on-one training provided in a brick-and-mortar classroom under the guidance of their instructors can hardly ever equal canned "one size fits all" online programs. Classes are generally more successful when students feel connected.

Dave Smulders, Editor of Learning Resources Unit, British Columbia Institute of Technology: Designing for Learners, Designing for Users (eLearn Magazine) states: "Among other things, learning involves the processing of information from one's short-term to long-term memory. In order to acquire and retain knowledge, learners need to engage with material, review it and refer to it as they see fit."

So, Why Then Consider Distance Education?

There is no denying that distance education is ideal for those with busy schedules and fast lifestyles. It provides students with the convenience, flexibility, and ability to study anywhere at any time without having to deal with traffice and weathering a storm on the way to the campus.

Indeed, there are many excellent distance education programs that inspire and guide the right people to a better future and career... But if anybody promises vocational training completely online, a medical assistant diploma, or certificate in just 6-8 weeks—then consumer beware! Caution and awareness is always necessary to succeed. The Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has published the so-called "Recognition Chart" consumers can print out for reference.

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