THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

Keith T. Mitchell Lead Instructor/Curriculum Developer Fire Protection Technology ktmitchell2@waketech.edu

Wake Technical Community College BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

About Me

• Retired – U.S. Air Force > 2004 > 21 years

Master Instructor (2,000 hours or more classroom teaching).

• Originally from – Flint, Michigan

• Teaching Experience – Over 30 years

U.S. Air Force > Corporate America > Government Contractor > Higher Education

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

My Credentials

Ph.D. candidate at Walden University with a double major in Law & Public Policy.

Executive MPA from Golden Gate University

Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Management from Southern Illinois University.

Two Associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force. One is in Fire Science and the other is in, Instructor of Technology & Military Science.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

Why am I here today?

As educational institutions have realized that classroom courses are not feasible to fire department personnel due to the nature of the work schedules at a fire station,

e-Learning is now the wave of the future for fire protection nationwide. Due to the increase in online learning versus classroom learning, fire department personnel are now able to attend a course online without the need to take time off from work or wait till their next day off, which is referred to as a Kelly Day.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

History of the Fire Department

In Boston, Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin assembled a group of thirty men to form the Union Fire Company on December 7, 1736. Their equipment included "leather buckets, with strong bags and baskets (for packing and

transporting goods), which were to be brought to every fire. The blaze battlers met monthly to talk about fire prevention and fire-fighting methods. Homeowners were mandated to

have leather fire-fighting buckets in their houses.

(Courtesy of; USHistory.org)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

Where do we stand today?

26,000 Fire Departments - United States 1,242 Fire Departments – North Carolina

30 Fire Departments – Wake County

PAID & VOLUNTEER

(Courtesy of:firedepartment.net)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

TYPICAL FIREFIGHTER WORKING HOURS Depends on the fire department

24 hours on – 24 hours off (two shifts)

24 hours on – 48 hours off (three shifts) 48 hours on – 72 hours off (four shifts)

The fire station has to be manned around the

clock, for seven days a week.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

KNOWLEDGE TEST

1. Number of fire departments in the U.S.

2. Number of hours per day that a fire station is manned.

3. Bonus Question > What is a Kelly Day?

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

TYPICAL COLLEGE CAMPUS

CLASSROOM HOURS

Varies

Set Schedule

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

Remember that; The fire station has to be manned 24 hours around

the clock, for seven days a week. (Paid or Volunteer Dept.)

The question is;

If a firefighter wants to attend a class that meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, how can he attend the class if he is working a 24 hour or 48 hour shift on the days that class is in session?

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

PAID or CAREER FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL

Career firefighters are on a salary.

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL

Volunteer firefighters get paid by the number of calls they go on. Volunteers get paid bi- yearly or

whatever system is set up by their State Fire Service.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

Firefighter thoughts

My dilemma is that I need to attend class this week but my shift is working when class is in session.

What are my options?

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

1) Request to take paid vacation for the dates/times that I am working.

2) Request to have someone who is off duty, to come in and work for me.

3) Only attend class when I am on my ‘Kelly day’ (day off) and not attend when I am on duty.

4) Request to attend class and take the truck to the campus while I am in class. (Entire crew with you and, is the campus in your response area)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

KNOWLEDGE TEST

1. One option to attend class at your campus?

2. Second option to attend class at your campus?

3. A problem that I mayencounter if we bring the fire truck to the campus?

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

WHY DOES A FIREFIGHTER NEED A COLLEGE DEGREE TO DO HIS OR HER JOB?

In the past a firefighter could climb the career ladder through

experience and training. At this particular time of the fire service, a degree wasn’t important. But that has changed over

the last decade, experts say, as the fire safety industry has followed the lead of corporations and other government

agencies, where virtually all top executives hold bachelor's degrees, and many have advanced degrees.

(Courtesy of; Inside Higher Ed)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

Deputy Fire Marshall – Davidson County

Educational Requirements

Preferred graduation from an accredited college with a two year degree in fire science or related

field.

Position Description

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

In recent years, community colleges and for-profit institutions have taken notice of the growing demand

from the nation’s 336,000 career firefighters. More institutions have created fire safety programs in recent

years, typically associate degrees. And state and national groups that represent firefighters, like the U.S. Fire

Administration, have addressed the growth with new

Guidelines for professional development.

(Courtesy of; Inside Higher Ed)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

How can we at the community college level assist our nations firefighters in obtaining a degree to further their education and make

completing a college education more accessible?

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

What is e-Learning? e-Learning is the use of technology to enable people to learn anytime and

anywhere. e-Learning can include training, the delivery of just-in-time information and

guidance from experts.

(Courtesy of: e-Learning Consulting)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

What is distance learning?

Distance learning occurs when there is a separation between the instructor and the

student, usually due to geographical or time concerns that prevent the student from

attending an on-campus course

(Courtesy of: Distance Learning Net)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

EXPECTED INCREASE IN FIRE DEPARTMENT

POSITIONS.

Employment opportunities for

firefighters are expected to increase 12 percent by 2016,

according to the Bureau of Labor

Statistics.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

We at the community college level need to be ready by offering courses that to pertain to the fire

protection career field in an e-learning format.

Wake Tech – FIP A.A.S.

Distance Learning Program

100% Online

(Launched – Fall 2013)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

What’s the catch?

All of the courses taught do not require the use of specialized equipment or lab hours.

Fire Truck or Firefighting Equipment

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

What are we doing to make our program more attractive?

Promoting it to our students, local fire departments, conferences, and events.

And we have taken it to another step and made it more diverse.

(Minorities / Women)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

QUESTIONS

THE EVOLUTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND E-LEARNING

THANK YOU