CRCPD Training
Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.

RECENT NEWS   Training Commission's November Meeting 1997 CRCPD Annual Meeting - Charges and Poster Session Training Options

CRCPD ANNUAL MEETING - POSTER SESSION

Below is a list of the Charges as put to the Training Commission, and suggestions for implementing those charges. Additional information obtained at the CRCPD and HPS Annual Meetings has been incorporated.

 

Training Commission Charge 1:

Identification of training gaps to be obtained from the Training Committee Survey.

Ideas for Charge 1: Develop list of areas where training is necessary. Compare list with Training Committee survey results Prioritize needs.

Training Commission Charge 2:

Outline of training programs for state regulatory personnel.

Ideas for Charge 2: Use outlines being created by NRC-Agreement State Working Group. Create additional outlines for other training areas.

Training Commission Charge 3:

Funding mechanisms such as CRCPD scholarships and CRCPD sponsored courses. Training

Training Commission Charge 4:

Develop/identify model regional training programs.

Ideas for Charges 3 & 4: Investigate cost-effective methods for providing training such as those detailed below under Training Options.

 

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TRAINING OPTIONS

 

Training Packets

Training courses developed by "experts" in particular areas that include outlines, notes, overheads and test materials. These packets would then be available to experienced individuals to borrow for in-house training.

Pros: Convenient to distribute; little or no travel time; allows knowledgeable individuals to provide training without the time-consuming burden of preparing a course; states can tailor course to specific needs; sample test and answers provides a means to verify efficacy of training; trainer can contact course "authors" if they run into problems; allows students opportunity to ask questions; if a state does not have anyone qualified to train, the state may be able to have one of the "authors" come and teach the course. (This option may be used in conjunction with training videos)

Cons: Initial development/preparation of material is time-consuming and it may be difficult to convince the "experts" to develop such a course; timeliness and accuracy of material needs to be evaluated; maintenance of training materials (overheads, handouts, etc.) takes time and resources.

Training Videos

Produce videos designed to supplement in-house training programs. This may include footage of site visits such as pool irradiators or well logging sites, or may include instruction on how an x-ray machine produces radiation or how a fixed gauge is loaded and mounted.

Pros: Convenient to distribute and view; saves travel time by bringing a sample site to your facility.

Cons: Timeliness is questionable for some topics as uses change; requires dedicated staff (or working group) to create; cost/benefits need to be considered by topic; very little human interaction in the event of questions.

Satellite Links

Explore cost-effectiveness of presenting short training programs (continuing education) via satellite.

Pros: Reaches a large audience at one time; does not cost individual states much money for travel; program may be videotaped for future use.

Cons: Expensive broadcast time, so one must be very careful when developing program; may be difficult for some states to access downlink site; difficult to choreograph question and answer formats.

Regional Training

Look at experiences (advantages/disadvantages) with EPA regional radon training. "Regional" training facilities are currently established at:

1. Eastern Regional Radon Training Center (Rutgers Univ.)
2. Southern Regional Radon Training Center (Auburn Univ.)
3. Midwest Universities Radon Consortium (MURC) (Univ. of Minn., Univ. of IL at Chicago and Kansas State Univ.)
4. Western Regional Radon Training Center (Univ. of CO at Colo. Springs)

Pros: Minimizes travel; allows interaction with individuals from other programs; provides opportunity to ask questions.

Cons: Still may require out-of-state travel; if outside "experts" are used, it will cost money; may also cost money to use facilities.

Website or Computer-Based Training.

Training packets accessible from the CRCPD homepage, other websites or CD-rom on computers.

Pros: No travel; computer can track test scores; training is interactive, and tests show that interactive training results in greater content retention.

Cons: Not all states have access to the web, or hardware needed for CD-rom; costs are high (1 hour of computer-based training can require 80-300 hours of development and cost $15,000-$20,000); some people are uncomfortable with computer-based learning; not many commercially-available training packages yet.

Send comments regarding training for Radiation Control Programs to the Training Commission