Early recognition of possible medical emergencies leads to quick intervention, potentially saving lives. Radiographers (x-ray techs) are often the only healthcare professionals present during an imaging exam and must be able to accurately assess vital signs readings in order to determine the need for medical response. The only radiography program in Hawaii had no formal method for teaching this important skill; therefore, an online vital signs assessment module was created to address this issue. The successful implementation of the Saving Lives: Learning Vital Signs Assessment website lead to the conversion of the module into a complete course hosted by the NEO learning management system (LMS).

John Keller’s ARCS Model of Motivational Design was used as the theoretical foundation for the new Saving Lives course, as literature reviewed supported application of this framework for online instruction. Attention and relevance were gained through presentation of medical scenarios. Confidence and satisfaction were boosted by immediate feedback which the NEO LMS provided.

The Saving Lives course was evaluated in January 2015, with one-on-one interviews conducted with a content matter expert and a website design expert. Suggested changes to the module were made, and small group implementation was conducted in February 2015. Thirteen first-year radiography students worked independently on the instructional module for one week. Results demonstrated an overall improvement between pre- and post-test scores and positive reception of this online method of instruction. This study supports the effectiveness of e-learning in the healthcare field when teaching practical hands-on skills such as vital signs assessment.

In order for students to be successful, parents need to know what is going on at school so they can help support their child/children. This usability study was developed to improve parent teacher communication using a classroom website in an elementary school. During the year there is a lot of communication between families and schools. Although many newsletters and flyers are sent home, parents still seem to never have all of the information they need, perhaps because information gets lost in transit from school to home. The purpose of this usability study was to evaluate the effectiveness of navigation and the organization of the content for a classroom website to improve weekly communication with parents at a Hawaii public elementary school on the Windward side of Oahu. Peer feedback suggested minimizing text on web pages by breaking up sentences for easier readability, adding a tab for homework, and specifying names with room numbers. These suggestions were implemented in the hope that the website would become more valuable in the future for communicating to parents and helping them easily find information pertaining to their child. This presentation will show how the website changed and will discuss design principles that informed choices in the redesign.

Module URL: http://aikahi5.weebly.com/

Today’s college students have access to a wide variety of technologies that can be used to support and enhance their educational careers. One such technology, the “e-textbook,” is leading many to abandon traditional textbooks in favor of these digital textbook alternatives. Research has shown that students enjoy the portability of digital textbooks, called “e-textbooks,” and especially appreciate their convenience and ease of use. The textbook currently being used by first year Hawaiian language students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is offered in print-only format, and the purpose of this usability study was to develop and evaluate the first two chapters of the textbook as an interactive Hawaiian language e-textbook. Eight first-year Hawaiian language students participated in the study, which included a usability protocol and pre- and post- attitudinal surveys. Results of the study indicated that students found the book easy to navigate, and enjoyed the interactive features of the book—including audio recordings, hyperlinks, and digital worksheets. Data collected from this study will be used to identify best practices in the design and usability of e-textbooks, and could potentially lead to the development of a complete e-textbook for students in the field of Hawaiian language.

The rapid evolution of technology has increased the demand for universities to provide easily accessible information to students, alumni, faculty, and staff through various means of communication. One such mean is university websites that serve as the virtual face of institutions as well as an important resource for all users. At the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, current and previous students heavily rely on the Office of the Registrar’s website to obtain accessible information regarding important documents such as transcripts, diplomas, graduation requirements, personal information changes, and more. Anecdotal feedback gained from frustrated customers included lack of information, difficulty navigating the website, outdated aesthetic features, and more. As such, the purpose of this usability study was to analyze the navigational efficiency, organizational content, and user satisfaction for UH Manoa’s Office of the Registrar website. Based on feedback it appeared users favored aesthetically appealing webpages that incorporated eye-appealing pictures and graphics, simplified information, menu bars, easily accessible links, and downloadable forms. Changes were made to a beta website to address these preferences and additional feedback sought. The presentation will review the website’s features before and after the modifications, discuss design implications and the rationale for changes, and make recommendations for additional alterations in the future.

Original Module Website for 1st Round
http://justinla.wix.com/records

Adjusted Module URL for 2nd Round
http://justinla.wix.com/registrars-office