References

Aylott, M. (2011).  Blurring the boundaries: technology and the nurse-patient relationship.  British Journal of Nursing.  20(13).

Halstead, J. (2007).  Nurse Educator Competencies: Creating an Evidenced-Based Practice for Nurse Educators.  National League for Nursing. New York.

Jones, R., Maramba, I., Boulos, M., Alexander, T. (2009).  Use of Live Interactive Webcasting for an International Postgraduate Module in eHealth: Case Study Evaluation.  Journal of Medical Internet Research.  11(4)

Ostrow, L., DiMaria-Ghalili, R. (2007).  Distance education for graduate nursing: one state schools experience.  Journal of Nursing Education.  44(1).

http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/Webcast.

Conclusion

This blog has reviewed what webcasting is, it's significance, rationale fo rthe technology choice, advantages and disadvantages, and reviewed general standards and competencies.  Webcasting may become a standard in university online programs due to it's ability to help the online student feel as though they are part of the classroom.  Webcasting is easy to use if you own a computer, applies to most learning styles, and facilitates learning for the student.  Webcasting could be ideal for when patients are discharged home and need to review instructions.  It is my belief that webcasting may be prevalent in the future for the online classrooms.
If anybody has questions for me you may reply here to this blog or my personal email at apricelessrn@aol.com.  Hope you enjoyed the information.

Professional Standards

I could not find any specific professional standards for webcasting.  However, Aylott (2011) discusses some boundaries with the nurse-patient relationship when using technology:
1. Patient confidentiality
2. Patient privacy
3. Responsiblilty
4. Accountability
5. Reliability
6. Be aware of patients vulnerability

Halstead (2007) review several core competencies for nurse educators that no matter whether the setting is a traditional classroom or online must adhere to:
1. Facilitate learning
2. Socialize students to the profession
3. Evaluate learning outcomes
4. Assures employers that graduates can provide safe patient care
5. Design educational programs
6. Provide leadership
7. Develop their own career in the educational environment
8.Contribute to the scholarship and research that advance the science of nursing education

Halstead, J. (2007).  Nurse Educator Competencies: Creating an Evidenced-Based Practice for Nurse Educators.  National League for Nursing. New York.

Aylott, M. (2011).  Blurring the boundaries: technology and the nurse-patient relationship.  British Journal of Nursing.  20(13).

Disadvantages

Webcasting does have many advantages as well as disadvantages.  ' Advantages and disadvantages to both student, faculty. and patient.  Some of the disadvantages are:
Disadvantages to the student:
1. Poor reception due to low bandwidth
2. Not able to view live classes
3. No kinesthetic ability

Disadvantages to the faculty:
1. Must be able to help students with technical problems
2. If students are in able to participate in the live broadcast, they may have a difficult time grading understanding of topics, procedures, etc
3. Must be creative in demonstrations to help the online student the best visual as possible.

Disadvantages to the patient
1. Older adults may still not own computers
2. May not understand how to view the webcast
3. Cannot ask questions if the webcast is not clear to them

Advantages

There are many advantages to using webcasting.  Ostrow et al. (2005) list several that are advantages to the student as well as the educator, and patient.
For the student advantages are
1. The ability to see the instuctor:
2. The ability to submit questions and receive responses from the instructor immediately
3. The ability to go back and review the lecture again in the archive.

The advantages for the educator are:
1. Several software programs can be used in each class
2. A non-live class may be taped ahead of time
3. Increase flexability of scheduling
4. Can gauge students' understanding by their questions
The advantages for the patient are:

1. Whether in the hospital or at home patients may watch the webcasts repeatedly
2. Due to time and staffing constraints of nurses, patients may not get the individualized time for education or demonstrations such as how to inject insulin.  If the demonstration is webcasted the patient may review for better understanding.
3. While patients are being treated in the hospital, many times they do not feel well enough to fully comprehend instructions.  If they could view the webcast at home they could possibly have many of their questions answered.

Ostrow, L., DiMaria-Ghalili, R. (2007).  Distance education for graduate nursing: one state schools experience.  Journal of Nursing Education.  44(1).

Rationale

With the significant strides in technology, webcasting could be a commonplace type of technology in many universities.  It is the continual, and rapid advancement that educators must be aware of when hiring on as faculty.  Because distance learning is also becoming more and more popular among the adult population, technology such as webcasting would allow students to study at home yet feel part of a classroom especially it the student can attend the live class versus watching the recorded video.  For those students who are audiovisual learners, webcasting could encourage those learners who may be previously reluctant to enroll in the online educational programs.
I chose webcasting because as an online student myself I sometimes wish I could hear a lecture.  I am more of a solitary learner but I do remember better if I hear someone speaking.

Significance

With the responsibilites of jobs and families, education is often considered an impossible venture.  With the advancement of technology and distance learning, those who considered continuing their educational dreams futile are now acheiving those dreams with online learning.  There are many styles of learning including the audiovisual learner, which is impossible to teach in an online setting.  Webcasting can incorporate most styles of learning by allowing the student to "watch" an instructor conducting a live class.  The students can interact, or because the class is recorded, they may watch it later and may watch it several times if needed.  The significance of this type of learning allows those who are audiovisual learners to feel, even at a distance, part of the class (Jones, Maramba, Boulos, Alexander, 2009).
The use of webcasting technology can be significant to the online student as well as the patient in the hospital.  The ability to see and hear lectures, view procedures, watch multimedia, and view equipment increases the understanding of the online student. Hospitals can also use webcasting to teach patients how to care for themselves when discharged from the hospital and, if the patient has a computer, it could be possible for them to go back and review the instructions again at home.

Jones, R., Maramba, I., Boulos, M., Alexander, T. (2009).  Use of Live Interactive Webcasting for an International Postgraduate Module in eHealth: Case Study Evaluation.  Journal of Medical Internet Research.  11(4)