GERIATRIC CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE WORKPLACE: UTILIZING INTERACTIVE TELEVISION (ITV) TECHNOLOGY IN THEORY AND IN PRACTICE

Interactive television (ITV) technology provides an excellent resource for offering continuing education programs for geriatrics service providers and faculty. During 2000-2002, the Ohio Valley Appalachia Regional Geriatric Education Center (OVAR/GEC) at the University of Kentucky provided two series of 40-hour geriatrics continuing education programs for professionals working in community mental health/mental retardation centers across Kentucky. This article describes the process for developing and conducting successful ITV distance learning courses and identifies the strengths and challenges of the interactive television medium, utilizing Moore's (1973, 1993) Theory of Transactional Distance as a conceptual framework in the analysis of this case example. Recommendations are offered for replication and future utilization involving ITV technology for delivering continuing education in the workplace.