To Internet or Not?: Assessing the Efficacy of Online Police Training

Abstract

The field of police training is undergoing a paradigm shift due to technology, and this study used an andragogical lens to explore various considerations for the implementation of online education (OE) into police training regimens. This comprehensive assessment utilized quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the feasibility of OE for professional development among police officers in Tennessee. The study examined whether the potential performance of police officers in OE is related to various demographic factors and evaluated the perceptions of police regarding online education. Data analyses indicated a statistically significant relationship between potential online learning success and various factors, including formal educational level and previous exposure to OE. The majority of participants in the study said they preferred OE to traditional instruction, felt that OE is an appropriate delivery method for professional development, and believed that the use of OE for delivery of professional development provides increased training opportunities. Keywords Police training . Online educationAmerican policing has evolved from the relatively simplistic guiding philosophy of crime control to the modern perspective of quality-of-life improvement for citizens. This evolution necessitates the development of training regimens reflective of the prevailing societal applications of the profession. In order to meet the public safety demands of contemporary society, police administrators and trainers must develop innovative approaches that prepare and empower law enforcement personnel to keep pace with increasing and evolving operational requirements. Over the last several years, the use of online professional training has expanded to meet the needs of Am J Crim Just (

Assessment of web-based interactive game system methodology for dissemination and diffusion to improve firefighter safety and wellness

“…Although direct contact between teacher and student has many benefits, online training has several important potential advantages, such as lower costs, increased convenience and accessibility, low infrastructure and space requirements, and the ability to reach more people more quickly. Online training that uses programmed instruction has the additional benefit of providing immediate individualized responses and feedback to students [23][24][25][26][27]. In a number of studies conducted across a variety of settings, online training has been shown to be at least as effective as, or in some cases modestly better than, face-to-face courses in learning outcomes.…”

“…In a number of studies conducted across a variety of settings, online training has been shown to be at least as effective as, or in some cases modestly better than, face-to-face courses in learning outcomes. In some cases, students preferred online education to traditional instruction, because participation may be less intimidating, and the quality and quantity of interaction may be increased in online classes [23][24][25][26][27].…”

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“…Technology-based training has been shown to be effective across diverse fields including medicine (Cook et al 2008), human resources (Bray et al 2009), police work (Donovant 2009), and substance abuse treatment (Weingardt et al 2009). A particular strength of technology-based training is that it is well-suited for blended learning, the use of multiple learning methods (e.g., self- and instructor-guided) and procedures (e.g., active learning, deliberate practice) to best promote knowledge and skill acquisition (Cucciare et al 2008).…”

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“…The primary reason for this shift is that the traditional training has generally resulted in immediate skills acquisition, but not enduring improvements. Other reasons to consider new training models include desire to limit travel to training facilities, reduce costs, and make learning more flexible (Donavant, 2009;Powell, 2002). The importance of these other reasons has increased in a post-COVID-19 era (e.g., Li, Lin, Wang, Bao, & Li, 2020).…”