For students who are pursuing careers as athletic trainers, they’ll need to engage in a medical-based, health science curriculum that’s quite comprehensive. This curriculum has to cover topics ranging from biology and anatomy to nutrition, sports medicine, kinesiology, and more. In physical classroom settings, teaching these topics can be rather complex, involving labs, practicals, study time, and discussions.
But, as online learning has become the new norm—giving more and more students the ability to access athletic trainer education from anywhere and on their own schedule—educators have a new challenge on their hands. How do you teach the various curricula and often difficult content that make up an athletic trainer program in an online setting so your students are successful, going on to pass all their certification and licensure exams?
You need a course that not only transforms the physical classroom into an online one but turns it on its head.
The Forward-Thinking Solution to Online Athletic Education
At the 2024 Association for Athletic Training Education (AATE) Symposium in Boise, we were excited to showcase how Caduceus is advancing educational practices not just in fields of athletic training, but other health science careers and the industry at large. And how we are giving students more opportunities in the process.
Here at Caduceus, we’re at the forefront of helping educators master athletic training education online. Our innovative solutions are designed to meet the high standards of the field, enabling educators to deliver top-quality online education, and are already trusted by major universities like the University of Florida, the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia, Clemson, and more.
And that’s not all we do.
How We Design Our Courses at Caduceus: Athletic Training Programs Online
Caduceus is at the forefront of health science education online, offering programs that are not only comprehensive and engaging but also deeply rooted in the latest sports science research. Our curriculums are meticulously crafted by leading experts in the field to ensure that they’re not just academically rigorous but also relevant and practical, and ultimately, keeping with the times.
Our courses also incorporate the latest technology tools to support educators dealing with the obstacles of online learning, and they support students by providing different ways to interact with — and be evaluated on — the material they’re learning.
Here’s how we do it:
Incorporating Technology and Innovation to Fight Student Attrition
One of the major challenges of online education is student engagement. When students are not in a physical classroom setting, it can be harder not only to comprehend the material, but to stay focused.
In order to enhance the learning experience, Caduceus integrates a variety of interactive learning tools into our curriculums utilizing tech and innovation. This includes:
- Virtual simulations, like our 3D Anatomy simulation tool
- Interactive course content
- Multimedia lectures
- Live-tracking tools
- Easy-to-access online exams (we’ll cover more on these in a bit).
Essentially, we’re making it easier for students to learn and for educators to teach in spite of the obstacles that come with online learning.
Our Sports Nutrition Course for Future Athletic Trainers
To understand how this looks in the field of athletic education, we’re proud to share our Sports Nutrition course, which is a key component of any Athletic Education curriculum. The course was designed by Dr. Gutschall, the course author, an associate professor of nutrition and foods, and the head of the nutrition graduate program at Appalachian State University.
Caduceus’ Sports Nutrition online course offers an in-depth exploration of the scientifically-proven nutritional foundations essential for various physical activities. It covers all the topics in a standard course but with innovative, interactive solutions to aid in student learning, from audio/visual lectures to multimedia aids and 3D models. In addition to the integration of the technology tools we have across all of our courses, educators can embrace this course with ease.
We invite you to do a trial of our Sports Nutrition course to see just how it works!
How We Support Our Educators: Training, Tools, & Resources
At Caduceus, we recognize that the backbone of any successful online program is the support provided to educators. We offer comprehensive training and continuous support to ensure that educators are fully equipped to deliver our curriculums effectively and keep students engaged, which is of course, a concern for many educators.
To start, our support for educators is built into the courses themselves. We offer:
- Concierge-level course support: We’re there for our teachers and their students – throughout the whole semester.
- Flexible delivery options: Educators and universities can get the health science curriculum using our LMS or a compatible system like Canvas, Moodle, or Blackboard.
- Live-tracking tools: Educators can monitor student progress in real time and jump in if they feel their student needs help.
- Supplemental resources: Each lecture and lesson comes with additional resources to aid in student learning by reinforcing topics. This is all in addition to the interactive and multimedia course content tools we provide, making an easier transition for educators and students.
- Tips and tricks: The Caduceus blog provides even more support for educators, covering all sorts of topics ranging from fighting student attrition, AI, student evaluation, differentiation, student engagement, accessibility, student interaction, DEI, and more. Combined with the course itself, educators can feel confident teaching future athletic trainers in an online setting.
Preparing Students for Success in the Field
Just as important as our educators are, of course, our students. Each curriculum is built with students in mind who are doing their education online and not in a physical classroom. The way we support students is embedded in the design of our courses themselves, giving students ample opportunities to be successful, despite there being a screen between them and their teacher and peers. We believe in quality and affordable education for all, and this is how we get it done:
- Advanced customization: Educators can modify course content to suit the needs of their students. We give you the tools to efficiently reach targeted student populations so students are able to learn content at their own pace while instructors can easily monitor progress with intuitive, real-time tracking tools. Courses can be offered on campus, exclusively online, or in a hybrid format.
- Immersive 3D resources: Our 3D learning materials help students get that “hands-on” experience, but online. With interactive 3D interactive models, students can see what they’re learning and be more engaged. And with interactive 3D assessments, students are more likely to be more successful.
- Visual aids and activities: Each of our courses utilizes text and image content, audio/visual lectures, digital flashcards, and supplemental materials.
- Guided study format: Guided Study materials are more than just a study guide. They are a collection of different activities that offer a customized progression through complex topics. makes them perfect for complex activities like virtual labs. Each step can be in the format that suits it best. The activity as a whole can be graded in one unit, keeping the unit simple.
- Differentiation: Some students learn better from lectures, while others need visual or written materials. Adaptive, differentiated teaching programs will react to each student’s actions and guide them through complex topics with materials that lead to better results. And with live-tracking tools, educators can be aware of how students are progressing.
- Tests: With interactive 3D assessments, you can test students’ knowledge in a much richer spatial context. Essentially, we go beyond multiple-choice questions and give students the opportunity to do well with different ways to evaluate them.
How We Support the Industry at Large
Caduceus is dedicated to helping more students achieve their dream of working in health sciences. Our award-winning, cost-effective materials help more talent enter the field as athletic trainers without having physical education be a barrier. Our commitment to excellence and innovation ensures that Caduceus graduates are not just well-prepared for their careers but also positioned to be leaders and change-makers in the field of athletic training, with the aim of impacting healthcare and patient outcomes overall.
Caduceus is also committed to advancing the field of athletic training beyond our online classrooms. We actively contribute to the industry through research partnerships, continuing education programs, and collaborations with professional organizations.
By keeping our finger on the pulse of advancements in sports science and educational technology, we not only enhance our curriculum but also contribute valuable insights and innovations to the health science community. We aspire for more universities to embrace our materials to provide education to more students, especially at a time when there is a shortage of professionals in the industry.
