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Orientation


Course Orientation
FES3153

Welcome to the Course

FES 3153: Communication and Information Technology takes an exciting look at the history, present, and future, of Emergency Service Dispatching technology and the training and practices needed to be a successful dispatcher. Topics to be covered will include the communications process; intra-agency communications; interagency communications; public information officer functions; public information and communications; introduction to information systems; records management; NEMSIS; National Fire Incident reporting system; and data collection.

About Your Instructor 

Dr. Dennis Mitterer has worked in Emergency Service Organizations for over 30 years as an EMT, Paramedic, Fire Fighter, Operations Chief, and educator. He has earned his Ph.D. In Leadership and Organizational Change, a Masters Degree in Management specializing in organizational systems, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Penn State University, Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College, and has earned professional designation as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate in Risk Management (ARM), and Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN).

He is a Faculty Advisor for EMS at Franklin & Marshall College. He teaches as a Professor for Western Governors University, an Adjunct Professor for Lebanon Valley College’s Master in Health Care Administration program, Immaculata College where he has taught Management, Strategic Planning, Human Resources, and Research, and Harrisburg Area Community College where he instructs in the Paramedic program. As a nationally recognized speaker and author, Dr. Mitterer challenges audiences to think creatively about emergency service topics, leadership, and finance.

Teaching Philosophy: I am looking for students to demonstrate a working knowledge of the subject. You need to be creative when you complete your assignments but maintain the professional appearance of your work. Your work needs to be complete and in such a manner that someone can pick up your document and understand what you are trying to convey. And most of all your work needs to be supported with research and cited properly in APA format.

 Course Requirements

Required Textbook: EMS Communications and Information Technology (2015) J. Lindsey; Brady Publishing (Pearson), ISBN 978-0-13-260701-8

Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills: Basic computer skills, familiarity with Canvas, and Microsoft Word. No prerequisite courses are needed.

Course Technology: Class meetings may require a web camera and mic/audio. If you are not able to use a web camera you will need to have a microphone on your computer or be able to call in on a phone. Weekly discussions and assignments will be web-based and submissions will occur electronically.

Communicating Online

When communicating online, you should always:

    • Treat everyone with respect, even in email or in any other online communication.
    • Use clear and concise language.
    • Remember that all college-level communication should have correct spelling and grammar.
    • Avoid slang terms such as “wassup?” and texting abbreviations such as “u” instead of “you”.
    • Use standard fonts such as Times New Roman and use a size 12 or 14 pt. font.
    • Avoid using the caps lock feature AS IT CAN BE INTERPRETED AS YELLING.
    • Be cautious when using humor or sarcasm as the tone is sometimes lost in an email or discussion post and your message might be taken seriously or offensive.
    • Be careful with personal information (both yours and others).

When posting on the Discussion Board in your online class, you should:

    • Make posts that are on-topic and within the scope of the course material.
    • Take your posts seriously and review and edit your posts before sending them.
    • Be as brief as possible while still making a thorough comment.
    • Always give proper credit when referencing or quoting another source.
    • Be sure to read all messages in a thread before replying.
    • Don’t repeat someone else’s post without adding something of your own to it.
    • Avoid short, generic replies such as, “I agree.” Include why you agree or add to the previous point.
    • Always be respectful of others’ opinions even when they differ from your own.
    • When you disagree with someone, you should express your differing opinion in a respectful, non-critical way.
    • Do not make personal or insulting remarks.
    • Be open-minded.

Key Course Elements

Each module will contain:
    • 1-2 short video lectures
    • 1 chapter of reading from the textbook
    • 1 discussion assignment
    • 1-2 assignments based on the course material

You must complete all assignments to be able to move on to the next module.

If you need assistance with navigating through Canvas use the information below to get started. If you are ready to start your course work - return to the home page using the button located at the bottom of this page. Once at the home page, select the Module 1 link to begin.

ATTENTION

Next Steps

Read over the Syllabus, and take the Course Orientation Quiz to unlock Module 1.