Regional Public Safety Training Center

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office began adding web-based courses in May, 2010 and most recently expanded use of this platform for efficiency in administering quizzes in the patrol academy and reserve academy. Lt. Russ Pedersen has been actively involved in the development and deployment of new content since assuming the Academy Commander role in 2009. Lt. Pedersen is responsible for the inclusion of the Hazardous Communication course into a web-based format and is working to implement a Concealed Carry course, Medical Marijuana course, and several other training modules specific to the WCSO. Lt. Pedersen is credited for implementing a process for creating engaging and compelling content and using best practices in Instructional Systems Design. His goal is for the "WCSO to take the lead in the development and use of web-based technologies for training efficiencies and continuous development of Sheriff's Office personnel".

Reno Fire Department and Sierra Fire Department have added numerous courses for career and volunteer firefighters.  Topics range in complexity and most include PowerPoint presentations, links to web resources, quizzes, forum discussions, simulations, games, videos (accessible on the VBrick platform) and training forms.

In January 2009, Sierra Fire Department began the process of creating courses and adding learning resources to the web-based platform. Acting Captain Alex Kukulus was responsible for the development and management of most of these courses.  As of November 2009, the following courses have been created and available for personnel:

Hazardous Materials, Driver Safety & Training, Wildland, Operator/Driver Training, Officer Courses, Administrative Training, Rescue Skills, Emergency Medical Services, Firefighter Safety, Tools/Appliances/Hardware/Equipment/Apparatus, Firefighter I, Firefighter II, and Misc. Courses.

Captain Ross Rytting from the Reno Fire Department Training Division took the lead for their agency and began the task of building content for the 387 fulltime RFD personnel and numerous volunteers from nine stations located throughout the Truckee Meadows. As of November 2009, the following courses have been created and available for personnel:

Auto extrication, Brannigan's Building Construction for the Fire Service, Emergency Medical Services, Firefighter I & II Refresher, Haz-Mat FRO, Hazardous Materials, Health & Wellness, ICS courses, Respiratory Protection, Structural Firefighting Strategy & Tactics, Volunteer Courses, and Wildland.

Shrinking budgets and a desire to increase training efficiencies were cited as primary reasons to shift some of the content online. Rytting and Kukulus have agreed to share some course material and have to open access to some of the courses already created to avoid duplicating efforts.

The Regional Public Safety Training Center announces the launch of a new web-based learning platform. This platform will enable personnel to complete on-line courses using an open source technology called "Moodle". To learn more about Moodle, click on the "What is Moodle?" link on the main menu (Left side of your screen).

Instructors will enjoy the ability to create and manage courses which can be delivered to 1, 10, or 100 students without travel and logistical headaches. Additionally, many of the administrative issues are automated such as tracking student attendance (time online), scoring tests and assignments, and facilitating forum discussions. Course listings, student registration, and payment processing will all be managed via the Centers existing learning management system (Lumens). 

Administrators & Supervisors will enjoy the cost savings and value realized by bringing the training to the students instead of bringing the students to the training. Travel time, back-fill, and overtime costs can be reduced significantly using distance learning technologies. Administrators and supervisors have the resources to fulfill mandatory training requirements, offer professional development opportunities, and deliver standardized and consistent content to all personnel without draining the training budget.  

Public Safety Agencies will be able to select instructors who, with minimal training, create and manage course content, student enrollment, and reporting functions specific to their agency's learning needs. Agencies may also choose to take advantage of no-cost or fee-based courses, seminars, or workshops hosted by the Regional Public Safety Training Center.