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Embracing the virtual classroom: When it comes to food safety training, web-based learning is a great option
By Kevin Freeborn
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 “I don’t have the time to spend a whole day (or more) taking a food safety class.”
Our people have already taken food safety training. Can’t they do something different to refresh their knowledge?”
“We can’t get our people all together for a class. Who is going to run the business?”
“Our food handlers are in remote locations. It is too expensive to send a trainer for one or two people.”
For the past couple of decades, I have listened to people who are faced with challenges that make traditional classroom-based food safety training difficult – if not impossible. Time, distance and expense are all real considerations for the provision of food safety training. Fortunately, technology provides a vehicle for minimizing some of these obstacles.
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There are some clear benefits to online training:
• It eliminates the barrier of distance. Anyone with a computer and access to the Internet can participate no matter where they are. We just had a student complete their training on a ship at sea!
• The time required to complete the learning can be spread over several short periods. This makes online learning as flexible as the learner’s schedule requires.
• Web-based learning is quite affordable, and reducing the cost of food safety training making it more accessible for those with limited budgets.
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A couple years ago, I did research for a Master’s degree paper on web-based learning to explore its implications for food safety education. My research revealed that there were some common misconceptions about decreased discussion and lack of interaction. The truth, however, was that online courses level the playing field, permitting everyone to post comments without any one person taking over a discussion (as can happen in the classroom). Plus, new technology opened the door to interactive quizzes and games, offering students not only a more pleasurable experience, but also a chance to increase information retention. Today, this is nothing new, and many students prefer learning via web-based classes.
Online learning is not a panacea for food safety education. There are food handlers of an earlier generation that may not be comfortable with the technology and some activities can only be facilitated in a traditional classroom. However, web based learning offers many features that make it an attractive option for food handler training.
• Multi-media appeals to different senses.
• Images help reinforce central messages.
• Narration enables learners to listen as well as read the content.
• Discussion forums provide opportunities for interaction between learners and facilitators.
• Frequent quizzes help evaluate learner knowledge and retention every step of the way.
• Feedback from quizzes is immediate, helping the learner identify their strengths and weaknesses.
• Learners can see their grades as they progress.
• Certificates of achievement can be triggered based on criteria such as course completion and passing grade.
• Student surveys contribute to the ongoing improvement of the web based experience.
The initial reaction to the online food safety training program (http://learn.nfstp.ca) has been very encouraging. It is important to distinguish between web-based training and food handler certification. Certification still requires food handlers to write an exam that is invigilated by an approved proctor. Nonetheless I am hoping this new initiative will eliminate some of the excuses for putting off food safety education.
About the author:
Kevin Freeborn is an award-winning consultant, author and speaker with 30 years’ foodservice experience. Founder of Freeborn & Associates, a management consulting firm that helps companies achieve their goals, he has been retained by leading North American organizations to develop food safety programs and training. For more information, call 1.888.829.3177.
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