Comparing the effectiveness of learning formats in radiation protection

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Science and Engineering
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Educational Technology

Background:

• The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) employs over 850 staff in nuclear research and applications.
• A compulsory introductory safety training and refresher courses are essential for a safe working environment.
• Traditional face-to-face training faced limitations in participant flexibility and lecturer optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt the safety training format from face-to-face to blended learning, incorporating online modules.
• To evaluate participant perception of both traditional and e-learning formats.
• To assess the effectiveness of the new blended learning approach in terms of knowledge gain.

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire was used to gather participant perceptions of face-to-face and e-learning modules.
• Pre- and post-training tests with identical scientific/technical questions evaluated knowledge gain.
• Comparative analysis of perception and knowledge acquisition between the two training formats.

Main Results:

• Participant perception data indicated a positive reception of the e-learning format.
• Both face-to-face and e-learning formats resulted in overall knowledge gain among participants.
• The e-learning format demonstrated a higher knowledge gain compared to the traditional face-to-face training.

Conclusions:

• The blended e-learning format for safety training at SCK CEN is well-received by employees.
• The e-learning approach proves effective, yielding significant knowledge acquisition.
• The study supports the continued implementation and expansion of e-learning in occupational safety training.