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Sponsor Resources: Pre-Course

Hybrid Study & Testing

Please confirm that your students have their login information and can indeed login to the course website and online tests. Students may need encouragement from you to start and complete Part 1 of a hybrid course. Check in with any students who have not completed testing two weeks prior to the start of the Part 2 practical session. Instructions for how to check students' testing progress are in the Sponsor Portal section of the "During Registration" tab. Students must complete their Part 1 online tests in order to attend the Part 2 practical session. Students who do not complete the Part 1 tests are not eligible to attend the scheduled Part 2 practical session; however, once they complete their tests, they may be able to attend a later session with you or another sponsor.​ 


Here are some important details to know about Hybrid course study and testing:
  • When comparing the number of days in a practical session to the number of days in a standard course, the online portion of a hybrid course will typically take MORE time, sometimes significantly more time, to complete than the difference in days may seem to indicate. For example, our standard WFA course is three days or roughly 26 hours (28 hours if Wilderness CPR/AED certification is included) while the in-person practical session of a hybrid WFA is two days or 18 hours (20 hours if Wilderness CPR/AED certification is included). The in-person time difference between the two courses is roughly 8 hours; however, a student new to first aid or pre-hospital medicine who registers for a hybrid WFA course can expect to spend 10+ hours studying in order to pass the online exams. If the student wants to fully grasp the material, they could spend 15 hours or more preparing for the practical session. In general, students can gain more complete mastery of the didactic material through a hybrid course than a standard course if they allocate the time to understand the material.
  • The key to success in a hybrid course is for students to plan for more study time than they think they need and update their study schedule depending on their progress. We have recommended study plans on each hybrid course website. You can find the login information to access the hybrid website specific to your course in each students' online access email.

Equipment

  • Double-check the Sponsor site & equipment requirements to be sure you have what you need on-hand. If there are items on the Sponsor equipment list that you don't have, your course instructor may be able to rent them to you.
  • Check-in with the course instructor about anything you need them to bring. Specifically, be clear on who is providing CPR manikins (if applicable), full-sized anatomical torso, skeleton, and pigs feet (if applicable).
  • If WMTC is shipping your course materials to you (handbooks, SOAP notes, stickers, injection lab supplies), make sure that the package has arrived and is accessible to give to the instructor when they arrive. 
  • If you're sponsoring a hybrid course, you should have Wilderness Medicine Handbooks — either provided by the course instructor or shipped to you by WMTC — to distribute to students when registration opens.

Communicating with Instructors

  • Know when your Licensed Provider or Instructor is available to address course logistics, answer questions, or help address glitches; they may be working in the field or traveling with no cell reception for several days/weeks. If you can't reach your Instructor or Licensed Provider and you need assistance, please contact the WMTC Office.
  • Confirm your Instructor's travel plans and general logistics. While both should have been approved during the contracting process, glitches due to weather, illness, last minute venue change, etc. can occur. Most instructors prefer to arrive the day before the course start to settle in, set up the classroom, inventory materials & equipment, scout simulation areas, and familiarize with the course site. 
  • Arrange times for check-ins during the course. Ensure course instructor(s) have your emergency contact information.
  • If you have students or support staff work with the instructor during the course, be sure they exchange contact information.

Communicating with Students

As the course Sponsor, you are most familiar with the logistics and details surrounding your course site and will be the primary contact for this type of information. While students may have seen general logistical information about your course, it is your responsibility to send a pre-course email to all students with the following information roughly two weeks before your course begins. Student email addresses along with their physical address and phone number are in the roster in your Sponsor Portal. You can also send the email from the portal; see instructions in the Sponsor Portal section of the "During Registration" page. Run a draft of your email by the instructor before sending, they may have input or things to add; and CC them on the final email.

​Include the following information in your pre-course email:​
  • Welcome message 
  • Course dates, start and end times
  • Reminders that hybrid course students must complete Part 1 before they can attend Part 2. NOTE: As the course start draws closer, we recommend sending reminders to specific students who haven't started testing yet. A good guideline is to notify WFR, WEMT, and Recert students who haven't started testing one month out, and WFA and WAFA students two weeks out.
  • Logistical information. You can put the information into the body of the email, include it in an attachment, or include a link to a file or website. Remember to address travel (airports, shuttles, driving routes, road closures, impassible roads, etc.), food and lodging recommendations, building access, parking information, etc. 
  • Any details about the amenities you're providing or that are available to students. Examples include: fridge and/or microwave access, coffee & tea, simulation clothes, etc.
  • Anything that's new or has changed since your last communication or that people might not already know.
Your course instructor will send students an email 3+ weeks before the course that includes very basic logistical information, course supplies, preparation information, and some other details about the course and certification; see a sample instructor email. You should be CC'd on this email. If you haven't received it two weeks before your course start, please contact the instructor to confirm it has been sent.

When answering student questions about your course, refer to the Student Experience page for information. Reach out to your Instructor, Licensed Provider, or the WMTC office for help with questions you can't answer.