Dr. Bill initiated and managed the development of the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program (VT-DLP) at Purdue University. The VT-DLP was Purdue’s first undergraduate curriculum taught completely via the Web. The VT-DL Program was granted permission from the Indiana Commission on Higher Education to grant an Associate of Science degree in 1998.

Courses currently taught at a distance:

• BMS 235 – Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians I
• BMS 236 – Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians II

Both are 100 percent Web-based courses. They require students to utilize texts and other resources to submit 225-240 answers to case-based or content-base questions. Electronic bulletin boards are used to create scenarios for discussion and debate.

As director of the veterinary technology program, he is responsible for the delivery of 33 additional online courses and 17 clinical mentorship courses conducted at veterinary hospitals around the world.

1. How was innovation and creativity used to improve learning in distance education courses?

Created a teaching model to be used for the 45 credit hours of web and WebCT courses, as well as the 17 credit hours of clinical mentorships.

Was able to create a means of documenting student acquisition of motor skills to a standard set and enforced by the Purdue University VT program at veterinary hospitals around the world. Each of the 200+ motor tasks were broken down into very specific criteria that indicated whether or not the task had been performed to the Purdue standard. The student is then required to submit video or other concrete documentation that shows clearly that the student has achieved the outcome of performing the task to the required level. Failure of the student to achieve any of the outcome criteria or failure of the documentation to clearly show the criteria to the Purdue University VT Staff member evaluating the documentation requires the student to re-submit the documentation on that particular task.

2. How is the candidate recognized as a leader in innovative use of technology in distance education courses?

3. How is the candidate recognized for outstanding teaching and effective use of technology?

4. How has the candidate actively promoted effective and innovative use of technology is distance education?

The motor-skills documentation model developed by Dr. Bill and used by the Purdue VT-DLP was a landmark in the accreditation of Veterinary Technology programs by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The use of this model meant that distance learning programs, if they met the criteria used in this model, could meet the tough AVMA accreditation standards in the same way as a more traditional on-campus program.

The Purdue VT Distance Learning Program received accreditation from the AVMA in 2001. The model used by Purdue is now being used to evaluate all VT distance learning programs and VT programs that use off-campus animal experiences as the means for motor skill acquisition of VT students.

Dr. Bill continues to serve on the AVMA’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities and is recognized as a leading authority on accreditation of VT distance learning programs.

Dr. Bill has been invited to speak on the VT-DLP model to faculty at Kansas State University, Moraine Community College, and St. Petersburg College. In addition, Dr. Bill has consulted with career centers in Indiana, Oklahoma, and Michigan, other veterinary technology programs, and even a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation training division on possible applications of the VT-DLP model for off-site skill development.

Dr. Bill has made two presentations on how to implement a “hands-on” curriculum in a DL format at the Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning in Madison, Wisconsin. He has presented this topic at the biennial meetings of the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators, has presented the model at the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Annual Meeting in 2001, and is presenting a paper on the VT-DLP at the in AVMA Annual Meeting in July 2004.

Dr. Bill supports the research and development of intelligent applications of DL through participation in on-campus “think tank” groups and through active involvement with graduate students with a distance education focus. Even though he is a member of the School of Veterinary Medicine, he has been invited to be an active member of six MS and PhD graduate students’ committees, all six of which have completed their graduate degree in the School of Education. He is currently serving on two additional graduate student committees.

He is a regular speaker in Dr. Jim Lehman’s educational technology course and has been an invited speaker for two “Teaching at a Distance Workshops” held at Purdue University.

Dr. Bill has received 24 awards and recognitions since 1987 for his contributions to teaching.