Distance-Learners Ask….

DISTANCE-LEARNERS ASK….

[With the extenuating circumstances of the past year, Pegasus Lectures has received multiple questions as to best practices for distance-learners preparing for their registry exams.  The following is a sampling of the most frequently-asked questions:]

IF I HAVE TO BUY SOMETHING TO PREPARE FOR A REGISTRY EXAM, SHOULDN\\\’T I JUST FOCUS ON USING AN ExamSim PROGRAM ?

While it is tempting to “cut to the chase”, ExamSim programs are the FINAL step in your Registry preparation.  The value of our ExamSim Programs materializes through Pegasus Lectures\\\’ patented Intelligent Analysis Package that actually identifies WHY you get questions wrong. When a question is answered incorrectly, the program identifies gaps in your conceptual and/or clinical knowledge.  But what happens when you answer questions correctly but for the wrong rationale or by guessing?  Most of Pegasus Lectures competitors\\\’ Question Banks and Exam Sims can’t identify those instances, because (naturally) when you get a question right, everything is (assumed to be) A-OK. Best practices in exam prep (as used in the patented Pegasus ExamSim Programs), include a method by which the participant can explore the rationale of the concept being tested.  This feature of the Pegasus ExamSim Programs is unique in that it provides a path to remediation for those who are not scoring high enough to pass the exam.

Pegasus Lectures integrates analytical tools to our ExamSim Programs to quantify your strengths and weaknesses by subject matter.  Taking a “short cut/over the weekend” approach on preparation and potentially passing over any of the recognized learning styles (auditory, visual, kinesthetic) by skipping over a review course is a risky strategy.

While only clinical experience can reinforce your kinesthetic learning, Pegasus Lectures has designed our eCourses to harmonize with visual, auditory and read/write learners.

MY BACKGROUND IN THE SCIENCES, PHYSICS, BIOLOGY, AND MATH IS STRONG.  I THINK I’M READY FOR THE REGISTRY EXAM.

From our foundation…28 years ago…Pegasus Lectures has strongly promoted the concept that understanding math and physics will give you the decisive edge in testing, and make you a more effective sonographer, and/or interpreter of ultrasound studies.  Having said that, clinical experience and visual familiarity with actual ultrasound studies is critical for success on any registry exam. Additionally, specialty exams integrate physics concepts specific to the clinical application into many of the questions.  Our eCourses teach with an emphasis on conceptual learning.  We want the participant to be able to integrate the concepts learned into their day-to-day scanning.  That is when the concepts are solidified and real learning takes place.

CAN\\\’T I JUST SUPPLEMENT MY CLASS KNOWLEDGE AND PREPAREDNESS FOR REGISTRY EXAM(s) BY WATCHING FREE CONTENT ON YouTube ?

YouTube is an excellent resource for general, superficial knowledge of many subjects.  Sadly, like Wikipedia, it is only as authoritative as the credentials and expertise of its content authors.  Especially with a fast-changing technological field such as ultrasound, relying on content created potentially years ago leads to less than satisfactory results.  When review material is taught in a methodical, organized fashion, with concepts building on the previous material taught, registrants strengthen their understanding of key clinical concepts and advance their critical thinking skills, a trait that is essential in the clinical world and when taking exams.

Pegasus Lectures constantly updates our materials.  Because our eCourses are structured in a modular format, as new technology and conceptual knowledge develops we integrate that into our course content.

Importantly, our Registry Review eCourses are specifically constructed with exam preparation in mind.  Some of these features include:

CheckPoints: This interactive component provides immediate feedback on your level of comprehension.

Interactive Questions: Multiple question formats reinforce key concepts and increase retention for read/write learners.

Note-taking: This feature actively engages the participant in the course, creating a customized study guide.

Dual Video Streaming: The all too common “voice hidden behind the slide” is an outdated method of digital learning. By actually watching the presenter introduce and develop concepts with an interactive format, you are able to engage in active learning.

ScanLabs: Fine tune procedures and protocols with important image optimization tips provided in these synchronized modules.

Customized Review:  By selecting sections of the course identified as areas of weakness, the participant can efficiently and effectively optimize their limited study time.

AREN\\\’T THERE RECORDINGS OF LIVE SEMINARS OUT THERE (bootleg and otherwise) THAT ARE JUST AS GOOD AS AN eCOURSE ?

Especially given their inability to conduct live seminars in a pandemic, some educational companies have rolled out “re-runs” of prior live-seminars seminars as a quick-fix solution.  Sadly, there is no comparison between these and the comprehensive and versatile attributes of Pegasus Lectures’ eCourses, which were designed specifically to cater to the needs of the distance learner.

As referenced above, the educational content of a Pegasus Lectures\\\’ eCourse is designed to be “digestible” to the learner in ways that are superior to a seminar-structured presentation.  We accomplish this by maximizing viewer engagement, through the use of multiple learning styles within our eCourses.

I FEEL LIKE IF I BUY AN eCOURSE IT SHOULD COME WITH UNLIMITED VIEWING.

Viewing time is allocated to ensure the purchaser can adequately review course content. In purchasing a registration fee to a live seminar, each individual participant is allowed to attend once (and not allowed to return for free).  In creating the Pegasus eCourses, we wanted to provide additional features to our customers, one of which is the ability to create a customized review.  Recognizing how critical the ability to review material is in truly understanding the concepts, we not only offer review time but have integrated a bookmarking features to streamline the review.   The reality is that there are production costs, licensing fees, and compensation to the instructors (aka “artists”) that accrue with each viewing, so unlimited viewing is not a financially feasible option.  We review each purchaser’s needs, and have never come across a circumstance where a genuine need was not accommodated.

IS THE PROGRAMMING LIKE A SOFTWARE LICENSE THAT CAN ONLY BE OPERATED ON 1, 2 OR 3 DEVICES ?

Pegasus eCourses operate as streaming video, rather than software.  Accordingly, you can log in to your eCourse(s) on any desktop, laptop or tablet…anywhere at any time.  In designing the Pegasus Player, we specifically worked to eliminate the rigidity of live seminars and/or web-based video conferencing. Our custom design places a priority on flexibility and convenience for the user.

Contact us at info@pegasuslectures.com or through the Live Chat at test.pegasuslectures.com for specific information relating to your specialty and the registry preparation options offered.

–Frank Miele, MSEE , President of Pegasus Lectures, Inc.  Frank graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College with a triple major in physics, mathematics, and engineering. While at Dartmouth, he was a Proctor Scholar and received citations for academic excellence in comparative literature, atomic physics and quantum mechanics, and real analysis. Frank was a research and design engineer and project leader, designing ultrasound equipment and electronics for more than ten years at Hewlett Packard Company. As a designer of ultrasound, he has lectured across the country to sonographers, physicians, engineers and students on myriad topics.