eLearning |
There are many approaches using computers for teaching and training. Among the advantages of eLearning one of the most important is to become independent from course schedules or places. Computer based training may enhance the learning process using multimedia elements like videos or animations which make complicated topics more comprehensible. Computers also may serve as means for distance learning and enable people to take part in courses they otherwise could not attend.Depending on the method of distributions (CD based or via the internet) eLearning programs can be easy to adopt or more static. Elements of communication and online collaboration are also an advantage of web based solutions while CDs have the advantage of being independent from the internet.Though learning with the computer has many advantages a lot of people prefer face to face lessons or appreciate the exchange with other course participants. Blended learning approaches combine different methods of education using the computer only where it has additional value or specific strengths.Despite of existing disadvantages eLearning in the context of health and development cooperation has many advantages among them becoming computer literate is one of the most important. Having access to a computer and an online or CD based training program might be the only opportunity of acquiring current knowledge or involving in national and international networks.Examples form countries in the south using even small portable devices like cell phones or PDA’s as eLearning means show clearly that the need and hunger for education is so big that being confronted with inappropriate technical solutions often plays only a minor role.Despite of that developer of eLearning programs should always be aware of the specific learning culture and regional context. A proper didactic approach should always take in account the preconditions of the learners and the desired outcome to formulate learning objectives and create a specific learning process to reach them.
Ralf Panse
Ralf Panse is the Vice-Head of InWEnt Health Division, as senior programme manager responsible mainly for Capacity Building Programmes in South-East-Asia and China. My professional background is nursing and a Master in Latin American Studies.
Blended Learning in South-East Asia: International Approaches to Health Financing & Social Health Insurance
InWent as part of the German development cooperation has a strong focus on capacity building. Nowadays many projects in development cooperation are directly aligned to reaching the Millennium Development Goals 2015 from which 3 are directly linked with health. One important factor is the reform of health care financing systems. As part of the online learning platform “InWents Global Campus 21” the blended learning course “International Approaches to Health Financing and Health Insurance” was implemented. This course was designed following a blended learning approach which allows mid-level employees involved in health financing issues to participate in a combination of online training and face-to-face workshops and to benefit from various learning methods.
eLearning is not considered to substitute for basic teaching and training but to be a new and innovative option for continuous education and capacity building. The facilitation of multi-sectoral collaboration as well as problem oriented and constructivist learning makes it a strong option unlike other methods.
Global Campus 21 can be visited www.gc21.de (name and password “guest”)
Vera Haag-Arbenz
Vera Haag Arbenz, Officer Health Projects, Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (since 2004). Responsible for ICATT, TB Project in Tanzania, and Novartis TB and Leprosy Drug Donations. Education: M.A. in Sociology + Economics (University of Zurich); Certificate of Advanced Studies in Development and Cooperation (NADEL, ETH Zurich).
ICATT - IMCI Computerized Adaptation and Training Tool - and its potential for strengthening health systems
A project of the World Health Organization, the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development and Sirius Technologies
Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) is a strategy developed by WHO and UNICEF in the 1990s to reduce childhood mortality worldwide. A set of evidence-based guidelines are the cornerstone of the IMCI strategy (chart booklet).
Among the major challenges in IMCI the adaptation of guidelines at the country or even the sub-country level which is difficult and time consuming is one of the most important. Another challenge is to ensure adaptation and periodical updates of national and sub-national IMCI guidelines to respond to local health needs. Important as well is to increase the coverage of IMCI-trained health workers all over the world.
ICAATT is a very innovative software application which fulfils all the mentioned needs on adaptation, updating and training issues. It consists of 4 parts: a chart book builder, a library, a training set and a training player. ICATT training units follow a modern didactic approach offering key information and reference materials, illustration materials, exercises and tests. ICATT can be used as a teaching tool, for self learning, as a reference in IMCI, for tests and can be updated easily. The tool has a big potential for improving health systems in terms of increased coverage of IMCI-trained health workers, provision of training options, enhanced training quality, better use of human resources and cost effectiveness.
Joachim Pelikan
Joachim Pelikan is a Biologist from profession. He did his PhD in the field eLearning following a Blended Learning approach. Since 2003 he is working at the STI responsible for eLearning, Knowledge Management and Public Relations.
COTS - Cholera Outbreak Training and Shigella Program
Diarrhoeal disease is a major health problem especially in refugee camps. It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Of infectious causes of death in children, it is the second highest in the world after acute respiratory infection, causing an estimated 1.87 million deaths in children under 5. The morbidity and mortality associated with diarrhoea for adults is not well documented, but unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene, which are the main risk factors for diarrhoea, cause an estimated 54,158 disability adjusted life years (DALY).
Experiences like the Goma health disaster in 1994 show that there is a strong demand for training on how to handle Cholera or Shigellosis outbreaks, especially in emergency situations. ICDDR,B in Bangladesh created in cooperation with the Swiss Tropical Institute the COTS program to bring together more than 30 years of expertise to provide a „to the point“ guideline as an effective means of preventing failures like those in Goma.
The goal is to transfer the basic tools required to conquer situations in the future like The program is distributed on CD ROM as it is based on evidence based medicine and consists of basic knowledge which is not very much evolving. A CD can be used without internet access or to prepare somewhere on the way to an outbreak.
The learning program consists of 3 major parts. A knowledge base provides an overview of the basic science, clinical management and public health related to cholera and shigellosis. Second part is a virtual hospital can be explored to learn how to run a diarrhoeal disease outbreak hospital, including sections, staff and skills. Third part is the virtual classroom providing exercises and case studies. The learning program comes in a package with the CD itself and printed cards of job descriptions and fact sheets on the most important issues. Tests for self-assessment complete each chapter of the learning program.
Vladimir Krasnov
Dr. Vladimir Krasnov, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences is Assistant Professor and teacher in the department of Medical Informatics at the National Medical Academy of Post-Graduate Education in Kiev, Ukraine.
The role of eLearning to support Ukrainian health professionals’ continuous training needs
As a part of the ICT component of the Ukraine Swiss Perinatal Health Project an eLearning program on “Normal Delivery” was developed to serve as a pilot for further developments. It will be part of the postgraduate education system of Ukraine where medical doctors are obliged to train once in 5 years in a postgraduate institution. The learning program will serve as a training resource for doctors all over the country of Ukraine. Within the “eBook” they can follow the whole process of examinations and consultations during pregnancy. Multimedia elements and scanned documents allow an almost realistic training within a self directed learning process. Questions for self-assessment are part of every section. A history of the visited pages is displayed to show the specific learning path of the learners.
The program was developed by a working group in Kiev consisting of content providers, experts for didactic and computer specialists for the technical implementation. The learning program was evaluated by national and international experts. This working group will be the basis for further developments in the field of eLearning as an up scaling of the Programme in Ukraine will result in the demand for training means.