Dynamic Continuing Education for the 21st Century Skills Online: 10 Lessons in 10 Years

Karen MacDougall and Elizabeth WrightSkills Enhancement for Public Health: Skills Online

Public Health Capacity Development DivisionHealth Security Infrastructure Branch

COP Health Educators & Learning Professionals (HELP) on phConnect

October 22, 2015

PresentersElizabeth WrightEpidemiologistSkills Enhancement for Public Health: Skills OnlinePublic Health Agency of Canada Elizabeth is an epidemiologist who works with the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Skills Enhancement for Public Health program. She is responsible for the coordination and management of module content for the Skills Online professional development program. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Nursing from Memorial University, a Masters in Science (Epidemiology) from McGill University, and is a graduate of the Canadian Field Epidemiology Program. Elizabeth works in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

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PresenterKaren MacDougallProgram & Policy AnalystSkills Enhancement for Public Health: Skills OnlinePublic Health Agency of Canada

Karen has worked for the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Skills Enhancement for Public Health for seven years, most recently as a policy and program analyst. In this role, Karen leads the coordination and management of evaluation and performance measurement related activities for the Skills Online professional development program. She also supports module development, program marketing and communication, program policy development and analysis, strategic stakeholder engagement and partnership development. Karen is a graduate of the Nursing Science program at Queen’s University and the Masters of Science in Nursing program at the University of British Columbia.

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Presentation Outcomes

1. Knowledge of the evolution and delivery of Skills Online Changes in online learning Formats and delivery modes Current modules New modules

2. Knowledge about the development and delivery of online learning products Key elements of delivering online learning in Public Health Partnerships

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????? Skills Online - What’s that?

• Are you aware of the Skills Online Program?

• Have you taken any of Skills Online modules?

• Are you involved in the development of online learning products?

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Skills Online is...

• Online continuing education for public health professionals/practitioners

• Content that reflects current public health practice in Canada

• Learning content that is mapped to the Core Competencies for PH in Canada: Release 1.0 http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/php-psp/ccph-cesp/about_cc-apropos_ce-eng.php

• Based on adult learning principles

• Easily accessible online

• Asynchronous

• Facilitated 8 week sessions totaling 25-40 hours of work » Teams of 8 – 15 inter-professional learners» PHAC trained facilitators (public health practitioners)

• Self-directed modules

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Animations

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DiscussionActivities

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Assignments

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Self - Tests

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METHODS STA1 Introduction to Biostatistics PHP4 Introduction to Literature Searching*

MOVING DATA TO ACTION SUR2 Communicating Data EffectivelyPHP2 Evidence Based Public Health PracticePHP3 Planning for Public HealthEVA1 Introduction to Evaluation

APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGYAPP1 Outbreak Investigation & ManagementAPP2 Applied Epidemiology : InjuriesAPP3 Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases

PRACTICE COR1 Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada*PHP1 Introduction to Public Health in Canada*HLIT Health Literacy for Public Health Practitioners

SURVEILLANCESUR 1 Introduction to Surveillance

EPIDEMIOLOGYEPI1 Basic Epidemiological ConceptsEPI2 Measurement of Health StatusEPI3 Descriptive Epidemiological Methods

* self-directed

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* self-directed

Modules in development

• IHR (International Health Regulations)*

• Vaccine Evaluation

• Mental Health

• Intro to Health Equity/Social Determinants of Health*

• Survey Methods

• Privacy and Confidentiality for Public Health Practitioners

• Public Health Leadership

• Public Health Ethics

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So what have we learned?

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1. We are not the only game in town....

• Many institutions offer online education opportunities» National Collaborating Centres, academic institutions, professional associations.

• We offer: » Accessible continuing education for professionals» Core Competencies-based» Interactivity and facilitated delivery of content » No college or university level prerequisites» Both official languages» Opportunity for networking with colleagues during the learning experience» Flexibility for learning

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????? How long do you think it takes to develop a Skills Online module? (from conception to official launch)

6 months

1 year

2 years

3 years

5 years

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2. Time

• Learners’ biggest challenge» Prep time» “Ideal versus actual” learning schedule » Time to digest and reflect on content

• “for reflection”

» Most content “takes longer than you think”

• Organizations» It is a commitment for the learner, and the learner’s organization.

• Module development» The full development cycle for modules is lengthy; at least 24 months

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3. Module development (a)

• Establish need

• “You can’t do it alone.” » Establish and value your partnerships.» E3: Engage Experts Early

• Invest the time in developing a working relationship with technology partners » Orient the developers, programmers and other tech experts to the program

• Develop a framework» Commit to goals, objectives and approach

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3. Module development (b)

• Maintain control» Version control» Documentation of decisions

• Establish and adhere to standards» Reference properly and investigate potential copyright issues

• Prof read! Prof red! Proof read! Critical!!

• Budget time for internal and external review» Learner pilots (F & E)

• English and French...it’s more than translation

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????? What comes first in module development?

• Establish need

• Pick partners

• Establish standards

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4. Core Competencies

Guide prioritization of module development.

Crucial for focused content development and

Communication and marketing

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5. We can’t be immediate but we must be current

• Essential that we reflect current Canadian public health practice

• Important not to get overwhelmed by every potential change

• Must budget and plan for routine review and maintenance of the modules

• Some issues require a different learning solution

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6. Design: A good ppt does not a quality online learning product make• Organization of content is key

» “content chunking” is essential to a logical flow in online learning

• Evolving technology

• Interactivity is good, but it isn’t everything» Bad content is still bad content even if it is interactive» Not a silver bullet for communication of all concepts

• Primary focus – experience-based learning

• Consistency » Similar look, feel and organization for all modules

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7. Delivery• Facilitation

» Does not equal instruction» Consistency is vital – many facilitators involved each term» Support has to be factored into development phase e.g., rubrics

• Several delivery options – each with pros and cons» Self-directed » Facilitated » Groups» Universities

• Limitations of connectivity...it isn’t instantaneous» Capacity of individual providers varies» Underserved areas of country

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8. Evaluation

• Don’t collect what you’re not going to use

• High rate of return on post-module surveys

• It isn’t the number of questions – it’s how long it takes to answer the survey

• It’s more than post-module surveys» Case studies» Learner pilots» Program policy pilots

• Don’t overreact to feedback» “evaluate the feedback”

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9. We know we are valued...

• Learner statistics give us some indication of utility of program» Registrations and completions» Demographics» Feedback on module content , delivery and the learning experience» Feedback on impact

• PAHO collaboration

• Academic partnerships

• Our content shows up unacknowledged in other places!

• Professional recognition from associations

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10. We might not look like this in 10 years...

• Academic programs for public health practitioners are now including Skills Online content in their programs.

• Continuing education will always be needed for PH practitioners – delivery might change

» Learning online is changing – • multiple delivery options

• multiple devices

• different learning styles

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Top 10 Reasons to ‘sign up’ for Skills Online

1. Strengthen your Core (competencies)

2. Expand your knowledge about public health

3. Improve your critical thinking skills

4. Learn about other resources

5. Increase your confidence

6. Earn continuing education credit

7. Increase job satisfaction

8. Improve communication with your co-workers

9. Network; Collaborate with other public health professionals

10. Improve your creativity and problem solving abilities

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Thanks for joining in !

For more information…

Skills Online

www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/skillselizabeth.wright@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Core Competencies

www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/core_competencies

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