I must admit
that I really enjoyed this module and have no regrets about having chosen
e-learning as my elective module. This module has made me reflect on my potential
as a health science educator and has made me realize how we become creatures of
habit by doing what we’ve always done or what we are told to do. As a result we
do not explore our creative and innovative potentials as educators. The world
is so ahead with technology enhanced teaching and learning methods; not keeping
pace with the world means that we lagging behind which may be to the detriment
of our students, our institution and to ourselves as educators.
E learning
has the ability to reach out to a huge number of students wherever they are, overcoming
the barriers of time, distance and the need for a warm body as a teacher. My institution
has had an e-learning platform for two years now; however it has never been
used as a teaching system or a platform to engage or interact with students. I personally
never considered using e-learning as a means to deliver any training that we
provide. This assignment has however given me the opportunity to explore the opportunities
of using e-learning for the training of intern biomedical technologists.
In this
assignment, we did not simply think of an e-learning intervention that we can
or should implement. We started right from the beginning looking at existing teaching
and learning problems and then analyzing the problem with the aim to design an
e-learning prototype to meet the needs identified through the analysis process.
The ADDIE model provided guidance and direction with the phases of analysis, design,
development, implementation and evaluation. It was a structured step by step
approach where findings from one phase formed the basis for the next phase.
I chose to
use the flipped classroom model with the aim to create more classroom time for interactive
discussions and case study analysis, which is the problem facing majority of my
students. Reading and learning about the flipped classroom was a huge “wow” for
me and I now say to myself “why didn’t I learn about this sooner”. I was amazed
by the vast repository of on line transfusion medicine education video
lectures, tutorials and quizzes available at no cost.
Getting students
to independently go through on line lecture videos and tutorials outside of the
classroom at a time and pace that suits them, will free up a significant amount
of classroom time for problem analysis and problem solving. In my design and
development phases, I further used the institution’s learner management system
(LMS) to create a chat forum for students to post and share their concerns and queries
related to the module and for online case study analysis for formative
assessment. Learning is never complete without critical refection, which is why
after completion of the “out of classroom” and “in classroom” learning
activities, students will be required to post their reflections of their
learning experiences on the LMS.
The e-learning
literature readings bear testimony that e-learning interventions, if
appropriately selected and designed allow students to embrace the self-directed,
constructivism approach to learning. E-learning interventions must however not
be just "nice to have" learning tools; rather they must be fit for purpose and
achieve programme and learning objectives.
I have enjoyed sharing my new learning with my
colleagues and we are looking forward to implementing the pilot
intervention and to evaluate the outcomes of what has been designed and
developed. This is certainty the trigger that my institution has been in need
of and I am excited to be the driver of our first e-learning intervention. This
assignment has allowed me to collaborate and build a relationship with the IT
department in my institution and it is gratifying to note that they are willing
to provide and guidance and support, whenever neede. I certainly look forward to
what lies ahead and I am confident that our students are going to embrace the
new teaching and learning approach. How can they not; they belong to the digital
age after all…
