internet based public health capacity building for developing countries: people's open access...
TRANSCRIPT
Internet based public health capacity building for developing countries:
People's Open Access Education Initiative
Richard Heller, Gracia Fellmeth, Terence Harrison
Steve Fabricant & Jessica Sheringham
Ideas behind the Peoples-uni
• Develop public health capacity in low income countries
• Keep costs very low using•open educational resources •open source delivery mechanisms•volunteers
• Position outside (but in collaboration with) traditional university system
1 2 3 4
Peoples-uni: History
2006 2007
URL created
Module pilot
Charitystatus
2008
1st semester
20102009
First semester’s students
Educational experienceMedical degree 46Other Health degree 34Other non-health degree 30No degree 7Postgraduate degree (in addition to any above) 25
Current occupation*Public Health worker 48Mainly clinician 56Student 4Academic 7(*2 no answer)
Commend to others?
Relevant to job?
More modules?
Diploma/ MSc?
How did we do? Student feedback
How did they do? First semester pass rate
2010: where we are now
4th semester: 13 modules; 6 in preparation
~ 100 active volunteers, working as:•Trustees•International advisory group•QA, IT, Operations groups•Course delivery & development teams •Education officers
Semester 1, 2010 (86 volunteers)
Semester 1, 2010 (143 students)
Modules (4 =Certificate; 8 = Diploma; Masters to require two reports+ dissertation)
Foundation SciencesBiostatistics
Introduction to Epidemiology
Evidence Based Practice
Health economics
Inequalities and SDH
Public Health concepts for policy makers (F+S)
Public Health ProblemsCommunicable diseases
Disaster management & emergency planning
HIV/AIDS
Maternal Mortality
Preventing child mortality
Public Health nutrition
Patient safety
Case study: Using Moodle to deliver Evidence Based Practice
Module follows Peoples-Uni template:• 5 topics (2 weeks each)• Online facilitation by volunteer tutors following
facilitators guide• Automated application and enrollment process
http://courses.peoples-uni.org/course/applications.php
• MCQs available during module• Assessed assignment after module• Automated records & creation of academic
transcripts
Student activity report: example
Facilitating on People’s Uni: experiences and challenges
• Learning from vastly diverse student experiences & cultures– Students also have wide range of abilities: pitching it right
• Maintaining quantity and quality of discussion throughout entire module – Stimulating postings (dealing with online ‘silences’!)– Tried realtime chat, but timezones & connectivity problems
• Learning Moodle’s capabilities ourselves whilst…• Appreciating limitations faced by our students:
– Access to online materials– Limited bandwidth, computer access– Extremely challenging day jobs
Peoples-Uni developments
New modules• Avoiding blindness, Chronic disease,• Evaluation of interventions• Environmental health, Climate change• Research methods module(s)/certificate in planning
stage with Journal of Clinical Epidemiology and Afro-European Medical and Research Network (AEMRN)
Institutional partnerships• Seeking accreditation or double badging
Student experience: developments
• Separate CPD and academic award streams• Upgrade to Masters in Public Health to start
semester 2, 2010• More structure to resources and discussions• Improve information to create realistic expectations
among the students• Charge fees as condition of enrolment ($50 US per
module charged)
Peoples-uni and Partnerships
• Collaboration and partnerships essential• Local relevance of education• Local credibility• Add value not compete
• Institutional• Double badge awards• Internet access centres
• Individual • Course module developers• On-line facilitators• Moodle support
Our questions to you
• Interested in collaborating?• Individuals: developing modules, facilitators, Moodle support • Institutions: jointly develop & deliver courses of mutual interest
• Ideas for using Moodle to best effect in People’s Uni context? • talented, committed, global student base• diverse range of experiences, cultures• limited IT access/experience, time
• Advice on issues currently facing us, eg• system for co-authoring remotely• how to communicate (for free) in real time • how to avoid drop off in discussion postings
Finally
Peoples-uni’s 'social model' approach can•contribute to Public Health capacity-building in low/middle-income countries• work in other academic areas
• All collaboration welcome. Please join in or make suggestions
• More information:•http://peoples-uni.org•[email protected]•[email protected], [email protected]