Background:

Telling Stories: Understanding Real Life Genetics (TSURLG) is an online interactive learning and teaching resource, designed to enhance health professionals’ understanding of genetics. This Wellcome funded project is a collaboration between the Genomics Policy Unit at the University of Glamorgan, Genetic Interest Group (at the Wales Gene Park), the University of Plymouth, and the NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre.

Telling Stories: Understanding Real Life Genetics

For more information about this work, please contact: rajesh.summan@geneticseducation.nhs.uk

Telling Stories: Understanding Real Life Genetics (TSURLG)

Rajesh Summan1, Emma Tonkin1,4, Kalbir Kaur-Mann4, Kevin McDonald4, Buddug Williams2, Heather Skirton3, Maggie Kirk1,4

1. NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre, Birmingham, UK 2. Genetic Interest Group, Wales, UK 3. University of Plymouth, UK 4. University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Aim Requirements Analysis

Approach

Accessible and Useable

•Digital environments and information must be accessible and useable for all.

•Health professionals visiting the website can rely on the following features:

• A multi search option that is broken down into six main categories (The Competences, Type of inheritance, Genetic intervention, Issues raised, Professional role and Genetic conditions)

•A free text search

•A step by step guide to use and search the website and stories

•Good web site navigation structure

•Sitemap

www.geneticseducation.nhs.uk/tellingstories

Future Expansion

•As a repository of patient stories, TSURLG is expected to expand into other health professions and international content.

•Each story has links to additional information which may include notes for further explanation; points for reflection and discussion; implications for professional practice and suggested activities to help the reader develop competence.

•To ensure this information was managed effectively the following methods were employed:

• Efficient programming techniques

• Microsoft SQL Server was used as the database back-end. It is highly scalable and can store millions of records in a secure and efficient manner

• Effective site structure and design

Extensive Availability

• It is important that this resource is inclusive of all nursing professional groups and readily available.

•Windows Media Video (WMV) was adopted as the official codec technology, because of its availability within NHS Trusts and hospitals and popularity for distributing video on the net.

Reusable Learning Objects (RLO’s)

•All rich media and information has been made available in ‘bite size chunks’ of online learning. These bite size chunks can be reused independently, re-created and maintained.

Blended Learning

•It was recognised that opportunities to integrate blended learning techniques would further enhance the resource as a complete learning tool.

•All video, transcripts and activities are available to download and “take away”. This will allow people to use the resources in a number of different environments.

Easily accessible and useable

Enable seamless future expansion

Extensively available

Secure web data

Provide opportunities for blending learning

To cater for a variety of health professionals

To provide meaningful rich media

To adopt a reusable learning object approach

To facilitate feedback

To facilitate web statistics on usage

Through the advent of new technology the ways in which we learn have expanded. This provides opportunities for content to be more widely dispersed in online or blended learning environment and accessible to individuals directly in and out of the work place. The aim of TSURLG was to create a web based multi media resource using real life stories from patients, carers and healthcare professionals, to promote knowledge and an understanding of genetics, its impact on peoples’ lives and its relevance to everyday clinical practice.