E-learning and professional development – never too old to learn

Abstract

A growing concern among healthcare professionals is the need to continually update knowledge and skills in order to enhance clinical practice. It is recognized that there are major concerns about recruitment and retention of staff within health care, and an increasing need for greater emphasis on valuing the existing workforce. This article contributes to the debate about the role of e-learning in conjunction with continuing professional development (CPD) and personal professional development. It describes how healthcare professionals utilized an innovative, self-managed, pick-up and put-down distance learning module delivered online or by CD-ROM. Staff enrolled on the module were encouraged to complete a questionnaire online or by post upon completion of each unit; to enhance validity, telephone interviews were also conducted with selected staff. Results indicate that participants showed some improvement in all categories, especially patient care where 90% of staff reported some improvement after completing the course. This particular method of teaching and learning was shown to be favoured by staff as a method of CPD, and thus has the potential to enhance patient care.

Computer-Based Learning Objects in Healthcare: The Student Experience

“…There has been exploration of the student learning experience in relation to e-learning in general (Atack & Rankin, 2002;Chang, Tseng, Hsaio, & Wang, 2003, Gill, 2007, and the specific learning outcomes of particular reusable learning tools in certain health topics (e.g., Conroy, 2007;Leonardi-Bee, 2007). However, the accessibility, use, and impact of RLOs on the student learning experience in nursing and medicine have not yet been fully investigated.…”

“…Certainly, computer-based learning has been shown to be the preference for qualified health professionals undertaking continuing professional development (e.g. Chang, et al, 2003;Gill, 2007).…”

Developing an Acupuncture Service for Chronic Pain

“…The need to develop lifelong learners is seen as imperative to the delivery of clinically effective care by staff who are able to think, reflect and demonstrate their professional development (Gill 2007). The educational needs of staff are changing, and any new regulatory framework will need to take into account that traditional methods of delivery of programmes of learning may not be appropriate in the twenty-first century.…”

“…The educational needs of staff are changing, and any new regulatory framework will need to take into account that traditional methods of delivery of programmes of learning may not be appropriate in the twenty-first century. An example of modernising education and professional development may be designing of e-learning packages (Gill 2007), which are flexible and take into account different learning styles and circumstances of students.…”

A collaborative approach to education provision will help save our specialism

“…2 Academic accreditation is being reviewed, with modules being offered in smaller 'bite-size' chunks, allowing…”